At least 27,000 hectares of Romanian land will be afforested
Forests in Romania represent a capital value, given the ecosystem services they provide to society. The country has a forest area of 7 million hectares, according to the Romanian National Forest Inventory (NFI). Although 29% of the area being forested, it is below the European Union (EU) average of 39%. The functional zoning of national forests contributes to the main provision of ecosystem services for water regulation, erosion control and climate protection for 42% of Romania's national forest estate.
The impact of the forest sector on Romania's economy is substantial. Over the last 10 years the forestry sector (including the furniture industry), has contributed on average 3.5% annually to Romania's GDP, generating a surplus in the external trade balance of up to €2 billion/year.
The socio-economic role of forests is also important in terms of providing employment, especially in rural areas. The forestry sector makes a major contribution to preventing labour migration and creates more than 150,000 direct jobs, and indirectly contributes to the creation of another 300,000 jobs in related sectors such as construction, agriculture and energy.
Forests represent a reservoir of biodiversity for Europe, Romania being the only country in the EU with five biogeographical regions and a particular diversity of flora and fauna, with a complete trophic pyramid (mainly due to the presence of large populations of carnivores, which have disappeared in other European countries). Biodiversity conservation is a priority objective for the management of Romania's forests, which are part of the network of protected natural areas and for which specific management measures are defined in the management plans. Romania also has significant areas of forest with primary structures, for which there is a legislative requirement for strict identification and protection.
Romania is currently launching and implementing a "green offensive". The expansion of clean transport, large-scale energy efficiency, major investments in green energy production, but also the financial instrument offered by the NRRF, which will allow the implementation of the largest national afforestation program in Romania, with a target of 27,000 hectares.
All these efforts have been and will be made together with NGOs and private companies that, through their sustainability projects, support this policy of greening Romania.
NGOs over the years have constantly drawn attention to environmental issues and their involvement has been essential for the adoption of biodiversity protection laws and the increase in the number of protected areas. Today, Romania's network of protected areas has grown from around 6% of the country's area before EU accession to 23% today, counting 5.5 million hectares of protected areas today.