To mitigate the negative effects of climate change on the environment, the Member States of the European Union implement fiscal measures and commit budgetary expenditures to ensure sustainable economic development. Romania, in line with the Union’s objectives, resorted to the application of a system of environmental taxes and provided in the budgetary policy government expenditures for environmental protection. The aim of the research is to highlight the effects of these measures on the environment by analysing the short-run and long-run causal relationships between greenhouse gas emissions, green taxes and government expenditures on environmental protection. Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method and Granger causality tests were used to demonstrate the existence of these relationships and the intensity with which they manifest. Following the analysis, we identified a significant long-run influence of government spending on environmental protection on greenhouse gas emissions but also numerous short-run and long-run causal relationships between greenhouse gas emissions and green taxes, applied in Romania. The results of the research consider the impact of public expenses for environment protection, a variable not yet applied for Romania, on greenhouse gas emissions’ decrease, in correlation with environmental taxes per source of origin.

The protection of the Natura 2000 species Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1774), protected by Romanian and European legislation, requires knowledge of distribution, threats and conservation status. In Romania the species is protected in only 9 Natura 2000 areas of the 442 SCI declared until 2021. All the protected areas in which the species is mentioned are located along the Carpathian Arch except ROSCI0135 Pădurea Bârnova – Repedea located in the Central Moldavian Plateau. The identification of the species in ROSCI0045 Coridorul Jiului brings new data about the distribution of the species and its conservation status. Observations on the species in larval stage were made by direct searches in specific habitats in the protected area. In the months of May, August and September 2022, Cucujus cinnaberinus was identified in several points along the protected area: Dăbuleni on poplar wood in the Danube River meadow, Foișor on poplar wood in the Jiului meadow, Bratovoești in ploplar wood of the former channels of the meanders Jiului River, Calopăr on ash wood from the Dâlga valley and Turburea on alder wood in the Gilortului meadow. The identification of Cucujus cinnaberinus Natura 2000 species requires further monitoring at the site and the implementation of appropriate protection and conservation measures.

Romanian flora includes a high diversity of orchids, any with a high conservationist interest, but many 0f themnot yet sufficiently investigated from an ecological, phytosociological or genetic point of view. Phenotypically analysis is also scarce and only a few data have been published in relation to the effects of site factors on the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the family Orchidaceae. This study analyses the variability of two populations of Anacamptis coriophora, based on their coenological affiliations, morphological observations and biometrical measurements. The data were collected from two grassland areas in Romania Stoenesti, Vâlcea County and Cobia, Dâmbovița County. The results showed that both populations are influenced by temperature, light and humidity and develop normally under optimal conditions. In the most favorable conditions encountered in Vâlcea county, orchids offer the splendor of flowers for a long time. Orchids in our country usually bloom in March, sometimes lasting until August, they have a delicate appearance, varied colors and the most diverse perfumes. The information obtained regarding the morphological diversity of the two populations could be suitable for designing strategies for their conservation in both locations.

Observations carried out in May-September 2022 in CoridorulJiului, a Natura 2000 area located in the south-western part of Romania, highlighted 16 species of Cerambycidae beetles. The landscape, local climate and forest management impact the diversity and distribution of these species in the site. All species have been listed on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, of which, Cerambyx cerdo, Rosalia alpina and Morimus asper funereus are also included in the Natura 2000 network. Five species were recorded for the first time in this area. Furthermore, another species noted, Isotomus speciosus, is a rare species in many European countries. The saproxylic character of these beetles makes them an essential participant within the forest ecosystem, which is why a responsible management of the forests in the Coridorul Jiului area is necessary to maintain the populations of these coleopterans on a stable trend.

The intensive abiotic activity, but not only that, has brought about the invasion of allochtone (non-native) species in the natural and semi-natural degraded ecosystems in our country. The invasive species influence the succesional dynamics and the floristic composition of the plant communities, occupying increasingly more and more space. Biological invasion of the invasive plants is considered to be one of the most serious threats to biodiversity in alluvial and meadow vegetation. The effects of the invasive alien plants, on the flora and plant communities structure of the alluvial and meadow vegetation were investigated at Copănița Island in the Danube Valley. The researched territory is part of the ROSCI0045 Coridorul Jiului Protected Area. In order to control the introduction and expansion of invasive plants, as well as the anthropogenic impact of these species on biodiversity, a number of measures for the protection and proper management of invasive plants in riparian areas need to be defined and implemented. In the researched area, 22 invasive species were identified, for some of them new locations were established for Romania or Oltenia. Several species were identified for the first time in Oltenia or a second location was identified for Romania, such as the Conyza sumatremsis. is found for the first time in Romania. The management is most effective when the invasion is detected early and comprehensive control measures are implemented quickly, any effect is thus limited. Therefore, early identification of the areas in which efforts should be concentrated (e.g. prevention, elimination and monitoring) is essential for cost-effective management. All the invasive species strongly affect biodiversity within natural habitats.