The mixed forests of the Iron Gates Natural Park, composed of pine, maple, oak and beech, provide essential habitats for numerous saproxylic beetle species. Deadwood and trees at various stages of decay play a crucial role in their survival.
Among the flagship species of the area is Buprestis splendens, also known as the Goldstreifiger, a species threatened with extinction. It depends on decaying pines, particularly the black pine (Pinus nigra banatica), and the park's forests represent one of its last important refuges in Romania.
Today, these forest landscapes, traditionally managed over the centuries, are increasingly vulnerable due to land abandonment, uncontrolled logging and wildfires driven by extreme temperatures. In this context, monitoring the presence and abundance of saproxylic beetles, including Buprestis splendens, is essential for assessing the condition of these habitats and for underpinning effective conservation measures.
