The wooded areas in Moldova will be extended by 150,000 ha over the next ten years. The afforestation activities will cover both new lots and publicly or privately-owned wooded areas that are in a very bad state. This is provided in the national program to extend and rehabilitate woods for 2023-2032 that was approved by the Cabinet. In this connection, President Maia Sandu came with a message, calling on all the citizens to show sodality and become involved in afforestation, IPN reports.

Minister of Environment Iordanca-Rodica Iordanov said that in the long run the program aims to alleviate the effects of climate change and carbon emissions, to reduce soil erosion, to conserve precious soil.  

“This program that was proposed and initiated by President Maia Sandu is fundamental for a number of aspects of the economy and the life of our citizens. The document will help us to become carbon neutral until 2030 and to switch to a green economy. This program will produce a lot of benefits for the agricultural sector, where moisture is important, and the aspect of rural areas in the country will change,” Prime Minister Dorin Recean stated in the Cabinet meeting.

In her message, President Maia Sandu noted that afforestation for the Republic of Moldova, which is affected by droughts and other effects of climate change, is a priority. The restoration of forests will improve the volume of water in rivers, ponds and wells and soil fertility and will lead to the restoration of the flora and fauna in Moldova.

The program can implemented with the involvement of the whole society. “I call on public and private land owners to take part in the afforestation process with their lots. With joint efforts, we can leave a greener country, a more welcoming living environment to the next generations,” noted Maia Sandu.

The wooded areas in Moldova represent 11% of the country’s territory, while the forested area in the EU constitutes 37.7%.