We set the goal of afforesting 7,400 hectares in 2024. In the spring of this year alone, we planted 3,300 hectares with trees, the head of Moldsilva Agency Victor Durbală stated during IPN’s debate “Moldovan-Romanian cooperation in forestry”. According to him, the country’s afforestation is a priority of the government. In 2023 alone, 102 million lei was allocated from the state budget for the purpose.
The Moldsilva chief noted that the authorities proposed an ambitious reform of the national forestry sector, which involves the reformation of Moldsilva Agency, creation of wood warehouses and digitization of wood procurement services within the forestry enterprises managed by the Agency.
“The reform includes the equipment of the entire forestry sector the creation of wood warehouses, which works quite well in Romania. Thus, the citizens will enjoy quality services. Let’s not forget that Moldsilva supplies the people with wood. At the moment, this energy resource is one of the most important ones. But for this we need well-developed logistics so that the people can pay online or pay from another country for the wood purchased for their parents, select what kind of wood they buy - split firewood or logs. At the same time, through this reform we intend to outsource part of the services so as to increase revenues. What does outsourcing mean? Part of the works will be put out to tender,” said the director of Moldsilva Agency.
He also said that the creation of new eco-tourism routes in the national forests is the Agency’s priority. The Agency also aims to transform forest branches into woody biomass, which can be used to heat public social institutions.
“We want it not to be just a reform of human resources as many claim. When we talk about reform, it’s not about firing people. On the contrary, we really need people. We also want to develop the tourism sector because the forest offers us something else besides wood. We want to develop well-designed tourist routes. Also, we must capitalize on everything that the forest produces. The branches can be chopped because there are boilers at schools, kindergartens that use such wood," explained Victor Durbală.
According to the director of Moldsilva, a new afforestation campaign will begin in autumn and volunteers, representatives of NGOs, local and central public authorities will be invited to take part in it. Earlier, President Maia Sandu said that by 2030, the Republic of Moldova must ensure that 17% of its area is covered by forests.
“In 2023, 7,200 hectares were planted with trees, of which 4,200 hectares represent an extension into the land owned by mayor’s offices. Over 25,000 saplings were planted. A sum of 102 million lei was allocated from the state budget. Within a project carried out in partnership with IFAD, 9.3 million lei was allocated and other NGOs allocated 1.6 million lei. In 2024, we aim to afforest 7,400 hectares, by 200 hectares more. In the spring of this year alone, we afforested 3,300 hectares. In autumn we aim to plant another 4,100 hectares with trees. We hope to increase the area. We have the capacity, but encounter difficulties with financing. Planting doesn’t just mean that we went and planted a tree. Two or three years after that, we need many sources to care for those trees,” the head of Moldsilva pointed out.
The public debate entitled “Moldovan-Romanian cooperation in forestry” was the seventeenth installment of the project “Double integration through cooperation and information. Continuity”, which is supported by the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova of the Government of Romania.
