Natural Habitat
Moldova's natural habitat is characterized by forest steppes, a temperate-climate habitat type composed of grassland interspersed with areas of woodland or forest. A belt of forest steppes cross Eurasia from eastern Europe to Eastern Siberia, forming a transition between temperate broadleaf and mixed forests and temperate grasslands. In the 19th century Moldova witnessed a sharp decrease in the forested areas, sacrificed for agriculture due to rich soil.
| land formation | area, km² | of which currently forests, km² | % forests | habitat type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Moldavian Hills | 4,630 | 476 | 10.3% | forest steppe |
| Dniester-Rāut Ridge | 2,480 | 363 | 14.6% | forest steppe |
| Middle Prut Valley | 2,930 | 312 | 10.6% | forest steppe |
| Bălţi Steppe | 1,920 | 51 | 2.7% | steppe |
| Ciuluc-Soloneţ Hills | 1,690 | 169 | 10.0% | forest steppe |
| Corneşti Hills (Codru) | 4,740 | 1,300 | 27.5% | forest |
| Lower Dniester Hills | 3,040 | 371 | 12.2% | forest steppe |
| Lower Prut Valley | 1,810 | 144 | 8.0% | forest steppe |
| Tigheci Hills | 3,550 | 533 | 15.0% | forest steppe |
| Bugeac Plain | 3,210 | 195 | 6.1% | steppe |
| part of Podolian Plateau | 1,920 | 175 | 9.1% | forest steppe |
| part of Eurasian Steppe | 1,920 | 140 | 7.3% | steppe |
| Total | 33,840 | 4,228 | 12,5% | forest steppe |
Read more about this topic: Geography Of Moldova
Famous quotes containing the words natural and/or habitat:
“No Vice or Wickedness, which People fall into from Indulgence to Desires which are natural to all, ought to place them below the Compassion of the virtuous Part of the World; which indeed often makes me a little apt to suspect the Sincerity of their Virtue, who are too warmly provoked at other Peoples personal Sins.”
—Richard Steele (1672–1729)
“Nature is the mother and the habitat of man, even if sometimes a stepmother and an unfriendly home.”
—John Dewey (1859–1952)