The mayor’s office of Larga village of Briceni district earns incomes into the local budget by leasing out walnut trees growing by the roadside. About 2,500 lei is collected annually this way. Mayor Radu Urechean has told IPN that during many years money was allocated from the local budget for maintaining the green areas near the walnut trees growing at the entrance to the village. In autumn, all the villagers gathered walnuts from those trees and could even destroy the trees.
Thus, they decided to lease the trees out so as to make the locals more responsible and to earn incomes. One tree is rented for 1 leu a tree. The villagers who rent the trees have the right to gather the harvest the first, on condition that they look after the trees. The lessees must trim the bushes growing nearby and paint them with lime.
According to Radu Urechean, the villagers know who and what trees rents and do not allow the foreigners to collect the walnuts.
