Description
After illegal restitution, logging rate increased and brought the Romanian government loss of 1 billion Euros according to the Court of Auditors from 2013. The project aims to support sustainable development and improvement of forests in Romania, through public participation, identifying operational solutions for reducing the phenomenon of illegal cuttings. The project propose to achieve the complete traceability documentation of 7 cases of illegal cuts nationwide in order to determine the 3 largest processing companies to commit no more processes than legally cut wood. Together with these companies there will be achieved and submitted to the legislature in Romania a concrete set of operational solutions. The project addresses to major wood processing companies, Environment Ministry and Climate Change, Territorial Inspectorates for Forestry and Hunting, Administrations of protected natural areas and Natura 2000 sites, National Forest Administration, financial institutions and general public.
Summary of project results
The project activities significantly contributed to identifying and exposing the methods used to break the law when it comes to deforestations of national and natural parks in Romania. The contracted private investigators demonstrated how the process of cleaning/trimming the forest was used as a pretext for illegal loggings and clear-cuts. They've documented several cases and tracked illegally cut timber from the forest path to the gate factories. The project team carried out lobby activities and initiated petitions that have changed or improved current legislation regarding national parks and illegal forest cuts. They've filed complaints against illegal activities to different state institutions, financial controls, to the Ministry of Environment, and presented incontestable evidence that led to DIICOT (Direction of Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism Offenses) investigations and dismissals. It was demonstrated how the "Forest Radar" is fooled by the forest mafia and how superficially it is checked by employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Investigators obtained statements from Romsilva employees (directors of national parks) that illustrate the dramatic situation of national parks in Romania. Agent Green fought alongside a local activist group - "Asociatia Altitudine" - to save the remnants of virgin forests. A gentleman's agreement was requested from Kronospan, Holzindustrie Schweighofer, Losan and Massiv, all companies working in forest industry, in order to refuse incoming wood cut from virgin forests. In the absence of sanctions from the Ministry of Environment and without accelerating the process of the national inventory of these forests, Romania will lose these last virgin forests. During the implementation of the project activities, Agent Green Association has gained a community of 400 supporters on Facebook; also, over 80,000 people read/watch their posts every day. Project activities were supported by public personalities who stood up for project's campaigns. The Association was awarded at the "25 years of Environment in Romania Gala" and at the 7th "Public Participation Gala" for their actions developed during this project.
Summary of bilateral results