Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Abstract
The restructuring of the mining sector in Romania since 1989 has had extremely serious social, eco-
nomic and environmental consequences for the mining settlements. Following the mine closure pro-
grams and socio-economic and environmental regeneration efforts the situation has only slightly
improved, the settlements being still very vulnerable in terms of quality of life and prospects for sus-
tainable development. In this paper the authors have developed a vision for sustainable development of
the Apuseni Mountains mining areas that would support policy writing and lead to the identification of
appropriate solutions for socio-economic and environmental development of the studied area.
Key words: mining area, planning models, sustainable development, Apuseni Mountains, Romania
A The Regional Development Agency Centre, 12 Decebal Str., Alba Iulia, Alba County, Romania; veronica.constantin7@yahoo.com
B Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Geography, Centre for Research on Settlements and Urbanism, “Babes Bolyai” University,
Cluj Napoca, Romania; vsurd@geografie.ubbcluj.ro
C Claflin University, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Department of History & Sociology, 400 Magnolia St., Orangeburg,
• Discussions with local and regional actors and opment of the settlements located in the mining are-
analysis of information obtained during meet- as of the Apuseni Mountains. The main objective was
ings with representatives from some municipalities, to identify the functionality of our concept if applied
mining companies, businesses, or with educational to a network of settlements within a larger goal of im-
experts in mining, environment, economy, demog- proving the economic and living conditions of the res-
raphy, geology, etc. which operate in the geograph- idents.
ic area of the Apuseni Mountains;
• SWOT analysis of the mining areas of the Apuse- Vision and strategic objectives for
ni Mountains; sustainable development of the studied
• Experience in regional planning for sustainable de-
mining settlements
velopment and reducing disparities;
• Consultation of major public documents at nation- Starting from the assumption that a strategy of sus-
al and regional level regarding planning and de- tainable development is the result of collective effort,
velopment of the territory, economic development, the authors propose a concept-strategy of sustain-
human resource development and environmental able development for the mining settlements of the
sustainability; Apuseni Mountains. The intent is to provide both a
• Analysis of European Union directives on territori- vision of integrated development within the context
al, social and environmental cohesion; of major challenges at national and European levels,
• Documentation on the strategic directions of sus- and pragmatic aspects that can represent a template
tainable development in Europe, especially within for decision-makers (ideas and concrete proposals for
the next 10 years projects, funding resources eligible for the proposed
• Scientific literature related to best models proposed action, etc.).
for restructuring of mining areas; The development of such a concept-strategy of sus-
• Knowledge of best practices on planning and sus- tainable development for the mining settlements of
tainable development of mining areas in EU coun- the Apuseni Mountains is the result of a summary of
tries. conclusions drawn from both scientific research and
practice and translated into possible solutions for sus-
More specifically, in terms of the selected documents tainable development. At the same time, the proposed
that pertain directly to decision making for the min- concept - strategy was correlated with major policies
ing areas of the Apuseni Mountains, this proposed con- and strategic, programmed or developmental docu-
cept of integrated development is consistent with both ments.
the principles of political cohesion of the European Generally, a vision of sustainable development im-
Union policy 2007-2013 as presented in the Commu- plies a long planning process in which decisions fo-
nity Strategic Guideliness and EUROPA Strategy 2020, cused on territorial, socio-cultural, economic and
and strategic documents at the national and regional environmental assessments are based on best availa-
level such as the National Strategy for Sustainable De- ble information and coordinated at the local, region-
velopment of Romania 2013-2020-2030, National Stra- al, national, or even global level. Sustainable develop-
tegic Guideliness for Sustainable Development of the ment brings the vital evaluation categories in balance
Carphatians 2014-2020, National Strategy for Region- and facilitates the dialogue and the integrated ac-
al Development 2014-2020, Plan for National Territory tions of interest groups and stakeholders involved in
Development, National Strategic Plan for Rural Devel- the process. It requires consideration of differences
opment 2014-2020, National Programme for Rural De- in spatial and temporal scales and an understanding
velopment 2014-2020, Mining Industry Strategic Plan of the complex interdependencies between economic,
for the period 2006-2020, Sectorial Operational Pro- environmental, social and cultural factors (Campbell,
gramme for Economic Competitiveness 2007-2013, Na- 1995). Therefore, a sustainable development strategy
tional Programme for Mine Closure and Mining Areas is a functional overview of economic, environmental,
Reconversion, National Anti-Poverty and Social-Inclu- and general wellbeing of stakeholders.
sion Plan 2002-2012, Sectorial Operational Programme Mining activities imprint theirs special features
for Human Resources Development 2007-2013, Na- into the landscape (Zhang, et al., 2011). Therefore, vul-
tional Strategy and National Action Plan for the Man- nerability becomes their dominant feature (Fabbri, et
agement of Contaminated Sites in Romania, National al., 2002). Thus, a vision for sustainable development
Strategy for Ecotourism Development in Romania, and of these areas requires a complex approach that must
the Plan for Apuseni Mountains Area Development. consider a number of issues addressed in an integrated
Thus, based on the above-mentioned directions the manner, such as time frames (actual period of exploita-
authors have outlined a vision for sustainable devel- tion of resources, the mining restructuring period, and
Sustainable
development
Efficient management of all categories of available resources starting from the Axis I
knowledge and continual updating of information through an information system
Integrated strategic planning. Establishing directions and policies for sustainable development. Axis I
Development and valorification of local, regional, national and international cooperation
Integrated sustainable
Axis I Axis II Axis III Axis IV Axis V Axis VI Axis VII development of the
mining areas
Figure 2. Priority axes correlation as part of the long-term sustainable development strategy of the Apuseni Mountains
mining areas
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