The Ministry of the Environment will soon submit a package of amendments to the ecological legislation concerning the protection of the environment and combating of poaching. The announcement was made by Minister of the Environment Valeriu Munteanu in the program “Reply” on Prime TV channel, IPN reports.
“We will demand harsher penalties for poaching, up to the confiscation of the unit of transport and imprisonment. We will also seek to amend the law on hunting so that it is adjusted to the European norms and the monopoly of the Society of Hunters and Fishermen is excluded. The Government decision that allows leasing out forests will be abrogated and the extraction of sand from the Nistru River will be banned. We will also agree a period of prohibition on fishing in the Nistru together with the Ukrainian authorities,” said the minister.
Valeriu Munteanu noted that he will not yield up to the demands of the Society of Hunters and Fishermen. “Assessments show a serious reduction in the number of hares and water birds. Many of the species are to be included in the Red Book. They tried to influence me and even tried to bribe me with a hunter’s gun that costs at least €3,000,” he stated.
The minister admitted that the system he heads is affected by corruption. “There were 20-30 persons in the anteroom, waiting for me to give me presents on my appointment, on the first day I came to the Ministry. I took no present. The judges and prosecutors are the most passionate hunters, while the heads of ecological inspectorates prepare the meat on the barbecue for them. There are great interests. But I think that 80% of the environment protection system’s employees are honest and we will manage to bring things in order,” said Valeriu Munteanu.
