The head of the Ecologist Movement of Moldova Alecu Renita warns that the situation of forests worsens because of the regulations that allow leasing out wooded areas for recreational purposes. In a news conference at IPN, Alecu Renita called on the Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola to raise the issue in the discussions with the Moldovan authorities.
Alecu Renita said the regulations allowing leasing out forests were approved when the post of Premier was held by Vasile Tarlev, by order of the then President Vladimir Voronin, who wanted to obtain areas in the Tiganca Forest. But these regulations opened a real ‘Pandora’s box’ so that more than 3,000 hectares of wooded areas are now leased out for recreational purposes. In reality, these regulations serve as a reason for privatizing the forests.
The head of the Ecologist Movement noted that the state annually sustains losses of over 1 billion lei because the forests are leased out at derisory prices – 4,800 lei per hectare a year – and also has the forest stock destroyed because ‘palaces’ are being erected on the rented areas.
Alecu Renita said he made approaches and sent letters to all the state authorities during many years, asking abrogating the regulations that allow leasing out wooded areas, but he wasn’t heard. The Forestry Agency “Moldsilva” is responsible for leasing out forests and also for verifying if the lessees do not break the contract. As it does not do it, the Agency most probably wants the regulations to be used further.
In the same news conference, deputy minister of the environment Lazar Chirica said the Ministry of the Environment pleads for abrogating these regulations. But, given that “Moldsilva” is not controlled by the Ministry, the institution cannot put forward an official initiative in this regard.
Lazar Chirica noted that they want things to return to normality and the irregularities committed in the forest sector to be stopped, but the leases can be terminated only by courts and there is no precedent in this respect so far.
