About forestry legislation

Forestry legislation – Forestry Code and related legislation and Rights and obligations of private forest owners in Romania

(Forestry Code approved by Law no. 331/2024, published in the Official Gazette on January 9, 2025 and in force since January 13, 2025 – comprehensive legislation covering the ownership, management and use of forests, hereinafter referred to as the Forestry Code)

It is more than obvious that the current forestry legislation is much different from the forestry legislation in other European countries where it is focused both on the rights of private forest owners and on the protection of the forest and its sustainable management.

Over-regulations in forestry legislation unnecessarily complicate forest management, even if overall they still aim to protect the forest

There are many control, coordination and management structures, as well as a long series of obligations for forest owners, and yet we have talked and are talking about illegal logging and in some places about non-compliant forest management.

We hereby request a considerable amendment to the Forest Code regarding only private property by adding to the Forest Code the following rights for private forest owners:

a). The right to receive compensation for ecosystem services provided by the forest, in accordance with the functional categories listed in the forest management plans (carbon sequestration, oxygen production, biodiversity preservation, recreational space, etc.).

b). Prohibition of hunting and access by hunters to private owners' land without the express consent of the owner.

c). Simplifying the approval procedure for forest management plans that private forest owners must prepare

We consider the existence of the SMURF project to be of great importance for raising awareness among forest owners in Europe about the multifunctionality of forests and the rights of owners, as well as for building an intra-European network of forest owners.

https://www.smurfproject.eu/