THE CHARACTERIZATION OF HIGH-ALTITUDE GRASSLANDS IN THE ALMAJ MOUNTAINS

Grasslands are essential for providing animal feed and ecosystem services, having important roles in regulating the climate and maintaining biodiversity and natural cycles. This study analyzed the distribution and characteristics of the grasslands in the Almăj Mountains, highlighting the influence of topographic and climatic factors on them. The research was carried out in the Almăj Mountains, a mountainous area in southwestern Romania, using geospatial techniques in ArcGIS 10.4. The grasslands were delimited and analyzed based on a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), slopes, slope exposure, temperature and precipitation. Climate data were obtained from local weather stations and spatial interpolation provided a detailed analysis of environmental variables. The grasslands of the Almăj Mountains are concentrated between altitudes of 500 - 800 m (76% of the surface). Lands with slight and moderate slopes (5.1 - 15°) host 77% of them, and the dominant exposure is south and southeast, an orientation that favours grassland vegetation. Multiannual average temperatures are high, as an effect of global warming, which also affects mountainous areas with low altitudes. The distribution of grasslands in the Almăj Mountains is significantly influenced by altitude, slope, exposure and climatic conditions. Grasslands are used agro-pastorally, having a crucial importance for local communities. The geospatial methodology facilitated a detailed analysis, contributing to the development of sustainable management practices for these ecosystems.