Laurențiu CIORNEI – Director
Laurențiu Ciornei holds a PhD in Economics and degrees in Forestry and Law, with postgraduate studies in environmental management, sustainable development, leadership, and psycho-pedagogy. He has also completed specialized courses in journalism (University of Zurich, Switzerland), ecology – Urban Nature: Connecting Cities, Sustainability and Innovation (Lund University, Sweden), Understanding Research Methods (University of London, UK), and Narrative Economics (Yale University, USA).
As of January 1, 2026, Dr. Laurențiu Ciornei serves as Director of the Center for Studies and Research on Agrosilvic Biodiversity (CSCBAS) of the Romanian Academy, a position obtained through open competition for a five-year mandate. He is also Associate Professor at the Faculty of Humanities, Social and Natural Sciences of Hyperion University, teaching Environmental Management and Sustainable Development.
Over the past five years, he has published 12 specialized books and more than 50 scientific articles, some with prestigious international publishers, including How to Correctly Assess the Value of a Forest (Cambridge, UK). His book Apostles of the Forest. Major Personalities of Romanian Forestry was published in July 2024 by Economic Publishing House. His main work, Economic Valuation of Forest Ecosystems, was published by the Romanian Academy Publishing House in 2023. Another work, Mapping of Degraded Natural and Semi-Natural Ecosystems, co-authored by Laurențiu Ciornei, received the “Gheorghe Ionescu-Șișești” Award of the Romanian Academy in 2020.
CS I PhD Cristina GÂRLEA
Senior Researcher PhD Cristina Gârlea specializes in pollution monitoring, hazardous waste management, ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation, bioeconomy, and bioinformatics data security. She represents CSCBAS in multiple scientific councils and acts as consultant for public authorities, including governmental institutions.
Marcel Theodor PARASCHIVESCU
Senior Researcher Grade II, active at CSCBAS since 2007, specializing in bioinformatics databases and applied research in biodiversity and reproduction technologies. He is laureate of two Romanian Academy awards for contributions to biodiversity and eco-bioeconomics.
Mariana SANDU
PhD Engineer, Researcher Grade III since 2008, focusing on biodiversity conservation and economic efficiency. Author and co-author of 7 books and 65 scientific papers. Laureate of the “Gheorghe Ionescu-Șișești” Award of the Romanian Academy (2014).
Amalia-Gianina STRĂTEANU
Economist Engineer, Researcher Grade III since 2008, specializing in comparative biodiversity studies, food security, environmental impact assessment, bioeconomy, and ecosystem services. Author/co-author of over 19 books and 85 scientific papers.
Petruța-Simona SIMION
Researcher since 2021, Department of Forestry Biodiversity and Forest Ecosystem Protection. Background in agro-food and ecological economics.
Ioana TODIRICĂ
Researcher Grade III, PhD in Economics, joined CSCBAS in 2022. Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Verona under Horizon 2022.
Victor PETCU
PhD in Agronomy, researcher since 2022, coordinator of the Research Center for Organic Agriculture at Fundulea. His research focuses on organic agriculture and agroecosystem resilience.
In Memoriam
Alexandru T. BOGDAN † Professor PhD Eng., Corresponding Member of the Romanian Academy, founder of CSCBAS. († Deceased on 10.10.2021)