Standing Up for Forests
For the first time since joining the European Union, “The Forest” has managed to mobilize the highest number of voices from Romania in a European public consultation exercise. With 429 completed questionnaires – more than Germany, France, and Austria – Romania ranked first in Europe in the consultation on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework.
This result reflects an important aspect for our country: although Romania does not have a well-established culture of participation in such democratic processes, it has shown that when the stakes are high – the forests – Romanians can speak clearly, firmly, and with one voice.
Following the event „Forests, a Central Pillar of the Future of Green Investments in Europe”, joint efforts were made to inform and mobilize the public with the goal of supporting fair and adequate funding for forests. This funding must align with the real needs and concrete efforts of local communities, forest owners, and stakeholders involved in nature conservation, sustainable forest management, and the development of a circular forest bioeconomy.
The voice of the Romanian people sent an unequivocal message: forests must be recognized as a strategic sector for climate resilience, competitiveness, ecological transition, and economic development.
Romanians called for a fair and differentiated approach, with dedicated financial allocations for climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, compensation for protection efforts, and support for a sustainable forest-based bioeconomy.
We thank all those who got involved. Together, we have shown that Romania’s voice matters. It is a strong signal to European decision-makers that forests must become a clear priority in the future EU budget.
Agenda:
Opening remarks on behalf of the organizers (09:00-09:05 EET)
- Dr. Orieta Hulea, CEO WWF-România
Session 1 (09:05-09:50 EET)
Forestry as a Strategic Sector – Policy, Investment, and Governance Perspectives
- H.E. Mr. Victor Negrescu, Vice-President of the European Parliament
- Dr. Avram Alexandru, Secretary General and OECD Accession Program Coordinator, Ministry of
Environment, Waters and Forests of Romania - Dr. Mihaela Frăsineanu, State Counselor, Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Romania
Session 2 (09:50-10:35 EET)
Forestry and Agriculture – Drivers of Green Competitiveness
- Mr. Dan-Marius Sezonov, Deputy Director General, National Agency for the Mountain Area, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
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- Mr. Mihail Dumitru, Deputy Director-General, Deputy Director-General, (AGRI.DDG1), Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission – remote participation
- Dr. Ewald Rametsteiner Deputy Director of the Forestry Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO) – remote participation - Mr. Emmanuel Morel, Senior Environment Expert, European Investment Bank Office in Romania
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- Mr. Iuliu Stocklosa, President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bucharest, Romania
Session 3 (10:50-11:35 EET)
Shaping a Common Forestry Pathway to Meet EU 2030 Objectives
- Ms. Diana-Anda Buzoianu, President, Parliamentary committees of the Chamber of Deputies on the Environment and Ecological Balance in the Romanian Parliament
- Prof. Dr. Eng. Lucian Curtu, Transilvania University of Brașov, Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering
- Mr. Radu Vlad, Forest Programmes Manager, WWF-Romania
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- Dr. Alin Moș, Board member, Association of Administrators of Protected Natural Areas in Romania,
Director APN Apuseni
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- Mr. Siim Kuresoo, Forests and the European Union Resource Network (FERN) – remote participation
Session 4 (11:35-12:10 EET)
Unlocking the Full Potential of Forests in the EU Framework
- Mr. Porzsolt Levente, President, Association of Forest Owners and Administrators from Eastern Transylvania
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- Mr. Daniel Nicolaescu, Director, Public Policy, Association of Forest Administrators in Romania
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- Ms. Nadina Nedelea Rus, Director, Romanian Furniture Manufacturers Association
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- Dr. Ciprian Muscă, President, The Romanian Forestry Association
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Closing remarks (12:55-13:00 EET)
„The Way Forward”
- Dr. Orieta Hulea, CEO WWF-România
Moderator: Assoc.Prof.Dr. Laurențiu Ciornei, Center for Agroforestry
Biodiversity Studies and Research “Acad. David Davidescu”