The Light at the End of the Tunnel: Hopeful Projects for Combating Deforestation and Illegal Logging in Romania

Throughout the years, deforestation has increasingly become an alarming problem for the environment. Due to this issue, not only people’s health is in danger, but also nature and the ecosystems and biodiversity. In order for people to continue living a healthy life and combat climate change, a greater change needs to be made. Throughout this article, I will present in short the case of deforestation in Romania and specific cases of illegalities regarding deforestation, and then I will show some examples of good practices or initiatives in combating deforestation, starting from projects initiated by EU to ones organized by smaller organizations.

The problem of deforestation has been an ongoing issue for the past years. According to Global Forest Watch, throughout 2001–2020 Romania lost 347 kha tree cover, with a 4.8% decrease, the greatest losses being in 2007 and 2012 and having lost only in 2020 25.1 kha of forest. In the figure below, it can be seen the annual change of tree expansion in Romania, wither through afforestation or natural expansion.

On the first hand, illegal logging happens in Romania usually by using specific methods. For instance, legally speaking, trees can be cut down only if they are sick and dry or have fallen after a big storm. However, one method which is used for illegal logging in Romania is to cut down not only the drying trees, but also the healthy ones, which can be more valuable for them. Usually, there would remain more unhealthy trees standing, and the healthy ones cut down in big numbers. Moreover, another strategy used is to cut the larger trees, in an area where the smaller and dry trees are supposed to be cut. Thus, in the forest, there will remain smaller trees and fewer large trees, which makes the forest seem “sparser”.

Furthermore, during some investigations from Recorder, in Suceava, some illegal logging was occurring, but the papers shown by the person in charge showed that the trees which he cut down were marked and that they were dry. So, they can put “dry” as reason for cutting those trees, even though they are looking healthy. The method used for making the forests sparser was found also during one of these investigations in the South of Romania, close to Bucharest, which can be worrisome because those forests help in ensuring the oxygen emissions for the bigger cities around. Also, the southern area of Romania is known to having the tree coverage under the European average, being one of the lowest in Romania. After further investigation from Recorder, one thing which can be concluded is that the problem of illegal logging is also covered by some of the authorities, because they show that there are legal papers for the action of cutting down those trees, however, the people who do those actions are not verified and, in this way, they can cut freely what they want and what benefits them. In order to change these issues, there is a need of more involved people in the system and in the authorities’ departments, because there is a chance this may have a greater impact if it comes from the head authorities, who are concerned with the protection of forests.

On the other hand, there have been some projects in the works at European Union level, but also national level, which may help in combating the issue of deforestation.  On 17 November 2021, the European Commission issued a European Green Deal which entails a proposal for stopping deforestation, among other climate issues. However, this law would affect the supply chains, and can eliminate deforestation, by requiring companies who sell wood on the European market to state the origins of the wood and to demonstrate that the method of acquiring the wood has not done any harm to the forests or damaged them (Greenpeace, 2021). However, as Siri Erajaa states, this law has serious problems, because it is free to interpretation and there is little control in combatting more specific issues regarding deforestation.

Moreover, a new European project proposed by Romania has been accepted by the European Commission, Romania’s Recovery and Resilience Plan and it is considered to be one of the most challenging and could have great outcomes. This plan also includes an afforestation section, which aims to fight deforestation.  The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, has openly answered to Boris Johnson’s announcement of being over 100 leaders which will take action to end deforestation by 2030, an action adopted during an ONU meeting, and the Romanian president affirmed Romania’s commitment to this and the importance of protecting the forests. Additionally, Klaus Iohannis also mentioned the plan of recovery and resilience, through which he aims to combat deforestation and have better CO₂ absorption.

Furthermore, a smaller project, at a national level, which aims to increase afforestation in Romania is the “Plantam Fapte Bune in Romania”. This project has been trying to fight deforestation by planting trees each year. In their report from 2020, they state that 2020 was one of the best years regarding afforestation, because they have planted around 1.520.890 trees, i.e., 401 ha. Throughout the years, they have been collaborating with different companies and volunteers, and their reports show significant changes in the deforestation problem. Organizations as this one bring hope in the world, by helping the environment and being truly involved in their mission to save the forests of Romania.

To sum up, currently, these projects may help the future of Romanian forests, especially if they are well-executed and they can bring some hope in saving the forests and nature as well. Moreover, having the cooperation of the EU, is meaningful in order to combat deforestation and other climate change issues, such as air pollution from the emissions of CO₂ from cars/plains/trains.

(Nanu Teodora)