Forest Decline in Romania : Disease/Environment Interactions in Forest Decline. Proceedings of a Workshop of the Working Party Disease/Environment Interactions in Forest Decline IUFRO 7.02.06, Vienna, Austria, March 16-21, 1998
Field observations and statistics (from National Forest Administration) interpretation of the complex phenomenon of forest tree dying have been done. The meteorological data show that the period between 1982-94 (with two maximal points - 1986 and 1992) was the driest of this century. Decline followed closely the dry periods and affected many forest species, especially those living in extreme conditions (nearby the steppe zone; clay, carbonatic or sandy soils etc.) Other damaging factors (insect defoliations, fungal infections, anthropogenic factors) have also contributed to the worsening of forest health. Among the deciduous species, oak decline remains the most important. Besides old problems of English oak (Quercus robur) and less sessile oak (Quercus petraea), new cases of decline occurred on Hungarian oak (Quercus frainetto) and even Turkey oak (Quercus cerris). Black locust (Robinia pseudacacia), poplars (Populus spp.) and willows (Salix spp.) showed similar new dieback between 1993-1996. On conifers some local cases of tree dying were reported after wind-falling or in sensitive sites.
