WWF-Romania proposes the inclusion of complementary investments in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) to protect forests and support communities, in line with the strategic directions Romania has committed to through the National Forest Strategy.
Given the recent proposals to amend the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2020–2026, WWF-Romania has submitted a set of recommendations to the authorities for including new complementary investments aligned with national priorities.
Since it is very likely that the funds allocated to Romania will not be fully absorbed by 2026 under the initially planned investments, and in order to avoid losing non-reimbursable funds, WWF-Romania proposes reallocating available resources toward the following forestry sector priorities:
- Conservation of forests outside the National Forest Fund and of high-nature-value silvo-pastoral mosaic landscapes;
- Strengthening the infrastructure needed to combat illegal logging and expanding the use of environmentally friendly technologies;
- Ensuring compensatory payments for private owners of forests designated as strict protection areas for the period 2025–2027, until the new EU multiannual financial framework (2027–2034) takes effect;
- Scaling up nationally the support program for purchasing energy-efficient heating devices for households in mountainous areas;
- Maintaining the integrated investments for ecological restoration of habitats and conservation of species associated with grasslands, aquatic, and water-dependent areas (Target 36) at their original ambition level by reintroducing excluded areas along the Danube and other regions.
Key arguments to be raised in discussions with European Commission representatives:
- The proposals target the same national priorities: coherent forest policies, combating illegal harvesting, expanding forest cover, and ensuring ecological connectivity;
- These are investments that support the proper implementation of EU regulations adopted after the NRRP’s approval, particularly:
- (a) EU Regulation 115/2023 (EUDR) on placing and exporting certain commodities associated with deforestation and forest degradation on the Union market, repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010;
- (b) EU Regulation 2024/1991 (NRL) on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869;
- All proposed measures are a continuation of already fulfilled NRRP milestones, such as the National Forest Strategy and the new Forest Code;
- These are measures with real absorption potential within a 12–18 month horizon, fitting the NRRP implementation deadline.
WWF-Romania reaffirms its support for identifying the most effective solutions to ensure that the funds available through the NRRP are directed toward investments that help Romania fulfill its environmental reform commitments, support the green transition, and strengthen the resilience of local communities.