The general felling in natural forests will be banned from this autumn. Thus, total deforestation in the forests with oak trees, beeches, maples and ash trees will not take place, Minister of Environment Valeriu Munteanu said in the public debate “What do several thousands of hectares of forests prepared for cutting mean for the deforested Republic of Moldova?”, which was staged by IPN News Agency in partnership with Radio Moldova.

According to the minister, this thing wasn’t done since Moldova obtained independence. “The move is aimed at conserving the lime trees, oak trees and common oaks that lived for 300 years will yet live for another 300 years and should not be cut. If there are 20-30 sick trees within a hectare, these should be cut and replaced with new trees,” stated Valeriu Munteanu.

The given order was made by “Moldsilva” Agency in concert with the Ministry of the Environment. According to the Agency, these changes are aimed at protecting and stopping the diminution of the natural forests, maintaining the ecological balance and conserving biodiversity and forest ecosystems.

The order provides that the forestry companies will reconsider the areas that are to be processed in the autumn of 2016 and of 2017.

The debate of March 2 was organized by IPN News Agency in co-production with Radio Moldova, with support from the German foundation “Hanns Seidel”.