Monica Sfircoci

Dr. Monica Sfircoci


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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23 January 2026 in Sustainability
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Luminiţa L. CojocariuLuminiţa L. Cojocariu
Luminiţa L. Cojocariu
NHNicolae Horablaga
Nicolae Horablaga
Cosmin Alin PopescuCosmin Alin Popescu
Cosmin Alin Popescu
AHAdina Horablaga
Adina Horablaga
MSMonica Sfircoci
Monica Sfircoci
LCLoredana Copacean
Loredana Copacean
Grasslands represent an essential resource for rural economies and for the provision of ecosystem services, yet they are increasingly affected by anthropogenic pressures, functional land-use changes, and institutional constraints. This study develops a geospatial decision-support framework for assessing grassland suitability in Hunedoara County, Romania, by integrating the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Weighted Overlay Analysis (WOA) within a GIS environment. The assessment is based on nine criteria thematically grouped into three dimensions: (A) physical-geographical, including topographic suitability, climatic pressure, and hydrological risk exposure; (B) ecological and conservation-related, reflected by ecological conservation value, ecological carrying capacity, and the anthropic pressure index; and (C) socio-economic and functional, represented by spatial accessibility, recreational value, and policy support mechanisms. Suitability is defined as the integrated capacity of grasslands to sustain productive and multifunctional uses compatible with ecological conservation and the existing policy framework. Results indicate that 0.43% of the grassland area exhibits very high suitability (Class 1), 44.51% high suitability (Class 2), and 54.75% moderate suitability (Class 3), while unfavorable areas account for only 0.31% of the total (Class 4). The proposed methodology is reproducible and transferable, providing support for prioritizing management interventions, agri-environmental payments, and rural planning in mountainous and hilly regions.