The nurseries of forest enterprises managed by the Forestry Agency “Moldsilva” will display about 48,000 Christmas trees (46,000 spruce firs and 2,000 pine trees) for sale. This is by 15,000 pieces more than last year. The state and private institutions and private individuals can purchase spruces from 20 forest enterprises, IPN reports.

The height of a fir tree varies from 1 meter to 6 meters. Over 23,000 trees will be under 1 meter in height. The prices at nurseries remained unchanged – 36 lei a meter. An extra 100 lei is paid for spruces higher than 6 meter and 70 lei for pines higher than six meters.

The felling of spruce trees will start in the first half of December and will continue until December 31, depending on demand. The Agency “Moldsilva” has submitted an application for obtaining an authorization for cutting down fir trees to the State Ecological Inspectorate.

Ana Mishchenko, director of the nursery in Iargara, which is the only one that offers fir trees in pots, said those who want can purchase a silvery pine tree at the price of 380-400 lei a meter. The ordinary pine tree costs 160 lei a meter. The pines in pots are sold for 220 lei a meter. The height of trees in the nursery now varies between 0.5 meters and 1.5 meters.

The private individuals who illegally cut down fir trees in forests or other green areas face a fine of 2,000 to 2,500 lei, while the legal entities of 20,000 to 25,000 lei or community service in accordance with Article 122 of the Contravention Code of Moldova.