The new Forestry Code, a milestone in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, was adopted by the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest as the decision-making body, with a large majority of votes. Among other things, the law provides for the inclusion of forests in the green belts around cities, an increase in forested areas, the introduction of the right to pre-emption and quality raw materials at affordable prices for local furniture manufacturers, the obligation to organize professional training courses for forestry personnel and a 25% increase in the basic salary for employees of the National Forest Guard. The law also provides for video surveillance of forest roads, seizing illegal logging transports, including the vehicles, as well as prison sentences of up to 5 years for falsifying forestry computer data. At the same time, the law introduced the concept of “aging islands”, a mechanism by means of which forest areas of at least 1,000 square meters with a role in maintaining biodiversity will be protected from logging. The Code also provides for the establishment of the National Forest Register and the afforestation and state supervision of completely cut down and abandoned forests, even without the owner’s consent. In addition, owners of companies that exploit timber and their relatives can no longer be employees of the forestry sector. Last but not least, access to forests for hiking will be unconditional.
The new law marks a new beginning in forest management in Romania, Environment Minister Mircea Fechet said. He stressed that the measures provided for in the code will ensure the afforestation of deforested lands. “Romania’s forested areas reported a slight growth trend in the last 30 years and this happened especially in the last year, when we managed, using money from the Recovery and Resilience mechanism, to afforest areas that were never included in forested areas. Today we have almost 9,000 hectares ready for contracting, of which over 3,000 have already been afforested this year and last year, and I believe this is a trend that will continue”.
Minister Fechet also pointed out that the forestry sector, the wood industry sector and the related industry account for 3.5% of Romania’s GDP. However, the code was also met with some criticism. From the opposition, AUR deputy Dan Tanasă criticized the fact that the code does not prohibit foreign companies from exploiting wood from Romania’s forests.
“We will truly protect the forests of Romania when we remove foreign companies from Romania to exploit wood at home, and in Romania the forests are exploited by Romanians. Only then can you boast that you have done something for the forests of Romania.”
Over seven months have passed since the new Forestry Code was adopted by the Senate, as the first chamber notified, during which time the document was added with over 200 amendments. Now, law has been submitted to the President of Romania for ratification. (VP)
