PROJECT REPORT
ROMANIA 2023 THE STORY OF THE OAK FORESTS OF CIUC
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Dear friend, Thanks to your support, a total of 12,100 trees were planted to restore 2.50 hectares of land in Romania. Planting trees in areas that have been degraded or deforested helps the environment by accelerating and assuring the re-establishment of healthy forests. Through reforestation, the canopy is restored, ecosystems are made whole, and biodiversity can thrive. None of this would be possible without you. On behalf of everyone at One Tree Planted, thank you! What follows is a report outlining the project you supported in Romania. I hope you enjoy reading it and truly feel the impact you have made.
OVERVIEW
The objective of the Romania 2023 project - The story of the oak forests of Ciuc is to restore the once abundant oak forests of the Ciuc Depression in Romania with the goals of improving forest resilience and adaptation, and increasing natural habitats for local wildlife. Oak saplings were planted to rehabilitate the typical forest composition of the area, who’s disappearance was caused by the rapid expansion of agricultural lands before the 18th century. Today, the shift towards environmental preservation offers the chance for oak forests to reappear in the region and to better withstand future threats, like warmer and drier climate in the basin, as well as to increase habitat and food sources for various plant and animal species.
TREES PLANTED 12,100
TREE SPECIES PLANTED 5
FAMILIES BENEFITED 1200
HECTARES REFORESTED 2.50
WOMEN INVOLVED 80
WILDLIFE SPECIES BENEFITED 39
JOBS SUPPORTED 21 PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM TRAINING 120
DOCUMENTING YOUR IMPACT Through authentic and informative storytelling, we help donors relate to the people who plant their trees and to the impact they're making for the planet. We share photos, videos, and updates from our global projects across our social media, website, and other media to create a personal connection to the incredible work happening on the ground.
PHOTOS FROM YOUR PROJECT
TREE SPECIES PLANTED
SPECIES PLANTED THROUGH THIS PROJECT Sessile Oak (Quercus Petraea) Pedunculate Oak (Quercus Robur) European Wild Pear (Pyrus Pyraster) European Ash (Fraxinus Excelsior) Sycamore Maple (Acer Pseudoplatanus)
TREE SPECIES
THE OAK’S RELEVANCE Oak trees have played an important role in human culture and economy in Europe for centuries, with Pedunculate and Sessile oaks being amongst the most valuable. They are also a sacred tree in many European cultures, frequently used as a national or regional symbol. Oaks provide high-quality hardwood for fuel and charcoal, construction, furniture, and barrels, as well as acorns for livestock and bark for tanning. They also play an important ecological role, as they support many plants and species of insects like moths and beetles, and the acorns provide a valuable food source for birds and mammals. Oak forests in Romania represent about 19% of the country's total forest cover. The most widespread native oak species is Sessile oak, which accounts for over 10% of the total oak population and owes its common name to the fact that its acorns are “stalkless”. Oak forests in Romania have faced strong human pressure over the centuries, including deforestation for agriculture and pasture land, uncontrolled grazing, incorrect practice of coppice systems, and defoliation by insects. This, together with severe forest mismanagement in the 1990s that resulted in massive Norway spruce plantation, has led to a critical reduction and fragmentation of oak ecosystems. Sessile oak, as well as Pedunculate oak, are large deciduous broadleaved trees that can live over 1,000 years and grow over 40 meters tall. They are important components of temperate deciduous mixed forests and have a large ecological amplitude. Both species are able to act as pioneer trees, developing deep root systems that allow them to withstand moderate droughts by accessing water at a deeper lever and give them structural stability against windfalls — an unfortunately common natural disaster in Romania. Oak forests in Romania are important ecosystems that have been negatively impacted by human activity. However, oak trees are resilient and can play a key role in forest restoration efforts, promoting forest diversity and the regeneration of many additional species.
YOUR IMPACT ON THE MAP
Your trees were planted on private and common land in Central Romania, Harghita county. The Romania 2023 - The Story of the Oak forests of Ciuc project plantation is distributed across 4 degraded sites.
YOUR IMPACT ON THE MAP
LANDSCAPE
IMPACT ON THE MAP The Romania 2023 - The story of the Oak forests of Ciuc project is located in Eastern Transylvania, where the dominant volcanic mountainous landscape of the Ciuc Depression meets the Eastern Carpathian, at an altitude of about 600-700 mt. The area has a dominance of Norway spruce plantations that, because of their shallow root systems, are highly susceptible to severe wind-throws that characterize this part of Romania.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE IMPACT The Ciuc Basin: A Region of Oak Forests Reborn By Marika Luiati, Europe Project Manager
The Ciuc Basin has a rich biogeographic history, dating back to the ages when oak forests dominated the landscape. This is evident in the names of many localities and archaeological findings in the area. However, human activity and changing climate conditions led to the disappearance of these forests by the 18th century. Today, climate change and a shift towards environmental preservation offer a chance for oak forests to reappear in the region. This rehabilitation initiative began in 2021, planting thousands of oak seedlings in degraded pastures, and has a long-term goal of restoring 50 hectares of degraded pastures. As these efforts expand, the project is contributing to ecological restoration, creating a more balanced microclimate and enhancing the area's ability to withstand extreme weather events. Oak forests in Transylvania are a vital part of the region's ecosystem and provide a wide range of benefits. In particular, oaks help to protect water resources by recharging groundwater. They also help to reduce flooding by slowing down the flow of water during heavy rains, helping to maintain stable water levels in streams, as well as to regulate natural processes like erosion control, by filtering runoff and holding soil in place. Since 2020, with the help of donors like you, One Tree Planted has helped our partners plant over 1.8M trees in multiple projects across Romania. These remarkable initiatives are restoring the region's natural heritage and providing a host of environmental, social, and cultural benefits, as well as crucial ecosystem services, such as climate mitigation, and flood and erosion control. By continuing to support projects like this, we can help create a more sustainable and resilient future for the region and its people.
LANDSCAPE
CONTEXT AND IMPACT Transylvania and Eastern Carpathian, Romania Improving Forest Health and Resilience
Romania is located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe, and is home to five of the eleven biogeographic regions officially recognised in the continent. The Continental region, which can be found across the Transylvanian Plateau, is characterized by its rolling hills, meadows, forests and ancestral wood pastures. Towards the East, Transylvania meets the Eastern Carpathian, where the colder climate of the Alpine region is dominated by coniferous forests and rocky outcrops. Maintaining healthy, diverse forests in Romania is critical to protecting ecological, social and economic benefits, including increased wildlife habitat, species of cultural importance to local communities, recreational value, and above all, forest resilience. The country is also home to a large number of old-growth forests, which are more resilient to disturbances than younger forests. There are a number of elements that contribute to the resilience of forests, which is their capacity to withstand and recover from disturbances, such as climate change, pests and diseases, and human activity. Key factors that support resilience are the diversity of ecosystems and tree species, as well as sustainable forest management. This diversity helps to ensure that there is a range of habitats available for different species of plants and animals, even if one ecosystem is disturbed. Following the complex transition period of the 1990s, Romania has experienced severe forest mismanagement practices, most notably massive Norway spruce plantations, a fast-growing species with high economical value but that can be less biodiverse and more susceptible to pests and diseases (i.e. bark beetle), and illegal logging. Supporting forest rehabilitation projects that strive to promote sustainable management practices and maintain the diversity and structure of the forests is crucial as climate change continues to accelerate. These practices include planting a variety of tree species in disturbed systems, reducing deforestation, and protecting old-growth forests. By taking these steps, we are helping to ensure that these forests can thrive and safeguard the benefits they provide for many years to come.
BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS
Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. It encompasses all living organisms, as well as the ecosystems in which they live, and it is often measured at the genetic, species and ecosystem diversity levels. Biodiversity is essential for the health of our planet and for human well-being. It provides us with food, clean water, medicine, and other essential resources. It also helps to regulate the climate, clean the air and water, and protect us from natural disasters. Central Romania is home to over 30% of Romania's forests, which are some of the most biodiverse in Europe. Mixed forests are found throughout this area. They are characterised by a variety of tree species, including spruce, fir, beech, oak, and are home to a variety of wildlife, such as deer, brown bear, lynx, wild boar and red squirrel.
To determine the number of species that could benefit from the future forest of this project, the nearest Natura 2000 Habitats and Birds Directive Sites were surveyed, which are protected areas that have been intensively monitored to identify the species present. Because the planting site is fenced, protecting it from human and livestock interactions, the main hypothesis is that these species would use it for resting, feeding, and nesting. This was confirmed by two camera traps that captured images of red deer (Cervus elaphus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and brown bear (Ursus arctos) on the site. Many trails and droppings from these species were found, and the bent fence wire suggested that numerous large animals visit the area. The future forest will have a significant impact on the region's wildlife population, especially the 15 bird species on the list, which will have a habitat for feeding and nesting.
REGIONAL KEY FACTS ON PROTECTED HABITATS AND SPECIES:
9 EU Protected Habitats: 2 Bogs, mires and fens (Active raised bogs, Transition mires and quacking bogs); 3 Forests (bog woodland, Dacian Beech forest, Acidophilous Picea forests of the montane to alpine levels -Vaccinio Piceetea); 2 grasslands (Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels, Mountain hay meadows); 1 heat and scrub (Alpine and Boreal heaths); 1 rocky habitats (Caves not open to the public) 8 EU Protected Species: 2 Amphibians (Yellow-bellied toad -Bombina variegata, Montandon's newt -Lissotriton montandoni); 2 Flowering Plants (saw-edged bellflower -Campanula Serrata, Siberian Ligularia -Ligularia sibirica); 2 Mammals (Wolf -Canis lupus, Brown Bear -Ursus arctos); 1 Invertebrate (Fenton's Wood White -Leptidea morsei); 1 Mosses and Liverworts (Longstalked thread moss -Meesia longiseta).
COMMUNITY
BENEFITS
It was a lovely day. There were kids, parents, friends. We did good progress, but I personally did not really feel tired at the end of the day. For me, it is a meditative process. It feels like a flow, only that each sapling is a little bit different. You look at it, touch it, hold it, and dig a hole that’s just right for it. For me, it brings a lot of spiritual peace. I feel gratitude that I joined the movement. -Örs-Tamás Nagy, volunteer
FAMILIES BENEFITED 1200 VOLUNTEERS 120 PLANTERS 21 CHILDREN FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS 60 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN TRAINING PROGRAMS 5
U.N. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THIS PROJECT CONTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:
WHAT ARE SDGS? Sustainable development entails seeking out solutions that not only boost the economic outcomes of developing and poorer nations, but also work to limit (or eliminate) our impact on the planet. Trees are one such solution. From creating jobs and reducing hunger to improving gender equality, cleaning air and water, absorbing carbon, protecting life on land and water, and more, planting trees can address all 17 sustainable development goals.
“This reforestation project will restore the region's natural and cultural heritage, providing a vital opportunity for oak trees to repopulate the area, and cascade their benefits throughout the community. By increasing and protecting forest resilience, these trees symbolise the region's revival. The ecosystem services these forests can provide, such as climate regulation, flood and erosion control, will enhance critical life support systems for future generations”.
Marika Luiati
Project Manager Europe