Moldovan agriculture minister says to no longer tolerate irresponsibility, non-professionalism, negligence in forestry branch

Chisinau, 25 February /MOLDPRES/ - Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Minister Ion Perju has warned employees from the forestry sector to show a responsible and professional attitude in the field and not to undertake illegal actions; otherwise, they will be sanctioned according to the legislation. Perju made statements to this effect at a 24 February working meeting with representatives of the Moldsilva Agency, including decision-makers in charge of the forestry farms from Moldova, following a last week visit to the central Hancesti district.

„After the 23 February visit to the Hancesti district, I deemed as important for us to meet in this format again. I warn you that I will no longer allow and tolerate the irresponsibility, non-professionalism and negligence in the forestry branch. When I took over the position of minister, I set a string of priorities – one of them has been and will remain the combating of the illicit deforestations, as well as increase of afforested areas. Unfortunately, I find out that the efforts are insufficient to this end. The fact that I do not make public what I notice and know does not mean that I personally and the institution I lead are not interested in the concerned problem,” Ion Perju said at the meeting.    

The minister asked for updated information on the current situation in each forestry farm, each planned deforestation, noting that the legislation in the field would be amended. “We will change the vision and will modify also the Forest Code, so as to allow only cutting which contribute to forests’ regeneration. We will discuss also with the development partners, in order to enhance the institutional capacities and optimize the activities of planting and afforestation,” the official said.    

At the same time, the minister asked all the leaders in the forestry field to focus their efforts on the counteraction of illegal deforestations and show an efficient cooperation with the state’s competent institutions, especially the law-enforcement and anticorruption bodies.    

„Make public the annual action plan on increasing the afforested areas. I urge you to inform more the public about measures of forest sanitation, so that people do not take the actions planned for the benefit of the forest fund for illicit cutting. We will impose drastic measures; all those involved in the forest activities will be concerned,” the agriculture, regional development and environment minister noted.

For his part, the director of the Moldsilva Forestry Agency, Dumitru Cojocaru, said that the new concept of the Forest Code was given the final touches. He referred to information which appeared in public space on illegal cuttings, stressing that he would further speak out for toughening the punishments for illegal deforestations. Cojocaru declared for the return to the situation when the Moldsilva inspectors had capacity of ascertaining agents, which made the fight with deficiencies in the forestry branch much more efficient.   

In late last week, Ion Perju paid a visit to the forest enterprise from Hancesti, after more information on illicit deforestation had appeared in public space. The official met woodmen from the settlement and warned them about the need to preserve the natural resources and the national forest fund. The agriculture minister reiterated the “zero tolerance to the illegal cutting of forests.”