Romania

In 1859, the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia united into what became the country of Romania. Although Romania joined the Allied Powers in World War I, the country opted to join the Axis Powers in World War II. After the war, Romania became part of the Soviet bloc of nations and came under the domination of the tyrannical Nicolae Ceausescu from 1965 until his overthrow and execution in 1989. Since that time, a state of widespread underdevelopment, in part a product of state capture by elites, has prevented Romania from prospering financially and from joining the European Union (EU).

Bordering on the Black Sea, Romania has 225 miles (362 kilometers) of coastline. The climate is temperate, with cold, cloudy, and snowy winters and foggy, sunny summers with frequent precipitation. One of the main topographical features of Romania's landscape is the Transylvanian Basin. On the east, the Carpathian Mountains, which cover 30 percent of Romania's land area, separate the basin from the Plain of Moldavia. In the south, the Transylvania Alps separate the Walachian Plain from the basin. Earthquakes are common in Romania, particularly in the south and southwest. The climate and geological structure also make Romania vulnerable to frequent landslides.

The country remains poor despite its rich natural resources. Almost 41 percent of Romania's land is arable, and 31.9 percent of the workforce are involved in the agricultural sector. Petroleum is also a major resource, but reserves are declining. Other natural resources include timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, and hydropower. With a per capita income of $8,300, Romania ranks 96th in income among nations of the world. Approximately 30 percent of the 22,329,977 people live below the poverty line. Some 43 percent of the population lack access to safe drinking water, and 49 percent do not have access to improved sanitation. The United Nations Development Programme Human Development Reports rank Romania 64th on general quality-of-life issues.

Environmentally, Romania suffers from soil erosion and degradation. Industrial effluents have led to significant levels of water and air pollution in the south, and the wetlands of the Danube delta are severely contaminated by hydrocarbons from refineries. In 1997, the Danube Pesticide Region Study revealed that Romania retained higher levels of DDT and lindane than any other country in the study. Due to high contamination of chlorinated pesticides in the Danube River Basin, Romania was identified as an environmental “hot spot.”

Around 55 percent of Romanians live in urban areas, and there are 144 cars per 1,000 people. Outside of urban industrial areas, much of Romania is relatively pollution free. In a 2006 study conducted by Yale University, Romania ranked 90th among 132 nations on environmental performance, below both the relevant income and geographic group averages. The ratings were particularly low in air quality, sustainable energy, and biodiversity and habitat.

The problems endemic in the Romanian government have hampered the efforts of environmentalists since the Soviets left Romania with extensive environmental damage. One of the few active citizens' groups is working to prevent mining exploitation in Rosia Montana in the Apuseni Mountains. Since ancient times, gold and silver have been found in this village. Less than 5 percent of Romanian land is protected by the government. Of 83 mammal species endemic to Romania, 17 are endangered, and eight of 256 endemic bird species are threatened with extinction.

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