The Romanian Chamber of Deputies adopted the Forestry Code on Tuesday. The law had already been adopted by the Senate, so it is now going for promulgation.
This is the first major law passed with the votes of the new coalition, a fact highlighted by the President of the Agriculture Committee, Adrian Chesnoiu (PSD): „After lengthy debates, we have reached a consensus and adopted an extremely important law. This is a prime example that, when we desire it, members of the potential future governing coalition – consisting of PSD, PNL, USR, and UDMR – can reach a consensus.”
The Minister of the Environment, Mircea Fechet (PNL), also stated that the plenary vote is the result of an agreement between parties, despite extensive debate. "It managed to reconcile not only the parliamentary groups but also civil society and the timber industry in Romania, practically all entities benefiting from this bill today."
The Forestry Code passed the Chamber with 245 votes in favor, 2 votes against, and 6 abstentions.
The new law establishes the legal framework for combating illegal logging through digital means, regulates the system of criminal sanctions and the regime of precautionary measures and the confiscation of timber materials, and introduces new forestry offenses, such as falsification of forestry-related computer data and false statements in computer declarations.
Here are some of the provisions of the law mentioned by News.ro and Agerpres:
- Forest roads will be monitored by video surveillance, with technical monitoring/recording systems to help detect theft and illegal logging.
- New forestry offenses are introduced: falsification of forestry-related computer data and false statements in computer declarations will be punished with 1 to 5 years of imprisonment.
- The National Forestry Register (RFN) is established for the registration of forestry operations, including all forest owners in Romania.
- The National Forestry Council is also created, which will oversee the exercise of professional ethics and compliance with professional standards by forestry personnel.
- The obligations and rights of forest landowners are clearly defined, distinguishing between forest properties of up to 10 hectares and those over 10 hectares.
- The areas where clear-cutting is prohibited are expanded to natural parks and all protected natural areas in Romania, introducing the concept of "aging islands," a mechanism to protect forest areas of at least 0.1 hectares, crucial for biodiversity preservation, from logging.
- The minimum tree cover area required for forest use is doubled from 0.25 hectares to 0.5 hectares.
- The term "agroforestry use" is introduced, making it easier to afforest agricultural land.
- Financial compensations from the state budget are provided for the restrictions and disadvantages resulting from the conservation of biodiversity in forest habitats.
- The interests and incompatibilities for forestry personnel are defined.
- All citizens are granted the right to walk or cycle in any forest in the country.
- The promotion and protection of the health, educational, touristic, and recreational role of forests are pursued, including by incorporating forests into green belts around cities and increasing forested land areas.
- For forests up to 30 hectares, where there is no management or minimal forestry services, and the owner cannot be identified or whose succession has not been discussed, the competent Forest Guard notifies the local administrative unit about the need for security and minimal forestry services.
The Minister of the Environment, Mircea Fechet, stated in the plenary that this is one of those moments when the Parliament gives Romania, after 15 years, a law that marks a new beginning in forest management.
"It is a law that fully deserves to be fast-tracked, not only because it represents an important milestone in the PNRR, but because time no longer has patience with Romania's forests, for which we need clear and up-to-date regulations. Today, we are not just talking about timber, but about the importance of the forest for each of us. (...) We are not only talking about the timber industry but about an economic sector that has reached 3.5% of the GDP, making a significant contribution to Romania's trade balance," the minister conveyed.
He emphasized that Romania is one of the few countries in Europe with forests where no human foot has ever stepped, and at the same time, we have 3.5 million households that would not survive winter without firewood.