The Geoheritage of Romania. From Theory to Practice—Legislation, Inventory, and Management
摘要
Global initiatives are underway to catalogue geoheritage across various nations, including those in Europe and elsewhere. These efforts occur within a legislative context, where geoheritage is acknowledged, assessed, and informs relevant policies, or through projects designed to enhance its visibility via geotourism and protect it through geoconservation. This study aims to inventory geoheritage at the national level, assess its status within Romanian specialised literature and legislation, and propose measures for its enhanced management, both structurally and regarding official status. The legislative framework and activities concerning inventory and valorisation in Romania are in their early stages, lacking a cohesive national effort. Local initiatives have emerged at the level of relief units or administrative-territorial units through various studies. Romanian legislation does not include the terms geoheritage, geosite, or geomorphosite; the only term utilised is natural heritage, as defined in Law no. 49/2011 and Law no. 5/2000, which pertains to protected natural areas. Regarding the management of geoheritage at the national level, it is necessary to protect valuable elements that hold scientific, educational, cultural, aesthetic, and touristic importance by establishing legislative, educational, and structural measures.