Analysis of Restrictive Environments in the South-West Oltenia Development Region

Restrictive environments can be defined as an area within a territorial system where development is constrained either by natural factors or anthropogenic factors. This paper aims to identify restrictive environments through multi-criteria analysis of Romania’s South West Oltenia development region, known for its issues regarding open-pit mining, desertification or flood risk. In order to achieve this, I proposed a typology of restrictive environments, based on an extensive literature review of natural and anthropogenic factors that can limit development. For each of the ten environmental restrictiveness types identified, several criteria were proposed, which were then weighted as a result of a questionnaire addressed to experts in the field of territorial planning. Based on the questionnaire results, an index of environmental restrictiveness is computed at LAU 2 level for the entire South-West Oltenia development region. The territorialized index highlights the environmental restrictiveness of areas susceptible to flood risk (e.g. along the Jiu valley), but also the problems faced by mining areas (Motru-Rovinari) or isolated mountain areas. The computed index represents a first step towards the definition of potential inter-communal cooperation structures, that could become the object of territorial planning instruments aimed at mitigating restrictive environments