Suchergebnisse

Abstract The paper has in view the assessment of the impact of climate change on agriculture in the main agricultural region of Romania (Bărăgan Plain), by understanding the contextual socio-economic factors of agriculture in the area as a key step towards climate adaptation, but also through identifying the user needs, awareness and requirements in terms of climate information. A special attention was given to the analysis of the changes in the socio-economic and political context of Romania since 1989, the post-communist period, marked by fundamental transformations in agriculture, with collective and state property being replaced by private property. The poor development of the productive services in agriculture resulted in the degradation of land's productive potential and the intensification the adverse effects of extreme climatic phenomena, proving a strong dependency of crop yields and productivity on climate. The mid-term (2021–2050) and long-term (2071–2100) climate variability and change of some key variables affecting crop development (air temperature, precipitation, evapotranspiration), under different scenarios have been investigated in relation to the potential impacts on main crops. A set of relevant climate extreme and agro-meteorological indices was further used to estimate the potential climate change impacts on agriculture. The study was focused on the interaction with farmers, the main actors of the climate adaptation process in the area, aiming to evaluate their perception and response to climate change. The research approach was mainly done through face-to-face interviews, as farmers did not respond positively to organised meetings. An important difference was noticed in terms of adaptive capacity between the large farms with a high adaptive capacity and low subsistence farms (family-run farms), the most vulnerable category to both socio-economic and climate change. The main climate adaptation measure considered crucial by the farmers is the rehabilitation/construction of irrigation systems. The study provides useful scientific insights which could improve the understanding of farmers and decision-makers on the potential impacts of the future climate change on crops, but also to mainstream climate adaptation actions in the agriculture policy.

The Southern Bărăgan Plain is a geographical unit where the rainfall processes have a moderate action, even reduced in some places, taking into account the low rainfall as well as the morphology and morphometers of the relief. These processes have an impact on man and human activities, primarily through the action they have on land on which intensive agriculture is practiced or even on inhabited areas.

BACKGROUND: Use of seat belts and car seats for children are among the most effective interventions to reduce injury severity when a crash occurs. The use should be enforced in order to have an increase in wearing these restraints. Romania has the lowest rate of using seatbelts in the backseat, 16%. The purpose of the study is to describe the use of child safety restraints and compare it with existing standards of good practice. METHODS: An observational study on child safety restraint was conducted in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, between 2013 and 2014. Observational sites included 38 schools and kindergartens and three commercial areas, where drivers (n=768) and child passengers (n=892) were observed. Observations were conducted as vehicles parked or pulled to a stop and were followed by driver surveys on knowledge and attitudes towards restraint legislation and child safety behaviour as car occupants. RESULTS: The proportion of observed child motor vehicle occupants wearing some type of restraint was 67.4% (n=601). The majority of children (82.6%) were in the back seat, and 14.2% of infants were in a rear-facing child seat. The proportion of restrained children declined with age, with children 5 years old or younger being almost five times more likely to be properly restrained (OR 4.87, 95% CI 2.93 to 8.07) when compared with older children. CONCLUSIONS: Although minimum legal requirements of child motor vehicle occupant safety were in place in Romania at the time of the study, the rates of using children restraints was low compared with other middle-income and high-income countries.

Bestimmte Naturlandschaften haben Wahrzeichencharakter. Sie können zu gleichsam sprichwörtlichen, unter den Betroffenen umstandslos wiedererkennbaren Denominationen werden, die in ihrem Assoziationshof einschneidende, über Generationen hinweg gültige Lebenserfahrungen versammeln: Aufbruch und Ankunft, Einwanderung und Auswanderung, Deportation und Vertreibung, Pilgerziel und Projektion transzendierender Hoffnung. So symbolisiert, um wenige Beispiele zu nennen, etwa das Kaukasusgebirge mit dem biblischen Berg Ararat eine auch chiliastisch motivierte Auswanderung von Württemberger pietistischen Gemeinden nach Georgien, Armenien und Aserbaidschan; die Steppe "Bărăgan" benennt einen Vorstellungskomplex aus Deportation, Isolation und der Kargheit als Schrecknis der Natur, nicht nur für die betroffenen Banater Deutschen, sondern auch für die Aromunen in Rumänien; das Naherholungsgebiet "Junger Wald" bei Sibiu/Hermannstadt markiert zunächst ein Symbol für stadtbürgerliche Emanzipation und ihr Selbstbewusstsein; bestimmte Wallfahrtswege und -orte stehen für ein Erlösungsversprechen gerade gegen die Gefahren der Naturwelt; bestimmte Aspekte der Mittleren Donau-Landschaft bieten und prägen ästhetische Bilder von erinnerten Arbeitsweisen und Lebensformen. Einige grundsätzliche Bemerkungen zur Idee von Naturschutz- und Wildniskonzepten der Moderne ergänzen den Band.