Keywords

1 Introduction

This chapter aims to show the main challenges facing, and innovations adopted by, Romania with regard to forest management with a special focus on virgin forests that are an important heritage asset. As is already known, forests support life and biodiversity; stabilize our climate; reduce high wind speeds thus preventing soil erosion; contribute to carbon sequestration; provide us with smart, natural, and sustainable materials and energy; and offer a better environment for tourism. Currently, forests are under significant danger from fires, pests, floods and diseases, climate change, etc. In addition, people are a significant threat to forests either through overexploitation or by failing to protect them.

The virgin forests that still exist in Romania have a significant value from the point of view of heritage, so it is important to protect them. In this respect, sustainable forest management instruments and practices are required.

2 European Union Approach to Forest Protection

The new European Union (EU) strategy for forests and the forestry sector (COM (2013) 659 final) specifies that although the socioeconomic importance of forests in the EU is high, it is often underestimated.

Of equal importance to natural heritage conservation is maintenance of forests, which is the key to sustaining biodiversity and life forms. It is well known that forests provide a large range of services to society, including: protection against soil erosion, desertification, and avalanches; water retention and flood prevention; reduction of wind intensity; reduction of temperatures in urban areas; carbon sequestration; enhancement of tourism activities and biodiversity, etc. (European Communities 2003).

As stressed by Platon et al. (2015), all these services need to be given a value and included in the price of timber or other goods provided by exploiting forests. It should be mentioned that besides the economic functions of forests, all other ecological, social, and bequest functions are interrelated and integrated. These increase the value of forest ecosystem services.

The importance of sustainable forest management (SFM) is supported by the necessity to preserve value and develop forest ecosystem services, and the total economic value of forests, as part of member states natural heritage. Therefore, it is considered that ensuring the sustainable management of forests is essential if we want to enjoy a balanced development of resources and the benefits from EU forests.

Some facts about EU forests are given here:

  • Forests contribute to rural development providing approximately three million jobs across the EU.

  • Wood is still the main source of financial income from forests. So, a strategy needs to take into account the EU’s forest-based industries, which fall within the EU’s industrial policy.

  • Wood is also considered an important source of raw materials for bio-emerging industries.

  • According to the latest data, forests and other wooded land covers more than 40% of Europe’s land area, having varied character from one region to another.

  • Afforestation and natural evolution have contributed to an increase in forest area in the EU by about 0.4% per year in recent decades.

However, global forested areas continue to decline (mainly in the Amazon area, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and Africa). Currently, in the EU, only 60–70% of annual forestry growth is cut, leading to an increasing forested area. However, member states, with regard to land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF), expect the operating ratio to increase by about 30% by the year 2020, compared to 2010.

About 60% of EU forests belong to several million private owners and their numbers have tended to increase, given that some member states continue the process of restitution of land to former forest owners. The remainder of forests belong to the state and other public owners.

3 Forests in Romania

Eurostat data shows that in 2000–2010 the Romanian State (the biggest owner of public forests) recorded the largest loss of forestry funding in Europe. In Romania and other new EU countries, forests in public property came out in the red while public sector in countries such as Bulgaria or Spain went on to increase forest areas.

The area actually covered by forest in Romania is 6373 million ha, accounting for 97.6% of Romania’s national forests. The difference represents 156 ha which is land intended for cultivation, production, forest administration, forest roads, land destined to some unproductive occupation and litigation, other surfaces, etc.

By comparison with the situation in Europe (average), Romania has a surface area of which 29% is forest, well below the European average of 45%. This European average value (45%) is greatly affected by Russia with a huge forested area (809 million ha). If we calculate the European average without including the Russia Federation the average is 33%. The countries with the next largest percentages of forest cover are the 28.2 million ha of Sweden and Finland’s 21.15 million ha. With 6.5 million ha of forest, Romania ranks 12th in Europe (Table 17.1).

Table 17.1 Forested areas in European countries
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In terms of shares of surfaces covered with forests, Finland is first with 73% and Sweden is second with 69%. From this perspective, Romania ranks 29th in Europe. According to official data, Romania’s forests cover an area of 6529 million ha. An area of 3228 million ha or 49.53% (as of 31 December 2013) of the 6.5 million ha of forest, is owned by the state, which administers the land through the National Forest Administration, Romsilva.

The total area of forest which is public property is managed by Romsilva through 41 silvic directorates and the Institute for Silvic Research. Public forest represents 3,227,907 ha, about half Romania’s national forest (Drăgoi 2008).

Romanian forests have the following structure:

  • Coniferous trees: 815,643 ha (26.2%).

  • Beech trees: 1,000,697 ha (32.1%).

  • Oak trees: 563,338 ha (18.1%).

  • Various other hardwood trees: 525,480 ha (16.8%).

  • Various redwood trees: 213,684 ha (6.8%).

As can be seen from Fig. 17.1, and the data from the National Forest Inventory, forest areas in Romania increased in area to 6.5 million ha in 2011. The explanation for this increase in forested surfaces lies with the new methodology used in gathering data and the provisions of the new Forestry Code.

Fig. 17.1
figure 1

Source Romanian Statistical Yearbook 2015 and www.insse.ro

Evolution of forestry area in Romania (ha).

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4 Virgin Forest as Romania’s Natural Heritage

The area covered by forests in Romania is less than the European average but there are some important peculiar forests. We should mention that Romania holds significant areas covered by virgin forests. Virgin forests are the remaining parts of the immense primeval forest that once stretched across the European Plain, and now is gone. In the Carpathian ecoregion, the estimate is that there are 322,000 ha of such virgin forest, of which 77.6% (250,000 ha) are in Romania.

The development of these forest ecosystems took place without human intervention. They are an exceptional example of complex, undisturbed woodlands that sustain high biological diversity (Bősze and Mayer 2014).

As has been shown in numerous articles, Romania features exceptional samples of natural beech forests. These forests have not yet had any human intervention and, from a biodiversity protection point of view, represent true heritage. This is very important in the framework of improving the management of forests and protecting biodiversity.

In the context of virgin forests it should be mentioned that beech trees are still predominant in Romanian forests. These natural beech forests represent Romania’s heritage and are not only well-known, but also appreciated by the general public in addition to specialists who have observed and emphasized their importance and significance over the years. Also, it is important to mention that the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) played a substantial role in saving two forest areas: Strâmbu Băiuț–Groșii Țibleșului in Maramureș county and Șinca in the Făgăraș highlands.

Virgin forests represent the few remaining areas in which nature continues to survive in its pristine form, without the intervention of humans. So, evolving without human intervention, these ecosystems are very stable, providing habitats for more than 13,000 species of plants, animals, and insects. Many specialists and organizations that have made significant contributions to preserving biodiversity (such as the WWF) have confidence that these forests, which represent 65% of the remaining virgin forests in Europe (excluding Russian forests), have a vital inheritance value for Romania, Europe, and the world.

As recognition of the value of the virgin forests, in 2012, the Romanian authorities started the nomination process to include the virgin beech forests of Romania in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List.

As is known, the UNESCO World Heritage List already contains some European virgin beech forests. We should mention that these virgin forests are located mostly in Germany and in the Carpathian Mountains (in Slovakia and Ukraine). To these existing forest areas would be added the nominated primordial Romanian forests (Strâmbu Băiuț–Groșii Țibleșului in Maramureș county, and Șinca forest in the Fagăraș mountains). The direct effect would be to increase the representation of this type of ecosystem in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Over 20,000 ha of quasi-virgin forests have been identified in the following areas:

  • 2013: In Maramureș—over 4700 ha.

  • 2014: In Covasna—over 400 ha and in Brasov—over 4300 ha.

  • 2015: In Sibiu—over 2800 ha.

  • 2016, at the end of February: In Gorj—4000 ha; in Mehedinți—over 2100 ha; and in Caraș-Severin—more than 800 ha.

For those counties where the identification process of quasi-virgin forests is not fully complete, assessments may continue into the future.

5 Instruments Used in Romania for Preserving Forests

In recent years in Romania, the need for effective and sustainable forest management has become a priority. The main challenge to be overcome is potential forest destruction through illegal logging and unsustainable exploitation. A recent study published by Greenpeace (Greenpeace 2015) shows that total forest area deforested and damaged, during the period 2000–2010, was 280,108 ha—approximately 28,000 ha per year. The counties most affected are Harghita Suceava, Cluj, and Maramureș.

The Greenpeace study revealed that almost half, specifically 48.95%, of deforested areas during the period 2000–2011 were found in protected areas. Even more serious is the fact that virgin forests were affected, even those considered the most valuable.

In Romania, there are several economic and administrative instruments which can be used to protection forests, some of which may be considered innovative. The most significant instruments are: forests radar, long-term contracts for the exploitation of forests, transparent forest management decisions, limiting logging, etc.

5.1 The Forests Radar

A new tracking system called the “traceability of wood,” also known as “the forests radar,” represents a big step forward in addressing illegal logging in Romania. It was recently introduced in 2014 by Governmental Decision 470/2014.

This new instrument proposes the following:

  • Traceability of timber tracking in real time.

  • Creating a cross-checking system between what the seller and purchaser (registered) reports online.

  • Mandatory verification by the buyer of origin document veracity; this is an essential preventive measure proposed in 2012 by the WWF.

  • Wooden materials with documents not verified by the buyer should be regarded as having an illegal origin and could be confiscated.

  • Using a system to signal alerts to the authorities.

  • Operating a system which cannot record a larger volume of wooden materials than originally purchased and registered.

  • Connection to the 112 emergency system allowing involvement of civil society/citizens to monitor timber transport.

  • Supporting economic agents, since they may receive internal reports which can be used by companies for management and tracking/traceability of timber.

The implementation of the forests radar mechanism is linked to the proper implementation of the European Regulation regarding the timber trade. Thus, it will transpose into national legislation the provisions of Regulation (EU) 995/2010. This regulation mandates operators to implement preventive procedures to reduce illegal logging. As a result of this mechanism, which started on 1 January 2015, operators’ participation in tenders is conditional on implementing a system of preventive procedures concerning the marketing of illegally harvested timber.

5.2 Long-Term Contracts for Forestry

An important legal instrument for sustainable forest management and dynamic economic regions, is the long-term contract (10 years). Thus, the National Forest Administration, Romsilva, has signed contracts for the sale of timber for long periods of time with a number of multinationals.

Short-term contracts do not allow significant investment which contributes to sustainable economic development and growth and maintains jobs. In practice, a number of foreign companies (mentioned above) have conducted large economic activities involving the uncontrolled exploitation of timber and even illegal logging.

5.3 The National Catalogue of Virgin and Quasi-virgin Forests

The main problem with the protection of virgin forests is that only 18% have some sort of protected status by their inclusion in protected areas. A smaller percentage enjoys full protection. The rest, which constitute more than 80% of all virgin forests in Romania, have no form of protection and are in danger of being legally destroyed.

In this context, the Order of the Minister of Environment 3397/2016 defined quasi-pristine forests and the criteria and indicators for their identification and designation.

Unfortunately, the legal procedures for the protection of virgin forests have proved to be less effective for several reasons:

  • The establishment of such a strict protection regime is a lengthy process since the identified virgin forests can be classified into categories with different role which are updated every 10 years.

  • Such a participatory process is not always transparent.

  • Maintenance status does not guarantee long-term protection.

  • The protection established while awaiting the completion of identification of forests was inefficient, being applied in less than 80% of cases (procedures refer basically only to forests included in decennial harvesting plans for main products—it does not refer to conservation, cleaning, or accidental cuts).

Under such circumstances, it was important to build the National Catalogue for Virgin and Quasi-virgin Forests, to be used as an innovative tool for the sustainable management of virgin and quasi-virgin forests in Romania. There remains one last step to complete the legislative regulatory framework, that is, to await an order from the head of the legislative authority responsible for forestry. It is important to mention that many effective solutions would be obtained by completing the catalogue.

The National Catalogue of Virgin and Quasi-virgin Forests is not just an online database with the purpose of maintaining records and ensuring the strict protection of these forests. It should also regulate procedures which record these land surfaces and provide them with prompt protection. Thus, the National Catalogue of Virgin and Quasi-virgin Forests should address the following issues:

  • Establishing procedures for effective prevention objectives in areas included in the PIN-MATRA/2001/018 study or the management plans for protected areas (Biris and Veen 2005).

  • Specifying the minimum requirements for studies/proposals submitted by stakeholders to be considered by a competent authority for the purposes of gradually completing gradually catalogue.

  • Providing objective regulations and procedures (clear responsibilities and deadlines for stakeholders) for received field studies/proposals submitted for approval by the authorities involved.

  • Providing effective procedures (clear responsibilities and deadlines for stakeholders) for the designation and inclusion of areas in the “catalogue,” namely the establishment of strict, long-term protection.

  • Designating an authority responsible for managing the catalogue.

  • Supporting additional efforts to identify virgin forests in Romania.

5.4 Other Tools

There are other tools used in Romania for the administration/management of forests:

  • Grants issued for the management of small forest (below 30 ha).

  • Free plans of forest management drafted for small properties, with measures stipulated by Law 46/2008 amended and supplemented.

  • New regulations attesting to the economic activity of logging and recording saw mills (under development).

  • Compensation to forest owners not illegally logging.

6 Conclusions

From this research we can draw some conclusions regarding the role of forests as heritage sites, in particular the role of virgin forests. In Romania, forests represent 29% of the land cover, a figure which is below the average of other European countries. With 6.5 million ha of forest, Romania ranks 12th in Europe in terms of forested area.

Of this forested area, of particular importance, from heritage point of view, is virgin forest. In Romania, virgin forest is a new concept and deserves more detailed attention and special effort to preserve it. There are several reasons for this:

  • Romania’s virgin forests represent national, European, and global heritage—the task of protecting this natural heritage should not be left solely to private forest owners. State intervention is required along with efforts by public authorities to ensure sustainable management of these forests. The impulse for the protection of such forests came from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and activists in the fields of biodiversity protection, forestry, etc.

  • In the last 25 years, public forests have been reduced through retroceding forests to their former owners or their successors, corruption, illegal logging, etc. Under these circumstances, existing virgin forests and quasi-virgin forests cannot be safeguarded fully. Therefore, special efforts to ensure their safeguarding must be undertaken. Here, we have identified and analyzed two innovative tools: the National Catalogue of Virgin and Quasi-virgin Forests and the system of compensation given to all forest owners throughout the country who do not damage or undertake logging on their land.