Nature in Făgăraș Mountains: The mixed mountain forests in Romania

Romania-Insider.com is publishing a series of articles about wildlife in Romania, zooming in on the wild animal and plant species in the Fagaras Mountains area. This editorial series is sponsored by the Foundation Conservation Carpathia.

The mixed mountain forests are not only the most stable and most diverse forests in Romania but they are also of very high importance for the climate and the people. Moreover, they are very beautiful forests, especially in autumn when the trees change their colors, being the perfect place to go for those who are trying to find a little bit of peace and re-connect with themselves. The mixed mountain forests are found somewhere between 1,000 m and 1,500-1,600 m and are composed of three main species - beech, fir and spruce. Their percentage in the forest vary depending on the altitude. For example, if the forest is located at a lower altitude, then there is more beech and if it goes higher, then there is more spruce. However, depending on other factors such as the soil or the location, the mixed mountain forests can also include other species such as sycamore, elm, and possibly mountain ash. Due to their diversity, these forests are home to many wild animals, from the red and roe deer, to the wild boars, bears, wolves and lynx. Also, in terms of vegetation, there are a lot of mushrooms, generally fungus, and also a lot of lichens.

Forestry represents the biggest danger for the mixed mountain forests, as the main species of trees found in these forests grow at very different paces. While the beech and the fir prefer shadow and grow very slowly, the spruces prefer the light and they can grow faster. Thus, if the forests are cleared in an area, even if it’s just a hectare, then suddenly there is a lot of light on the ground and the beech and the fir can’t really cope with that. The spruce on the other hand grows very quickly and somehow covers the whole surface. This not only affects the forest itself, as it is no longer a mixed forest, but also the wildlife. For example, if the beech is being replaced by spruce, then there are fewer beechnuts in the forest and the bears and the wild boars have less food in autumn. The animals thus start to go out to search for food, and they sometimes end up in conflict with the people, as they can destroy the crops and fields and even go in the villages nearby. In autumn these animals need more food, high-energy food, to get their fat layer for winter. On the other hand, foresters tend to prefer spruce forests because of the economic value of the spruce. For example, the spruce can be easily cut and it has very straight stems, making it very easy to process and highly valuable to the timber industry. So, over the last 100 years or so, the foresters have replaced many mixed mountain forests with spruce monocultures. This means that, in some places where there were 100% mixed mountain forests about 100 years ago, today the share of mixed mountain forests is of only 20-30% while the spruce monocultures, which naturally shouldn’t be there, can be found in much higher percentages. To avoid situations like this, which affects the ecosystem and the wildlife, the foresters should not clear the area and work very selectively in these forests, taking out individual trees.