157 Analele Universităţii din Oradea, Fascicula Protecţia Mediului Vol. XXIII, 2014 RESEARCH ON THE OPTIMISATION OF ARNICA MONTANA L SEEDLING PRODUCTION Vârban Rodica, Vârban Dan Ioan* , Mihăiescu Tania, Păcurar Florin University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Agriculture, 3- 5 Manastur Street, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania e-mail: dan_varban@yahoo.com Abstract The production and commercialisation of medicinal herbs derived from spontaneous flora has become an area of vast economic activity, being a source of income for producers, merchants and processors. The sustainable use of natural resources is one of the great challenges of our epoch. This challenge is directly bound to local livelihoods and to their economic viability, absent these factors the utilisation of natural resources (conservation) cannot be managed. Sustainable use is only possible through the development of "models". Key words: conservation, biodiversity, seedling production INTRODUCTION Arnica montana is a threatened species. It is listed on Annex V of the Habitats Directive and on Annex D of the Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein. It appears as "vulnerable" on the Red List of Romanian tracheophytes and on the "Aii" category, being threatened on a European level. Arnica montana is an emblematic species of the region, the inflorescences being used in traditional medicine for a wide variety of diseases. The pharmacological profile includes antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. It appears on low productivity oligotrophic pastures extensively exploited through both grazing and mowing. Pastures with a high degree of phytodiversity are being threatened by: intensification (especially fertilisation), abandonment due to migration to other areas and reforestation. Within the "Proiectul Apuseni", implemented in the Gârda-Gheţari area, Alba County, as well as during the period when monitoring of Arnica montana habitats was carried out (Michler et al, 2007), both overseeding and direct sowing have been attempted, both attempts however resulting in failure. As a result, the only option regarding the establishment of Arnica montana cultures is through seedlings. MATERIAL AND METHOD At the present time all Arnica montana raw material (Arnicae flos) is derived from spontaneous flora. In the Gârda–Gheţari area approximately 3 tonnes of inflorescences are harvested annually from their natural habitats