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International NGOs follow up on their call on Romanian President and Government: Protect Romania’s natural forest heritage

June 24, 2020EU Biodiversity Strategy, NGO letter, NGOs, primary and old growth forests, primary forests, romania, Romanian governmentJaninka

Second open letter by International NGOs to Romanian President and Government – Natural Forest Heritage

24.06.2020

Dear Mr. President Iohannis,
dear Prime Minister Orban,
dear Minister Alexe,

we would like to address you on concern of a letter sent to you on February 11th 2020 by a group of leading NGOs from all over the European Union. Until today we have not received an official answer to our concern.

This concern is based upon numerous reports about massive logging in primary and old-growth forests in Romania – even in protected areas such as Natura 2000 sites, national parks and buffer zones of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

However, there are indications that Romania could still host more than 525.000 ha of forests with a very high degree of naturalness (never managed primary forests or long time untouched old-growth forests) as suggested by the PRIMOFARO inventory published in September 2019. There is a broad consensus among scientists, international institutions, politics and civil society that biodiversity and carbon rich forests deserve protection and non-intervention management to be able to tackle both the global climate and nature crises.

The majority of these high biodiversity value forests in Romania is located in Natura 2000 sites. The EU Habitat Directive determines that Member States are obliged to take „appropriate steps to avoid, in the special areas of conservation, the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species as well as disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated, in so far as such disturbance could be significant in relation to the objectives of this Directive.“ Any intervention at the site (plan or project) should only be approved after it has been ascertained that there is no adverse affect to „the integrity of the site“.

As there are serious doubts whether these legal provisions are implemented properly in Romania, facing the large scale of logging in protected habitats, endangering protected species and having obviously „adverse effects“ to the ecological integrity of natural sites, the EU Commission launched an infringement procedure against the Romanian authorities in February this year.

Furthermore we would like to bring to your attention, that an anonymous expert group represented by the Rector and the Dean Forest Faculty of the Transylvanian University of Brasov published several statements lately, drawing the picture that Romanian primary and old-growth forests are a result of Romanian long term forest management system and accusing scientists and NGOs of spreading „erroneous information regarding the forests of Romania and the way of their management“. They state that aspects of the EU infringement procedure are being the proof of „misunderstanding the realities in Romania“, caused by „misinformation, subjective interpretations and unfounded science “.

There have been many cases of evidence of old-growth and even primary forests being severely degraded on a large scale. Usually this happened on the pretence of so called „sustainable forest management“. This kind of forestry obviously results in systemic and deliberate cutting of tree stands which are in a very close to nature status and which very likely host rare and protected species. The assertion, that „sustainable forest management“ is sort of equal to protection of old growth forests is gravely misleading and not based on sound science.

The documents issued by this „expert group“, read like political papers, advocating the interests of forest industry players. Furthermore, the fact that the members of the „expert group“ are kept secret reminds at pre-democratic times and strongly contradicts contemporary and modern customs with scientific debates. Thus, we express strong concern about the misleading statements of a public academic institution by the Rector and the Dean (Forest Faculty) of the Transylvanian University of Brasov for sectoral economical interests, especially when the subject matter relates to comprehensive research, analysis and informed opinions of reputable scientists and NGOs.

There is a broad consensus in science and society, which is also backed by the just published EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, that an integration of conservation and restoration measures is urgently needed. We reemphasize, that Romania gave a commitment with adopting the UN-Convention on Biological Diversity to contribute to global biodiversity protection and is bound to implement the EU Nature Directives. On EU-level, the new Biodiversity Strategy states that it is „particularly important to strictly protect the EU’s remaining primary and old-growth forests“. The strategy aims for strict protection of 10 percent of the EU marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

There are indications, that approximately 8% of the forests in Romania are in a very close to nature status. The protection of these forests would perfectly fit into the contemporary protection schemes in Europe and would signal internationally that Romania is willing to give an appropriate contribution.

Thus, again, we urgently call on you to take steps to comprehensively and permanently preserve all remains of old-growth and primary forests in Romania. It is important to do this based on scientific grounds and transparent rules.
Therefore, we ask you to take the following steps:
• All primary and old-growth forests in Romania should be included in (enlarged) Natura 2000 sites. EU’s Natura 2000 legislation provides the legal base, the Primofaro inventory gives indications about the locations of potential natural forests.
• Old-growth and primary forests on state property should be put under non-intervention management immediately.
• Owners of natural forests on private or municipal property need to be compensated for accepting non-intervention management for high biodiversity value sites. Therefore a long-term compensation mechanism is urgently required.
We strongly urge you to ensure the full protection of Romania’s unique natural forest heritage – and we do offer co-operation in this huge undertaking.

Signed by representatives of: EuroNatur Foundation, Agent Green, ARA, Bruno Manser Fonds, BUND – Friends of the Earth Germany, BUND Naturschutz in Bayern e.V., German NGO Working Group on Forest, International Young Naturefriends (iynf), Hnutí DUHA – Friends of the Earth Czech, Friends of the Earth Europe, Pro Regenwald, ROBIN WOOD e.V., REMOTE – Research on Mountain Temperate Primary Forests, Michael Succow Foundation, Skydda Skogen, ProRegenwald, Centar za životnu sredinu – Friends of the Earth Bosnia and Herzegovina, Neuer Weg.

Here is the link to the scan of the original letter.

Environmental groups pursue new legal action over destruction of Romania’s natural forests

April 22, 2020biodiversity, complaint, deforestation, EU, European Commission, forests, illegal, infringement, logging, Natura 2000, old growth, primary, romaniaJaninka

Environmental organisations EuroNatur, Agent Green and ClientEarth have revealed the catastrophic scale of illegal logging of old-growth and primary forests in Romania’s Natura 2000 protected areas in a new complaint submitted to the European Commission.

The organisations have today submitted a complaint against Romanian authorities stating that the government’s lack of action to address extensive logging of primary and old growth forests within protected areas is leading to irreversible loss of unique habitats and species.

Romania hosts two-thirds of Europe’s remaining primary and old-growth forests of the temperate climate zone. These precious ecosystems, protected by European law as Natura 2000 sites, are being systematically destroyed by large-scale logging operations.

ClientEarth wildlife and habitats lawyer Ewelina Tylec-Bakalarz said: “Intensive logging, approved by the Romanian authorities and carried out by state forestry, Romsilva, has caused serious deterioration of habitats and species protected under EU Nature Directives. Logging continues to be an ongoing threat to Europe’s most unique ecosystems and a striking violation of EU law.”

The legal action follows previous complaints which led to the European Commission launching infringement proceedings against Romanian authorities over their systemic and continuous failure to protect one of Europe’s last natural forests.

Gabriel Schwaderer, Executive Director of EuroNatur said: “Our current complaint provides the European Commission with new evidence proving that illegal logging is causing a profound environmental crisis affecting many protected areas in Romania. We hope that it will allow the Commission to intervene sooner, because now might be our last chance to take action before damage of these unique ecosystems becomes irreversible.”

The evidence obtained by the environmental groups reveals the devastating impact of logging protected forests. In Natura 2000 sites in Făgăraș and Domogled, the majority of analysed habitats showed severe signs of deterioration. In the Natura 2000 site in Maramures the researchers have documented over 10,000 hectares of clear-cuts.
Veronica Tulpan of Agent Green said: “There are whole mountains where the forest habitat has been completely removed and all of the wildlife along with it. We need a rapid intervention from the Commission to start applying the nature directives in Romania properly.”

Tylec-Bakalarz concluded: “The situation in Romanian forests is dire, but the case taken to protect Poland’s Bialowieza Forest gives us hope. It proved how effective European law can be in safeguarding of our continent’s natural wonders.”

Video evidence about the fate of Romania’s Natura 2000 sites

Background information:

● The PRIMOFARO inventory (Primary and Old Growth Forest Areas of Romania), an analysis of Romania’s potential primary and old growth forests commissioned by EuroNatur, reveals that forest destruction is progressing quickly.

● Romania still has more than 525,000 hectares of potential old-growth and primary forests, which is more than any other EU member state (outside Scandinavia).

● Around 300,000 hectares of the Forests identified in the Primofaro inventory of Romanian woods are listed as Natura 2000 sites. Many protected animals such as large carnivores, black stork, owls, woodpeckers, bats and beetles depend on them for survival.

● Despite efforts by Romanian civil society groups to stop illegal logging, the situation in Romania has continued to deteriorate. The official national forest inventory shows that on top of 18 million m3 of legally harvested wood, another 8.8 million m3 of forest resources were extracted annually between 2009 and 2013 and increased to 20.6 million m3 annually between 2014 and 2018.

● The campaign “SaveParadiseForests“ aims at protecting the most valuable old-growth forests of the Carpathians, particularly Romania. It is jointly coordinated and carried out by the NGOs EuroNatur (Germany) and Agent Green (Romania).

Resources:
Briefing paper on the complaint to the European Commission

Briefing paper on Natura 2000 areas: Fagaras, Maramures and Domogled

Videos for Social Media

Memes for Social Media

Relevant videos: Primary forests, Maramures, Fagaras

About EuroNatur:
EuroNatur is a nature conservation foundation based in Radolfzell, Germany. Our efforts for a Europe with free-flowing rivers, ancient forests and a rich variety of cultural landscapes are transboundary in nature; we strengthen local conservation organizations and create international networks between them. Together with our Europe-wide partner network we create solutions that allow humans to live and work in harmony with nature. Our aim is a powerful network committed to protecting our European natural heritage.

About Agent Green:
Agent Green Association is a non-profit NGO for environmental protection and biodiversity conservation founded in 2009 in Romania. Established to protect Retezat Mountains, one of the last intact forest landscapes in the temperate climate of Europe, Agent Green evolved into carrying out investigations, scientific approach, strategic cooperation and effective campaigns targeted at bringing about positive and lasting change for nature.

About ClientEarth:
ClientEarth is a charity that uses the power of the law to protect people and the planet. We are international lawyers finding practical solutions for the world’s biggest environmental challenges. We are fighting climate change, protecting oceans and wildlife, making forest governance stronger, greening energy, making business more responsible and pushing for government transparency. We believe the law is a tool for positive change. From our offices in London, Brussels, Warsaw, Berlinand Beijing, we work on laws throughout their lifetime, from the earliest stages to implementation. And when those laws are broken, we go to court to enforce them.

Large complex of forest wilderness in Ucea Mare valley in Fagaras Mountains Natura 2000 site © Agent Green

Giant clearcut in Ucea Mare valley in Fagaras Mountains Natura 2000 site ©Agent Green

Logging in a natural beech forest Domogled – Valea Cernei Natura 2000 Site and National Park © Matthias Schickhofer

A snapshot of forests with great potential

April 21, 2020ancient, biodiversity, climate, crisis, deforeststion, EU, forest, logging, Natura 2000, nature, primary, primary forests, PRIMOFARO, protection, romania, woodlandJaninka

The PRIMOFARO study: an assessment of Romania’s precious primary and old growth forests. A statement by EuroNatur foundation.

Some of the largest and most significant remaining tracts of the EU’s primary and old-growth forests are found in Romania. Many still exist because they are found in relatively inaccessible locations and have thus far avoided the impacts of human hands and modern development. These forests deserve strict protection on grounds of solid scientific data. Such forests are rare in the European Union, but they still do persist.

A contemporary debate is taking place in the EU that recognises the importance of non-intervention protection of intact natural ecosystems and is seeking consensus on targets for such protection. The Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), in its post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework draft report is proposing strict non-intervention protection of 10% of the world’s land surface in the next decade. Romania has the unique potential to achieve this by actually protecting places that to this day maintain a continuum of intact natural values that have existed for many hundreds, if not thousands of years – its most intact primary and old-growth forests.

It follows that to do this, the location of these forests need to be comprehensively understood. For decades, debate over the existence, amount and location of Romania’s intact forests has raged. However, an ecologically informed scientific consensus has not yet been reached. One reason for this is that the thing that is being attempted to be measured is a moving target – Romania’s close to nature forests are being logged and degraded at a rapid rate, and the ability to reach this consensus is constrained as no national logging moratorium in contentious forest areas has ever been enacted. This must change.

Given this context, the PRIMOFARO study, published by EuroNatur in 2019, is a contemporary attempt to gain a snapshot of forests that have the greatest potential as primary and old growth forests. It identifies forests that potentially indicate a high level of naturalness in comparison to forests that have been relatively recently logged, degraded or managed. Expanding beyond the restrictive and ecologically compromised current Romanian definition of “virgin forests”, the PRIMOFARO study holistically assesses Romania’s forests from the perspective of biodiversity conservation commitments, including the CBD, the IUCN and the EU’s Nature Directives.

Limitations of the study, which are based on visual analysis of aerial photographs with a corresponding error rate, are described transparently in the report, and the study explicitly invites further ecological verification of its inventory.

The PRIMOFARO study, in recognition of national and international climate and biodiversity commitments, offers policy and decision makers a tool to assess and deliver on these commitments.

At EuroNatur, we and our supporters are proud of our ongoing commitment to the conservation of Romania’s magnificent forests. As such, we urge the Romanian government to take the following steps to ensure these forests are forever protected:

Ensure that government intervention, discourse and participation in the forest discussion in Romania is scientifically based, transparent and accountable
Immediately place a moratorium on all potential primary and old growth forests, including those forests identified in PRIMOFARO, and other scientific studies
Resource and facilitate a scientific verification of the conservation and environmental values of these forests in relation to national and international biodiversity and climate targets, goals and commitments
Increase the size of existing protected areas to incorporate all primary and old growth forests and ensure strict protection of these forests