Due to its traditions and landscape characteristics, Romania has unique ecological advantages (e.g. diverse bioregions, unique habitats, flora and fauna diversity, large areas and functional land-use of semi-natural habitats) that need to be considered in nature conservation. Much of the biodiversity-rich habitats are in cultural landscapes, as well. This paper providing a review of how conservation policy evolved in Romania and how Romania managed to integrate components such as biodiversity conservation, environmental policies and traditional agriculture. The most important issues that need to be identified to maintain nature conservation together with traditional land use in Romania are presented. Contradictory governmental policy, preserving biodiversity versus transforming and decreasing the traditional agriculture severely affects traditional farming systems and seminatural habitats with rare species. Local communities are not correctly informed about possibilities and duties in conservation and protection tools. Local traditional farming methods cannot be synchronized with environmental conservation while there is massive land abandonment and emigration of young people which represents the major challenge. The concepts of ecosystem service and local stakeholder participation should be applied better than they already are in Romania.