The annual tree planting campaign this year begins on November 13. “Saplings are planted during the vegetative break, when leaves are failing. The tree can then catch roots in a new location. The optimal period for developing roots is when the temperature is lower. On November 13, the temperatures will be lower and the pests will be in hibernation,” Minister of the Environment Iuliana Cantaragiu stated in a news conference centering on the annual campaign “A tree for our eternity”, IPN reports.

The minister said the Forestry Agency “Moldsilva” started to prepare the necessary materials. An estimated 2.5 million saplings and 30 tonnes of acorns will be planted this year. In the municipality of Chisinau, there will be planted over 100,000 trees. “Among the popular sorts are firs, spruces, junipers, oaks, birches, linden trees, walnut trees, ashes, acacias and willows,” stated Iuliana Cantaragiu, adding about 60% of all the planted saplings have chances of survival.

During this year’s campaign, the Environmental Protection Inspectorate will step up the activities to monitor planting so as to avoid cases when trees are taken, but are not planted. Private individuals will not plant the trees in selected places will be fined 1,500 lei.     

“We must realize that what we plant today is for the next generation, for our children. When the trees grow, they will be able to fulfill their duty of regulating temperature and rainfall. Their major role is to sequester carbon,” said the minister, noting the optimal percentage of wooded areas for our country, judging by the territory and by emissions, is of 25%.

“We are working on a concept to extend the wooded areas and to ensure the sustainable management of the existing forests, which includes the management of felling. We included the reformation of “Moldsilva” Agency, together with all the forest enterprises, in the Government’s action plan for next year. We promote the idea that the forests should not be managed by state-owned enterprises.”

Iuliana Cantaragiu said they aim to digitize the tree felling process, according to international practices, by pacing forest radars. In this process, they cooperate with telecoms carriers. When trees are cut down, particular vibrations occur and the radars catch them. The location is detected by a mobile phone application and the responsible bodies,  the Environmental Protection Inspectorate, the Forest Guard and the Police, can go to the scene to see if the activity is authorized or not.