Original Article The use of Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) in Assessing the Environmental Impacts in Protected Areas. Case Study: Mountain Glacial Lakes Areas in Romania MIHAIESCU Radu 1 , Andreea Ioana POP 1 , Octavian Liviu MUNTEAN 1 , Tania MIHAIESCU 2 , Cristian MALOS 1 , Marius-George OPREA 3 , Stefan DEZSI 3 , Alexandru OZUNU 1 , Viorel ARGHIUS 1 , Nicolae BACIU 1 , Gheorghe ROSIAN 1 , Vlad MACICASAN 1 1 Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fântânele St., No 30, 400294, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2 Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Calea Manastur, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania 3 Babeș-Bolyai University, Faculty of Geography, Clinicilor St., No 5-7, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Received 8 September 2015; received and revised form 30 September 2015; accepted 30 October 2015 Available online 31 December 2015 Abstract The long-range impacts of various air pollutants attributed to industrial activities, pressures of climate changes, constitute a general threat for mountain areas. In some cases a more localized but sometimes intense cluster of impacts originate from local activities-economic exploitation and tourism. Protected mountain areas are subjected to various pressures ranging from illegal resources exploitation to pressures generated by touristic activities. Glacial mountain lakes are exposed to local and long-range originated environmental pressures and due to their high vulnerability and susceptibility to changes, and can act as environmental sensors recording and forecasting any adverse impact created by natural and/or anthropogenic factors. Environmental impacts were comparatively assessed in three areas in the Carpathian Mountains, mountain areas characterized and influenced by the presence of mountain lakes: Rodnei Mountains ( Buhăiescu and Iezerul Pietrosului lakes), Făgăraș Mountains (Bâlea and Călțun lakes) and Retezat Mountains (Bucura and Galeș lakes). Identified impacts were aggregated by using the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) (adapted version) structured on 4 components: physical/chemical, biological/ecological, social/cultural, and economic/operational. An in-depth comparative analysis was performed on these glacial lakes areas located in Romanian Carpathian Mountains. The results allowed a common base impact assessment in the purpose of improving the management measures. Keywords: mountain glacial lakes, environmental impact assessment, RIAM method, Romanian Carpathians. 1. Introduction Mountain ecosystems offer a large array of goods and services to human kind, for people living in the mountains as well as around its area. For example, more than half of population globe depends on fresh water, captured, deposited and purified in the Corresponding author. Fax: +40-264-593792 Tel: +40-264-596384 e-mail: tania.mihaiescu@usamvcluj.ro mountain regions. From an ecological point of view, mountain regions are a biodiversity hotspot, while from a social point of view they are of paramount importance as key destinations for tourism and recreational activities [1]. Environmental impacts are defined as a direct or indirect effect of human activities causing a change of the direction of development of the quality status of ecosystems, change that can affect human health, environmental Available online at http://journals.usamvcluj.ro/index.php/promediu ProEnvironment ProEnvironment 8 (2015) 629 - 636 629