In terms of biodiversity, Romania is home to the richest forests in Europe. However, their area is shrinking every day due to illegal logging. "It is happening in many places in Romania that have already disappeared," explains Gabriel Paun, president of the NGO Agent Green. "Many of the country's mountains are empty and bare. There are places where erosion has begun and nature cannot heal itself, for example in the Domogled National Park. It is a catastrophe."

Europe's largest primary forests

Romania has more than 500,000 ha of primary and old-growth forests – more than any other European Union country. Theoretically, 63% of them are protected as Natura 2000 sites, although the reality is quite different. Romania's environmental legislation is not aligned with the EU requirements set by the Natura 2000 project.

Logging is possible even in Natura 2000 areas. However, for example in the Cernica forest, located just a few kilometres from Bucharest, state-funded specialists carry out logging first and then conduct assessment studies. (...)
Photograph by Benjamin Everett used