Moldovan wood exports to be temporarily ceased

Chisinau, 20 April /MOLDPRES/-In the context of Moldovan forests’ over-exploitation ascertained by the Environment Ministry, the cabinet today decided to tighten the regulation on the exports of wood material and temporarily suspend them.

The decision puts a temporary ban on the export of raw wood and materials, wooden sleepers for railways and processed wood. “Moldovan forests are part of the first functional group, being exclusively designed for environment protection and not for intensive exploitation,” the Environment Ministry states. According to it, “the national interest to preserve the natural heritage is above the economic interest”.

Moldova is the most deforested country in Europe. Only 12 per cent of its territory is covered by forests. Also, Environment Minister Valeriu Munteanu said Moldova had become an active wood exporter over the past 25 years.

Approximately 4,000 hectares of Moldova’s forest are annually deforested through illegal logging. According to Munteanu, this activity brings unaccounted earnings of up to ten million euros.

According to the National Bureau for Statistics, deforestation grew from 2,661 hectares in 2008 to 3,572 hectares in 2014. Moldova has currently been left with more than 290 thousand hectares of forest.

(Reporter V. Bercu, Editor A. Raileanu)