In the process of cultivar promotion, in addition to the fruit ripening period and yield level, fruit quality represents a key evaluation criterion. Biometric, physiological, and biochemical characteristics play a decisive role in the selection of parent genotypes and, consequently, in assessing their breeding value. The aim of the present study was to identify and characterize the valuable traits of several cherry cultivars after storage at 4°C for a period of 14 days. For this purpose, three cherry cultivars originating from Caraș - Severin County were analyzed: Van, Stella, and Rubin. Among these, the Van cultivar exhibited the largest fruit dimensions, followed by Rubin and Stella. Throughout the storage period, a progressive decrease in fruit firmness was observed, most pronounced in the Stella cultivar after 14 days, while Van showed a less significant reduction, indicating a superior capacity for quality preservation during storage. Determinations of the maturity stage, expressed through the Brix index, revealed that the Rubin cultivar had the highest soluble sugar content after 14 days of storage at 4°C, followed by Van and Stella. The results obtained after 7 and 14 days of storage at 4°C indicated an increase in soluble carbohydrate content due to the enzymatic conversion of starch into glucose. At the same time, a reduction in juice acidity, fruit firmness, and dry matter content was recorded. In conclusion, the analysis of the physical and biochemical characteristics of the studied cherry cultivars demonstrated that all genotypes can be considered valuable both for fresh consumption - due to their high pulp percentage (over 91%) - and as promising genetic material for breeding programs.

This study examines the forest fund managed by the Sasca Montană Forest District, integrating ecological, pedological, geomorphological, and climatic characteristics relevant to the foundation of sustainable forest management. Field investigations included medium-scale site mapping, detailed soil profile descriptions, physico-chemical analyses, and assessments of stand structure. The analysis of lithological substrate and landforms highlights their influence on soil formation and the productive potential of forest ecosystems. The climatic and hydrological regime, marked by balance and diversity, contributes to vegetation stability and the ecological functionality of forested areas. The data collected were codified and processed automatically, facilitating the development of management plans, functional zoning, and the identification of conservation measures. This work provides a robust scientific basis for the integrated management of forest resources in the context of current ecological challenges. The effectiveness of silvicultural measures will be evaluated at the end of the management cycle by comparing the current structure with the optimal model. Based on the results obtained, effective solutions will be continued, and new measures will be adapted to the ecological and economic realities of the forest fund.

Public policies such as the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support organic conversion to advance agri-food security, market-price competitiveness and trade positioning, yet cultivar-matched fruit-quality evidence for high-value niche crops remains scarce. This pilot case study compared biometric, physicochemical, biochemical, and mineral fruit traits of three organically grown sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) cultivars ('Mara', 'Dora', 'Clara') and 'Clara' under conventional management from a Romanian orchard, linked to CAP support payments (€620/€442/ha/year) and a farm-gate revenue scenario using export price benchmarks (€4.0/kg). Conventionally grown 'Clara' produced larger, heavier fruit (549.3 ± 26.5 mg vs. 218.7–282.0 mg; p < 0.001) and higher polyphenol content (1446.0 mg GAE/kg) than organic cultivars, but lower DPPH antioxidant activity (57.6%) and lower soluble solids/sugar content (p < 0.01). Organic price premiums (15–40%) plus the CAP maintenance payment closed 18–45% of the estimated revenue shortfall relative to conventional cultivation. This trade-off between fruit size/polyphenol content and sugar/antioxidant quality only partly aligns with CAP payments, indicating that market-price premiums and trade positioning, not subsidies alone, are needed to make organic conversion of niche high-value crops viable and support agri-food diversification and rural resilience.

Romania's forest sector has undergone significant transformation over the past two decades, with certification emerging as a key instrument for improving transparency, ecological safeguards and market access. This study examines the current state of forest certification in Romania within broader European trends toward sustainable forest management. Using national statistics, policy documents and comparative European data, the analysis evaluates the ecological, economic and social benefits of certification and the structural barriers limiting its adoption, especially among private and communal owners. Results show that certification has improved biodiversity protection, monitoring and institutional accountability, while facilitating access to international markets. A comparative analysis of 18 European countries, controlling for national income and EU accession timing, shows that Romania's certification coverage lags roughly 16 percentage points behind the level predicted by its income and accession cohort, comparable to gaps in wealthier Western European economies, indicating structural rather than economic barriers. Persistent challenges, including fragmented ownership, uneven administrative capacity and infrastructure gaps, continue to restrict implementation. The study concludes that Romania is progressing toward European models of sustainable forest management, but further convergence requires coherent policies, stronger institutional capacity and targeted support for small forest owners, in line with the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

Romania’s forest sector has undergone significant transformation over the past two decades, with certification emerging as a key instrument for improving transparency, ecological safeguards and market access. This study examines the current state of forest certification in Romania within broader European trends toward sustainable forest management. Using a documentary analysis, a four-country comparative assessment (Romania, Finland, Sweden, Germany), three illustrative Romanian case studies, and a cross-country statistical analysis (Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression) of 18 European countries, the study evaluates the ecological, economic and social benefits of certification and the structural barriers limiting its adoption, especially among private and communal owners. Results show that certification has improved biodiversity protection, monitoring and institutional accountability, while facilitating access to international markets. A comparative analysis of 18 European countries, controlling for national income and EU accession timing, shows that Romania’s certification coverage lags roughly 16 percentage points behind the level predicted by its income and accession cohort, comparable to gaps in wealthier Western European economies; this residual is not explained by income or accession timing and is consistent with, though does not on its own demonstrate, the structural barriers (ownership fragmentation, administrative capacity, infrastructure) documented qualitatively in this study. Persistent challenges, including fragmented ownership, uneven administrative capacity and infrastructure gaps, continue to restrict implementation. The study concludes that Romania is progressing toward European models of sustainable forest management, but further convergence requires coherent policies, stronger institutional capacity and targeted support for small forest owners, in line with the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

The paper “Studies on the Condition of the Forest Stands in Production Unit II Bâltane, Strehaia Forest District, Mehedinți Forestry Directorate” analyzes the current state of forest stands in southwestern Romania, considering the local pedological, climatic, and geomorphological conditions. The research employed parcel descriptions, site mapping, and pedological analyses (29 soil profiles), processed using the AS2007 software. Results indicate the predominance of typical and vertic luvisols (86%), characteristic of oak (Quercus) formations, as well as approximately 10% of low-productivity stands requiring ecological reconstruction. The study highlights the multifunctional role of forests, their contribution to biodiversity conservation (particularly within the ROSCI0405 Strehaia–Bâltanele Natura 2000 Site), and the importance of applying sustainable forest management principles to balance the productive and ecological functions of forest ecosystems.