Honey is both a complex food and medicine as well as a healthy alternative to refined sugar. Besides a complex mixture of carbohydrates, honey contains other minor substances which may threaten human health in excess concentrations. Several environmental conditions can affect the quality of honey. This research paper aims to measure the degree of heavy metals (Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), and Copper (Cu)) in some polyfloral honey from an industrial area of Romania, considered to be one of the most polluted regions in Eastern Europe. The samples were collected from six stationary apiaries and analysed using the atomic absorption spectrometry method. The content of Pb was higher in the sampling areas exposed directly to the polluted air masses. Cd concentration decreases exponentially while Cu concentration increases as the distance from the source of pollution increases. The checking of the quality of polyfloral honey from local producers is imperative because this product is intended to be consumed by the beekeeper’s family or the local community without being sold to an authorised processor. The results of the study can help to set a threshold for the concentration of Pb and Cd in honey marketed in the European Union.

This paper presents a literature review of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and the knowledge accumulated by Romanian foresters and researchers, covering species propagation, stand management, and vulnerability issues. As highlighted by numerous authors, black locust manifests dual features, both as an exogenous species and one that is already naturalized. The main drivers for this species’ expansion in Romania is its ecological adaptability on degraded lands, fast growth, and high biomass yields, in addition to other economic benefits. Black locust plantations and coppices also offer an important range of ecosystem services such as CO₂ sequestration, landscape reclamation, fuel wood, or maintaining traditional crafts in regions with little to no forest cover. Highlighted disadvantages include short lifespan, invasiveness when introduced on fertile sites, and dieback in drought/frost prone areas. The results of extensive research and studies are captured in technical norms, although aspects such as species genetics, invasive potential, and adaptation to climate change dynamics call for more research and optimizing in species management. As Romania rallies its efforts with those of the international community in order to address climate change and desertification, black locust stands out as a proven solution for reclaiming degraded lands when native species are not an alternative.

The most serious quality issue of natural resources for human consumption or medicinal purposes is the contamination with pollutants harmful to consumers. Common blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) is a sought-after nutraceutical and an important component in herbal medicine in many places around the globe. The present study aims to analyze the level of heavy metal bioaccumulation in blackberry organs, as well as its spatial distribution in two consecutive years immediately after the interruption of the extended activity of the industrial source of pollution. The research was conducted in one of the most polluted areas in Romania and Eastern Europe, within a 26 km radius of the source of pollution. The Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn concentrations in the leaves, flowers, and unwashed blackberry fruits were analyzed spectrophotometrically through flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). The results show that blackberry is an important bioaccumulator of these heavy metals—71% of the Pb concentration values and 100% of the Cd concentration values exceeded the World Health Organization thresholds by up to 29 and 15 times, respectively. Also, the leaves are the largest reservoirs of Pb and Zn (the median values: 51.4 mg/kg dry weight and 105.2 mg/kg d.w., respectively), and the flowers contained the largest quantities of Cd and Cu (2.54 mg/kg d.w. and 11.3 mg/kg d.w., respectively). The Pb concentrations decreased by a power function in relation to the distance from the source of pollution. The implications of these results on the safety of the use of blackberry are discussed. The urgent necessity for food education of the local population which consumes contaminated nutraceutical products is emphasized.

Honey is increasingly recognized not only as a functional food but also as a potential bioindicator of environmental pollution. This study assessed the concentrations of four potentially toxic elements (PTEs)—lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn)—in 48 multifloral honey samples collected in 2023 from seven locations across a historically polluted agro-industrial region in Romania. Samples were analyzed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) and Graphite Furnace AAS (GFAAS), with quality control ensured through certified reference materials. Results revealed that Pb (0.72–1.69 mg/kg) and Cd (0.02–0.37 mg/kg) levels consistently exceeded international safety thresholds, while Cu (0.62–2.22 mg/kg) and Zn (0.91–1.93 mg/kg), although essential nutrients, were found in elevated concentrations. Spatial analysis indicated a general trend of higher contamination in sites located closer to former industrial facilities, influenced by factors such as altitude and atmospheric transport. These findings confirm the persistent environmental burden in post-industrial landscapes and support the use of honey as a cost-effective tool for pollution monitoring. The study underscores the need for targeted environmental policies, sustainable apicultural practices, and continued surveillance to protect ecosystem health and food safety.

Erosion caused by human activities is one of the reasons for forest soil degradation worldwide, with a direct impact on forest stands development, including reduced forest productivity. Therefore, in order to establish sustainable stand management practices, it is essential to assess soil losses in various forestry activities. Moreover, this phenomenon is studied little in stands, especially those established on degraded land. In Romanian geographical conditions, where sloping land is up to 67% of the territory and is influenced by natural factors as well as intense human activities, the soil and vegetation suffer serious ecological imbalances. In order to achieve the proposed objectives regarding the evaluation of stands in terms of anti-erosion effectiveness, we analyzed the consistency and the number of trees on the surface, the weight of the seedlings, and the surface runoff from the perspectives of rainfall and soil retention. In the two stands included in this study, the influence of rain intensity was 39% in compartment 49 and 38% in compartment 73, directly influencing surface runoff. The ground retention’s influence on surface runoff was 28% in both compartments. The indirect surface runoff was influenced by the consistency of the stands and by the degree of proximity of the crowns, which directly influenced the intensity of rain. In addition to analyzing these two parameters (rain intensity and ground retention), it was also observed that the degree of proximity to the crowns directly influenced the intensity of the rainfall within the forest, which, in turn, indirectly affected the runoff.

Oak forests provide critical ecosystem services, but are being increasingly exposed to climate variability, drought, and insect outbreaks that threaten their long-term resilience. This study aims to integrate structural canopy indicators with climate-derived indices to detect early-warning signals of decline in temperate oak stands. We monitored eight Forest Management Units in western Romania between 2017 and 2021, combining field-based assessments of crown morphology, vitality traits, defoliation, and epicormic shoot frequency with hydroclimatic indices such as the Forest Aridity Index. Results revealed strong spatial and temporal variability: several stands showed advanced canopy deterioration characterized by increased defoliation, dead branches, and epicormic resprouting, while others maintained stable conditions, suggesting resilience and suitability as reference sites. Insect defoliators, particularly Geometridae, contributed additional stress, but generally at subcritical levels. By synthesizing these metrics into conceptual models and a risk scorecard, we identified the causal pathways linking climatic anomalies and biotic stressors to structural decline. The findings demonstrate that combining structural and climatic indicators offers a transferable framework for forest health monitoring, providing robust early-warning tools to guide adaptive silviculture and resilience-based management. Beyond the Romanian context, this integrative approach supports sustainability goals by strengthening conservation strategies for temperate forests under global change.