The New Forestry Code Fails to Implement Clear Reforms for Forestry

4 Major Shortcomings

• The system remains focused on “marking” and guarding trees in forests rather than controlling the volume of timber when entering the market. Payments for contracted and harvested wood should be strictly tied to declared market quantities, not estimated standing timber volumes. This represents the essence of the reform in forest management, with implications on timber valuation, forest guarding regulations and on the entire architecture of the national system to fight illegal logging. // WWF Proposals // We will advocate for this principle to be included in the Timber Valorization Regulation for publicly owned forests.
• It paves the way for the retrocession of forests historically owned by the state, risking a resurgence of chaotic restitution processes, with all its shortcomings. At the same time, it risks transforming Romsilva into a commercial company strictly focused on maximizing profit. Thus, there is a major risk of being unable to achieve the non-commercial objectives that are essential for the public interest, and only pursuing immediate (theoretical) profit, without the responsibility of supporting a sustainable circular forest bioeconomy. // WWF Proposals // Romsilva's performance indicators should be revised through Ministerial Orders and public service obligations should be clearly defined (eg: the special responsibilities that must be fulfilled by public enterprises, which a private enterprise would not assume from an economic standpoint during the normal course of its activities.
• The main principles of timber traceability and initial market introduction are not clearly addressed. // WWF Proposals // Core components of the timber traceability system, as outlined in the National Forestry Strategy, must be established through Government Decisions for an integrated forestry information system.
• The term superior valorization of timber is too broadly defined, leading to varied interpretations. It no longer clearly aims at promoting the timber valorization by forest fund administrators in the form of processed wood assortments, through which each assortment can be assigned an appropriate industrial destination that allows for the maximization of added value and cascade use. // WWF Proposals // We will insist to introduce clear requirements in the Timber Valorization Regulation for publicly owned forests, to promote value-added wood utilization chains. This approach emphasizes long-lasting products with high economic value, reducing pressure on forests and supporting nature-based forestry practices.

4 Notable Opportunities

• The Code upholds sustainable forest management principles, ensuring the continuity of sustainable timber harvesting, promoting natural forest types, and maintaining forest biodiversity. Additionally, it strengthens forest resilience and enhances their role in mitigating climate change effects. // WWF Proposals // Nature-based forestry practices, consistently applied for over a century and which have allowed the country to preserve this invaluable natural heritage, must remain central in the revised Forestry Norms. With forestry plans covering 20-year periods, maintaining these principles will require meticulous long-term planning.
• To ensure the fair integration of biodiversity conservation into forest management, the Forest Code establishes new forms and methods of conservation: “habitat trees” (veteran trees), “aging islands” network, improved “ecological connectivity” and the protection of forest vegetation along watercourses. // WWF Proposals // These concepts will become applicable only through Forestry Regulations, in terms of mandatory implementation, and through Best Practice Guidelines, in terms of voluntary implementation.
• The Code defines the concept of “forest-dependent communities” and establishes a legal framework to facilitate their access to forest resources. // WWF Proposals // To ensure these communities benefit meaningfully, the government must develop clear procedures for identifying and designating them.
• New rules for managing forest vegetation on agro-silvicultural lands – over 2.5 million hectares as identified by the EU Forest Observatory – will be governed by norms jointly approved by forestry and agricultural authorities. // WWF Proposals // We will get involved developing of best practices for managing silvo-pastoral mosaic landscapes with high conservation value, represented by the mix of grassland-shrub-forest habitats, which will contribute to strengthening the resilience and ecological connectivity of natural ecosystems and to the sustainable development of local communities in rural areas.

The year 2025 will play a pivotal role in shaping forestry reforms through the development of secondary legislation. We will return with a detailed analysis of the newly adopted Forestry Code’s provisions, highlighting those that require immediate attention in subsequent legislation. These provisions will likely influence the new Government Program that is beginning to take shape.

The New Forestry Code, initiated by the Government, aimed to implement the reforms committed to under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and to translate the strategic directions set out in the National Forest Strategy 2030. These goals include improving the efficiency of mechanisms to combat illegal logging and enhancing forest management practices.

WWF-Romania actively contributed to the development of the Code throughout the process, offering concrete solutions. We remain committed to closely monitoring the evolution of secondary legislation, participating in working groups, and contributing with ideas to ensure the sustainable management of Romania's forests.