Uploaded on 2015-11-12 by EdithJ

It is relatively easy to find examples of ecosystem services in the country, but I chose to present some of the more deliberate and highly recognizable examples. Provisioning services: The Romania landscape as you fly into the country speaks for itself. Romania was long the bread basket of Europe and only after years of mismanagement was that history position removed. The people, however, mainly in the countryside, have continued to harvest their land for raw materials or used it for the keeping of animals that could ensure their survival. With the hard economic times that hit the country in 2008 and have yet to get much better, people have simply gone back to doing what their forefathers had done. This photo was taken only 50km outside one of the largest cities in the country, Brasov. Someone cutting down a few older trees to clear space for the younger ones and herding sheep to ensure plenty of food through the winter. ![enter image description here][1] Regulating services: Nature is a big part of the cultural make-up of Romania. I find that in discussion with Romanians, young and old, for what they may lack in understanding of new practices of recycling and waste management, they far outknow many with their understanding and appreciation of nature’s powers of regulation. They tend not to clear cut trees, they keep trees all over the cities to ensure for better air quality control, trees surrounding the wetlands (photo from last assignment shows that) are common and as you can see in this photo, trees along hillsides are not cut in order to help with erosion control and in the higher peaks of the Carpathians with possible avalanches. ![enter image description here][2] Habitat services: The Danube Delta is a world-renown habitat for the migratory Pelicans. People come from everywhere to see them in their natural habitat and the growing number of birds choosing to flock here is proof that the management of the protected wetlands and environment is well thought out and working. This is a photo taken from a very tiny boat I was on as I quietly toured the many kms of canals in the Delta. ![enter image description here][3] Cultural services: There are parks and recreational areas all over this country. Hiking trails, areas in the cities to do outdoor exercise, parks for kids, areas to go walk, no neighborhood in the capital is without a sizeable green space. People can complain about many things in Romania, but the commitment to keeping green spaces available to the rich and the poor is remarkable. I chose this image, however, in order to show the great spiritual connection with nature you can find in every province of this country. Be in in the north where you’ll find monastaries dating back over 1000 years, the south where countless castles are built in the mountain sides or the west where stone is carved to reveal spiritual guides for all to come see, you find proof of the cultural services offered by the natural ecosystem of this country. This photo of a 7th century tiny church, Pestera Ialomitei, was built in a cave, 1530m above sea levels, in the Bucegi mountains and remains a well-visited location where people pray for the healing of loved ones and where 6 priests still live and devote their lives to God.![enter image description here][4] [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14473394156361244.jpeg [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14473406709223176.jpeg [3]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1447340979915457.jpeg [4]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14473411308751403.jpg