Romania’s farmed landscapes - an international dilemma needing its own solution

The Romanian Carpathian Mountains and the Transylvanian Plateau are a blend of mountains, forests and farmlands that form one of the last extensive, biodiversity-rich region within the Europe Union. Within its farmed lands are fauna-rich pastures and Europe’s last widespread hay meadows. The mountain pastures have been shepherded for centuries under, until recently, a transhumance system whilst the rolling, arable lands have not been intensively used as a consequence of Romania’s fixation with its flatlands. The region is a last stronghold of Europe’s old agriculturally-created flora and fauna and its preservation is of global importance. But just where does one start?