Nicolae Doniță is one of the prominent figures in forest ecology, forest and vegetation mapping, and biodiversity conservation, with a career spanning more than six decades dedicated to scientific research and the training of specialists in forestry and environmental protection.

Through his scientific work, he developed the ecological foundations of modern Romanian forestry, being the co-author of the first treatise on systemic forest ecology, initiating and carrying out, together with large teams, the ecological zoning and regionalization of forests, the description of forest ecosystem types, and a treatise on ecosystem-based forest management.

He also worked on developing forest and vegetation cartography, publishing together with other colleagues nine maps of forest and vegetation distribution in Romania and participating, between 1979 and 2000, in the creation of the major vegetation map of Europe. Based on the most recent forest map by ecosystem units, he contributed to the digital and geospatial foundation of sustainable forest management.

As an active supporter of biodiversity conservation, he contributed to the designation of the first 13 national parks, high conservation value forests, virgin forests, and to the description of habitats in Romania.

In parallel, he also had a remarkable teaching career in the major university centers of the country, educating generations of specialists in forestry and environmental protection and supervising 14 PhD graduates in forestry.

With over 250 published works—including treatises, monographs, and maps—his activity has been recognized through numerous awards and through several Doctor honoris causa titles from universities in the country, being regarded as an authority in forest ecology, vegetation mapping, and biodiversity conservation.