Since the beginning of September, environmental inspectors have issued fines of over 160 thousand lei, following checks carried out in the forestry sector. In the context of the start of the wood purchasing period for the cold season, the Minister of Environment, Gheorghe Hajder, asked the directors of forestry enterprises to take measures against illegal logging and to issue a fiscal receipt and invoice for each wood sale, reports IPN.

The Environmental Protection Inspectorate conducted 12 inspections in the forest fund managed by the “Moldsilva” Agency, as well as in the one managed by local public authorities. Also, during the inspections, approximately 136 cubic meters of illegally logged wood were detected.

The authorities recommend citizens to purchase firewood only from legal sources and to request the receipt and invoice. “People pay with hard-earned money. Our responsibility is to be fair and to sell the wood transparently and ensure a fair price for the wood,” says Gheorghe Hajder.

According to the Ministry of Environment, purchase documents allow for the identification of the seller and verification of the wood’s trajectory. Citizens are urged to report suspect cases of illegal logging or selling to the Environmental Protection Inspectorate, including situations when sellers refuse to issue purchase documents.