ISSN 0354-8724 (hard copy) | ISSN 1820-7138 (online)

Vision and Strategic Objectives

for Sustainable Development
of the Apuseni Mountains Mining Settlements

Veronica ConstantinA , Vasile SurdB*, Camelia-Maria KantorC

Received: April 15, 2014 | Revised: July 29, 2014 | Accepted: October 30, 2014

Abstract
The restructuring of the mining sector in Romania since 1989 has had extremely serious social, eco-
nomic and environmental consequences for the mining settlements. Following the mine closure pro-
grams and socio-economic and environmental regeneration efforts the situation has only slightly
improved, the settlements being still very vulnerable in terms of quality of life and prospects for sus-
tainable development. In this paper the authors have developed a vision for sustainable development of
the Apuseni Mountains mining areas that would support policy writing and lead to the identification of
appropriate solutions for socio-economic and environmental development of the studied area.
Key words: mining area, planning models, sustainable development, Apuseni Mountains, Romania

Introduction “development that meets the needs of the present with-

This paper outlines a concept of sustainable and stra- out compromising the ability of future generations to
tegic development based on identified axes and di- meet their own needs” (Brundtland Report, 1987). This
rections of action for the mining settlements in the concept is based on finding the balance and harmony
Apuseni Mountains. The authors selected eleven areas between economic sustainability, social sustainabili-
previously used in the exploitation of metal deposits, ty and environmental sustainability (Elkington, 1997),
more precisely seven sites used for exploitation of gold, key concepts identified by Dyllick and Hockerts (Gil-
silver, and polymetallic deposits located in the Golden bert, Schipper, 2010). In essence, sustainable develop-
Quadrilateral (Alba and Hunedoara), two for exploi- ment means ensuring a continuous, and constant de-
tation of iron ores (Cluj county), a gold mine with ura- velopment based on five strategic pillars: economic
nium resources (Alba and Bihor counties), and a mine growth, social justice, a healthy environment, cultural
for bauxite exploitation (Bihor county) (Figure 1). identity and institutional development or partnership
The concept of sustainable development formed for sustainable development.  Thus, the concern for
over several decades and especially became popular the balance between economic growth and social wel-
in the past two decades due to numerous international fare has become a political and managerial challenge
scientific debates and various political (propaganda), of over the last 150 years (Dyllick, Hockerts, 2002).
economic (scarcity), and even religious (welfare soci- The concept of sustainable development is the re-
ety) approaches in the context of globalization (Kib- sult of an integrated approach to policy and decision
ert, et al., 2011). Sustainable development is defined as making, where environmental protection and long-

A The Regional Development Agency Centre, 12 Decebal Str., Alba Iulia, Alba County, Romania; [email protected]
B Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Geography, Centre for Research on Settlements and Urbanism, “Babes Bolyai” University,
Cluj Napoca, Romania; [email protected]
C Claflin University, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Department of History & Sociology, 400 Magnolia St., Orangeburg,

South Carolina, USA; [email protected]

82 Geographica Pannonica • Volume 18, Issue 4, 82-88 (December 2014)

 Veronica Constantin, Vasile Surd,
Camelia-Maria Kantor

Figure 1. Geographic location of the Apuseni Mountains’ mining settlements

and the position of the investigated area in Romania

term economic growth are seen as complementary Goal

and interdependent (National Sustainable Develop- The main purpose of this research was to develop a
ment Strategy Romania 2013-2020-2030). concept of sustainable development for the settle-
Practically, the concept of sustainable development ments located in the mining areas of the Apuseni
requires an integrated approach to economic, social, Mountains based on seven priorities.  The resulting
environmental, cultural, and institutional local de- concept of sustainable development is intended as
velopment projects as well as a participative approach a tool for the local development policy and decision
where the end beneficiaries, the citizens, become in- making process. In this paper we tried to find answers
volved in the whole process of planning and project to the most important questions related to the pro-
implementation. In this particular scenario where the posed concept of integrated sustainable development
study area includes mining sites it is also important to strategy, such as:
consider sustainable development that emphasizes an • What are the strategic directions for  sustaina-
adaptation of the economic policies to the operating ble development of the mining areas of the Apuse-
parameters of the natural environment components ni Mountains?
(Mazilu, 2009, 2007, 2005) that would ensure the re- • What should be the short, medium, and long term
duction (or even ending) of the aggression on the nat- objectives in the process of sustainable development
ural environment. of the mining areas of the Apuseni Mountains?
Up to date several studies that focused on sustain- • What are the concrete solutions for  sustaina-
able development of the Apuseni Mountains mining ble development of the mining areas of the Apuse-
areas discussed a number of issues ranging from ru- ni Mountains?
ral development (Barbu, 2005, Abrudan, Turnock,
2006, Sandu, et al., 2009), human development and so-
cial disparities (Erdeli, 2000, Surd, Zotic, 2003, San- Methodology
du, 2010, Butiu, Pascaru, 2012),economic development The strategic concept of sustainable development of
(Ciomac, Popa-Necşa, 1936, Dragan, 2013), urban re- the settlements located in the mining areas of the
generation (Muntean, Constantin, 2008),or mining Apuseni Mountains was based on:
and metallogenetic potential (Popescu, et al., 1995, • Geographical knowledge and analysis of the socio-
Popa, 1999 ). economic and environmental development of the
mining areas located in the Apuseni Mountains;

Geographica Pannonica • Volume 18, Issue 4, 82-88 (December 2014) 83

 Vision and Strategic Objectives for Sustainable Development
of the Apuseni Mountains Mining Settlements

• Discussions with local and regional actors and opment of the settlements located in the mining are-
analysis of information obtained during meet- as of the Apuseni Mountains. The main objective was
ings with representatives from some municipalities, to identify the functionality of our concept if applied
mining companies, businesses, or with educational to a network of settlements within a larger goal of im-
experts in mining, environment, economy, demog- proving the economic and living conditions of the res-
raphy, geology, etc. which operate in the geograph- idents.
ic area of the Apuseni Mountains;
• SWOT analysis of the mining areas of the Apuse- Vision and strategic objectives for
ni Mountains; sustainable development of the studied
• Experience in regional planning for sustainable de-
mining settlements
velopment and reducing disparities;
• Consultation of major public documents at nation- Starting from the assumption that a strategy of sus-
al and regional level regarding planning and de- tainable development is the result of collective effort,
velopment of the territory, economic development, the authors propose a concept-strategy of sustain-
human resource development and environmental able development for the mining settlements of the
sustainability; Apuseni Mountains. The intent is to provide both a
• Analysis of European Union directives on territori- vision of integrated development within the context
al, social and environmental cohesion; of major challenges at national and European levels,
• Documentation on the strategic directions of sus- and pragmatic aspects that can represent a template
tainable development in Europe, especially within for decision-makers (ideas and concrete proposals for
the next 10 years projects, funding resources eligible for the proposed
• Scientific literature related to best models proposed action, etc.).
for restructuring of mining areas; The development of such a concept-strategy of sus-
• Knowledge of best practices on planning and sus- tainable development for the mining settlements of
tainable development of mining areas in EU coun- the Apuseni Mountains is the result of a summary of
tries. conclusions drawn from both scientific research and
practice and translated into possible solutions for sus-
More specifically, in terms of the selected documents tainable development. At the same time, the proposed
that pertain directly to decision making for the min- concept - strategy was correlated with major policies
ing areas of the Apuseni Mountains, this proposed con- and strategic, programmed  or developmental  docu-
cept of integrated development is consistent with both ments.
the principles of political cohesion of the European Generally, a vision of sustainable development im-
Union policy 2007-2013 as presented in the Commu- plies a long planning process in which decisions fo-
nity Strategic Guideliness and EUROPA Strategy 2020, cused on territorial, socio-cultural, economic and
and strategic documents at the national and regional environmental assessments are based on best availa-
level such as the National Strategy for Sustainable De- ble information and coordinated at the local, region-
velopment of Romania 2013-2020-2030, National Stra- al, national, or even global level. Sustainable develop-
tegic Guideliness for Sustainable Development of the ment brings the vital evaluation categories in balance
Carphatians 2014-2020, National Strategy for Region- and facilitates the dialogue and the integrated ac-
al Development 2014-2020, Plan for National Territory tions of interest groups and stakeholders involved in
Development, National Strategic Plan for Rural Devel- the process.  It requires consideration of differences
opment 2014-2020, National Programme for Rural De- in spatial and temporal scales and an understanding
velopment 2014-2020, Mining Industry Strategic Plan of the complex interdependencies between economic,
for the period 2006-2020, Sectorial Operational Pro- environmental, social and cultural factors (Campbell,
gramme for Economic Competitiveness 2007-2013, Na- 1995). Therefore, a sustainable development strategy
tional Programme for Mine Closure and Mining Areas is a functional overview of economic, environmental,
Reconversion, National Anti-Poverty and Social-Inclu- and general wellbeing of stakeholders.
sion Plan 2002-2012, Sectorial Operational Programme Mining activities imprint theirs special features
for Human Resources Development 2007-2013, Na- into the landscape (Zhang, et al., 2011). Therefore, vul-
tional Strategy and National Action Plan for the Man- nerability becomes their dominant feature (Fabbri, et
agement of Contaminated Sites in Romania, National al., 2002). Thus, a vision for sustainable development
Strategy for Ecotourism Development in Romania, and of these areas requires a complex approach that must
the Plan for Apuseni Mountains Area Development. consider a number of issues addressed in an integrated
Thus, based on the above-mentioned directions the manner, such as time frames (actual period of exploita-
authors have outlined a vision for sustainable devel- tion of resources, the mining restructuring period, and

84 Geographica Pannonica • Volume 18, Issue 4, 82-88 (December 2014)

 Veronica Constantin, Vasile Surd,
Camelia-Maria Kantor

the post-mining period) or variation in institutional Vision of integrated development of the

strength or involvement due to changing politics. settlements located in the mining areas of
In contrast to the revitalization of the post-mining the Apuseni Mountains
regions of Central Europe, mining activities in Ro-
mania, and implicitly our research area, the Apuseni The proposed model involves transforming selected
Mountains, have diminished considerably in the last mining areas into attractive areas, favorable for re-
20 years, which created social, economic and environ- gional social and economic development. This can be
mental imbalances. With this in mind, when selecting mainly done by replacing the current dependence on
the relevant information needed for shaping the stra- mining activities with other foci.
tegic concept of sustainable development, the authors In essence, the vision of rehabilitation and develop-
have focused on formulating directions and identi- ment of the mining areas located in this Carpathian
fying actions aimed for revitalization and redevelop- space was based on three key directions:
ment of the settlements located in these mining areas. • Sustainable development principles formulated
Consequently, the first step was to identify five stra- and applied at the national and European level;
tegic pillars of sustainable development that focus on • Reasonable correlation of the county, regional, na-
maximizing the added value of products or services tional, and European policies and public programs
created by the community by obtaining a synergistic of development in terms of territorial, social, eco-
effect of: nomic and environmental planning with appropri-
• Increased economic growth (technology, retraining, ate sustainable development practices and direc-
human resource’s active attitudes toward the labor tions;
market); • Identifying development solutions based on availa-
• Social equity  (involving both social responsibility ble resources (not exclusively mineral) and the ex-
of policy makers, administrative and sectorial au- istent potential and opportunities offered by the
thorities and corporate citizens, or of the business area, which could represent the starting point in
environment, as well as increased accountability shaping a development model based on an optimis-
of those benefiting from investments and services tic scenario.
provided by community);
• Conservation and environmental protection  (com- Starting from this vision, an integrated approach is
munity awareness creation process based on ecolo- needed when shaping the concept-strategy of sustain-
gy and integrated management systems); able development of the settlements located in min-
• Local cultural identity (including the creation and ing areas that would act as an useful tool for improv-
promotion of community trade marks); ing the current policies for sustainable development
• Institutional development  (so called “good govern- and territorial, social, economic, and environmental
ance” which involves building intra and inter sec- planning. Also, as mentioned before, the goal would
torial and administrative cooperation frameworks, be to identify appropriate solutions and facilitate deci-
public-private partnerships, participatory methods sion making at local, county, and regional level for the
of development and implementation of local devel- institutions responsible for the development of these
opment policies). vulnerable areas. Figure 2 identifies priority axes that
could represent a framework, orientation, and moti-
vation for defining and generating development strat-
egies based on post-mining potentials of the area. It is
important mentioning that each axis should receive
equal attention, but become the major focus of its own
level when all the previous conditions are met.

Geographica Pannonica • Volume 18, Issue 4, 82-88 (December 2014) 85

 Vision and Strategic Objectives for Sustainable Development
of the Apuseni Mountains Mining Settlements

Sustainable
development

Area atractivity Axis I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII

Increased living standards Axis II, III, IV, V, VI

and quality of life

Science, technology, Axis VII

information, inovation

Increased economic cometitiveness, human capital Axis II, III, IV, V, VI

valorification and environmental protection

Identification of solutions for integration and functionality of mining Axis I

settlements at the country, regional, national and european level

Valorification of resources potentional and development opportunities as well as Axis I

risk reduction and mitigation of the gaps induced by natural and anthropic phenomena

Efficient management of all categories of available resources starting from the Axis I
knowledge and continual updating of information through an information system

Integrated strategic planning. Establishing directions and policies for sustainable development. Axis I
Development and valorification of local, regional, national and international cooperation

Integrated sustainable
Axis I Axis II Axis III Axis IV Axis V Axis VI Axis VII development of the
mining areas

Figure 2. Priority axes correlation as part of the long-term sustainable development strategy of the Apuseni Mountains
mining areas

86 Geographica Pannonica • Volume 18, Issue 4, 82-88 (December 2014)

 Veronica Constantin, Vasile Surd,
Camelia-Maria Kantor

Ciomac, I.L., Popa-Necşa, V. 1936. Apuseni Moun-

Conclusions tains. Research on the economic status of the
Within the still ongoing process of European Union Apuseni Mountains. (In Romanian), Tipografia zi-
integration, Romania is still learning and adjusting arului „Universul”, Bucharest.
its strategies based on the European Union’s model of Dragan, M. 2013. The Reorganization of Economic
“unity in diversity” and its own economic, cultural, and Activities in the Apuseni Mountains, Rev. Roum.
environmental heritage. Former areas reliant on min- Geogr./Rom. Journ. Geogr. 57 (1), p.55-62, Bucharest.
ing activities are even more vulnerable than others to Dyllick, T., Hockerts, K. 2002, Beyond the business
the new changes, having witnessed economic decline case for corporate sustainability, Business Strategy
and environmental damage. Thus, these particular are- and the Environment 11, 130-141.
as are in greater need for structural changes. Our vision Elkington, J. 1997. Cannibals with Forks: the Triple
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mining does not solve and specifically point to all of the Publishing, Oxford.
problems, but makes a valuable contribution to current Erdeli G. 2000. Geo-demographic trends in rural Ro-
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build post-mining areas. The present paper points to cal Perspectives, Liverpool Hope Press, Liverpool,
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and a feasible common plan with measurable indica- Fabbri, A. G., Woldai, T., Babiker, I.S., Kitutu Kimo-
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