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Food waste is a generalized process that affects both the environment and resources (natural, financial, sanitary, etc.). The negative effects are felt both at the individual level (household budget) and at the society level, and they are, as a rule, difficult to combat. From the existing quantitative and qualitative analyses, it was observed that food waste at household level represents over 50% of its total volume, even if food waste is produced throughout the supply chain. It is also noted that some economic sectors, by the nature of their activities, have a greater predilection to waste food. This study carried out on agro-tourist guesthouses in the mountainous area of Romania shows that, at their level, food waste has reduced. This is due to the household spirit and the ethical and spiritual values passed down from generation to generation, reflecting consumers' affection and respect to Romania's mountains. Solutions aimed at reducing waste generation vary, encompassing everything from raising awareness about it to re-evaluating practices, advocating for good habits, implementing innovative packaging, and more. In light of this, this article seeks to enhance understanding of food waste and to pinpoint viable strategies for addressing it. Furthermore, it endeavors to estimate the volume of food waste in mountainous region of Romania, particularly within tourist establishments. Findings reveal that the highest levels of waste occur in mountain hotels, closely followed by agrotourism guesthouses. Thus, this article provides a concise overview of food waste in mountainous areas and underscores the importance of initiatives aimed at its direct or indirect reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper it is compared the productive performances of two breeds of beef cattle exploited in the mountain area. The studied population was 143 heads belonging to the Aberdeen Angus and Charolaise breeds. Statistical processing and testing was done using the SAVC (Statistics Analysis of Variance and Covariance) computer programs, respectively SPSS 16.00 for WINDOWS. At birth, the weight was on average 30 kg in the Aberdeen Angus breed, and in the Charolaise breed body weight at birth was on average 40 Kg. The average daily weight gain at 365 days for the studied breeds was 828 g, respectively 1153 g for the Charolaise breed. The weight at the age of 365 days for studied cattles from the two farms was 322 kg for the Aberdeen Angus breed and 461 kg for the Charolaise breed. The Aberdeen Angus breed has a low birth weight of 25-28 kg which makes subsequent development slower compared to the Charolaise breed. Optimizing the exploiting conditions will ensure good results up to 365 days and, for the Charolaise breed, good results will be obtained up to 18 month of exploiting. The studied breeds are valuable under optimized exploiting conditions that allow the expression of the genetic potential of animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of mountain areas is achieved through specific policies. The Law of the Mountain and the subsequent laws elaborated, aim to support mountain producers, entrepreneurs and implicitly to lead to the development of mountain areas. In 2019, the Government Decision no. 332/2019 regarding the establishment of the composition, duties and responsibilities of the massive committee and the National Mountain Council. In order to apply the policies and strategies for the development and protection of the mountain environment, a massive committee is constituted at territorial level for each of the 9 mountain groups provided in the annex to the Mountain Law no. 197/2018, body without legal personality, with advisory role. And, at the national level, the National Council of the Mountain is constituted, with advisory role, which will ensure the cooperation between the Government and the representatives of the mountain area, for the implementation of its specific strategies and policies. At mountain territory level, there is a number of 7 mountain development regional centres and 32 mountain development offices, each of them operated by one Agency specialist. Each CRDM has a variable number of ODMs subordinated, in its activity range. Every ODM has a number of settlements assigned to it, for the most part corresponding to two mountain basins. The Regional Mountain Development Centres are structures of the National Agency for Mountain Areas, and the Mountain Committees are structures of different organizations, which have a consultative role in supporting public policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to present the situation of dairy products that benefited from the optional quality mention "mountain product" in the mountain area of Romania, during the period 2017-2020. This paper is based on statistical data provided by the National Sanitary-Veterinary Authority and for Food Safety and also by the National Institute of Statistics and the National Agency for Mountain Area, data from the National Register of Mountain Products. These were processed within the National Agency of the Mountain Area in the following indicators: number of counties with mountain area, number of Administrative-Territorial Units in the mountain area, total area of the mountain area (Km2), area of pastures and hayfields in the mountain area (ha), the herds of animals from the mountain area (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs), number of dairy products that benefited from the optional quality mention "mountain product". Compared to 2017, the herds of animals, in 2019, have significant decreases, leading to negative effects on the maintenance of permanent grassland areas in the mountain area, milk and meat production obtained from animals, milk and meat processing activities and, consequently, reduced development opportunities of farms in the mountain area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romania's mountain area constitutes a defined geographic, economic and social entity, with specific climate, relief, natural and socio-cultural heritage, an identity recognized in Europe and all over the world. The paper aims to analyze the main normative acts for the mountain area in Romania developed after 1990, focusing on the specific legislation of the last 7 years. The aim was to create the legislative framework created, starting with the delimitation of the mountain area - to which this legislation is addressed, the public institutions established for the mountain area, as well as the main provisions to support the mountain population, producers and entrepreneurs in this area. The study of documents was used as research methods: laws, government decisions, ministerial orders, as well as content observation or analysis. The data were collected and interpreted. Results obtained: The 3 official delimitations of the existing mountain area during the studied period were identified and presented, the normative acts by which they were legislated as well as the main criteria that were the basis of each of these delimitations. It should be noted that the delimitation has undergone changes over time, depending on the instruments, policies and legislation existing at each of the times when they were developed. The main public institutions, with a role in the development of mountain areas and the application of public policies, were also identified. The development of mountain areas is achieved through specific policies. The Law of the Mountain and the subsequent laws elaborated, aim to support mountain producers, entrepreneurs and implicitly to lead to the development of mountain areas. By acquiring the right to use the optional quality mention "mountain product", at the level of the mountain area in Romania a Register and a national logo were created and a number of 580 "certified" products were obtained on the end of April 2020. Another 5 laws that provide for investments in this area are being drafted and are waiting to be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to present the situation of the mountain area in Romania between 2017 and 2019. This paper is based on statistical data provided by the National Sanitary-Veterinary Authority and for Food Safety and also by the National Institute of Statistics. These were processed within the National Agency of the Mountain Area in the following indicators: number of counties with mountain area, number of Administrative-Territorial Units in the mountain area, number of inhabitants in the mountain area, total area of the mountain area (km2), area of pastures and meadows in the mountain area (ha), the number of animals in the mountain area (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs). Compared with 2017, the number of animals, in 2019, registered significant decreases, which leads to negative effects on maintenance of permanent grassland areas in the mountain area, milk and meat production from animals, milk processing activities, respectively meat and, implicitly, reduced possibilities of developing farms in the mountain area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents 22 indicators used to highlight the actual global warming trends. The indicators are the outputs of a detailed research activities performed by scientists from all over the world. These 22 indicators were divided into eight separate categories: atmosphere and climate; glaciers, snow and ice; marine systems; terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity; water; agriculture; economy; human health. Some specific mountain area aspects are relieved with Mountain Low in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking into account the very difficult current issues that people are facing in the mountain areas of Romania, occupied mainly with livestock and agriculture activities, urgent steps should be taken in the short, medium and long period of time, in order to stop the exodus of the population to urban centers in Romania or to other countries. Otherwise, depopulation of mountain villages will directly lead to the liquidation of agro-livestock producers, transforming them from producers into consumers, reducing by 20-30 % the national production of milk and meat and more than 10 % the production of fruits, as food and raw material of the best quality and also ecological. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural tourism in Romania, which is based on a great number of natural and anthropogenic attractions, is considered to be a relatively new, but also an older practice at the same time. Tourism, as a form of activity that takes place in the rural areas of Carpathians in Romania, even though it started to be practiced in the last decades, became more and more popular after the 90s. The great tourism potential in the Romanian countryside brought into attention the positive economic changes that can occur in rural spaces with the practice of rural / agri-tourism. The main purpose of this study is to analyze both the evolution and the current state of rural tourism in the Carpathian area of Romania, in view of the well known fact that the Carpathians constitute the richest land space for tourist attractions in our country. Additionally, our aim is to reveal mainly those activities specific to mountain settlements that play a major role in the sustainable development of rural tourism. This research is both quantitative and qualitative in its structure and, despite the existence of poor statistical database in this field, some data regarding the tourism phenomenon in the mountain area have been provided by The National Institute of Statistics in Romania. In order to enrich our study, a qualitative analysis completed the first one through online and field research carried out in different areas. Overall, the study reveals the importance of finding out those activities appropriate for each rural destination in the Romanian Carpathians, the necessity for investment in both tourist infrastructure and service improvement, and also the decisive role that plans and strategies, both local and national, can have for sustainable tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]