ASSESSMENT OF FOREST AREA DYNAMICS IN SOUTH-EAST ROMANIA USING FRACTAL FRAGMENTATION INDICES

: In this paper, we examine the dynamics of forest areas in the Dobrogea Plateau and Danube Delta using the Fractal Fragmentation and Disorder Index (FFDI) and the Fractal Fragmentation Index (FFI). Landsat images from the Global Forest Change dataset were used to perform the analysis. The results indicate a significant increase in fragmentation and spatial disorder of tree cover loss, particularly in 2006, when the FFDI consistently exceeded 0.7. By 2023, the FFDI reached 0.831, signaling a continuous increase in the fragmentation of forest ecosystems. Until 2009, the FFI was 0, indicating minimal tree cover loss, but the gradual decline in FFI values after 2009 reflects the expansion of tree cover loss into new areas. This paper highlights the negative effects of fragmentation on local biodiversity, emphasizing the importance of monitoring forest ecosystems.