THE PROTECTION STATUS OF THREATENED SPECIES AND THEIR SPREADING AREAS IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

The paper presents a synthesis of the research results carried out over several years in the natural protected areas from the central region of the Republic of Moldova. The object of this research is 41 protected areas located in the forest fund. The focus is on the endangered species of plants and animals as well as the protected areas in which they were identified. The assessment of the protected areas was carried out during the main phenological phases of the vegetal and animal world. The register of valuable species was created, and their status of protection was recorded. There were identified 25 endangered species of plants and 16 of animals in the investigated areas. New areas of distribution were found for some species besides those mentioned in the Red Book of Moldova. The level of protection of the species demonstrates the importance of these areas for the biodiversity conservation. In order to ensure the conservation of these species in the investigated protected areas, it is necessary to strengthen the protection measures in such a way that these species are protected in their natural habitats. For an efficient management of the species and their ecosystems, we recommend developing a list with threatened species of plants and animals for each protected area that should include scientific data about abundance, vulnerability and their coordinates.