The legislature adopted today the new Forestry Code – Telegraph.md news agency

The Parliament adopted, today, the draft of the new Forestry Code. The document was supported by the vote of 57 deputies.

The project regulates the legal regime of forest fund lands; the powers of central and local public administration authorities with reference to forestry reports; activities for monitoring the condition and sustainable use of the forest and hunting fund; forest use rules. Also, measures to protect the forest fund, conservation and improvement of forest biodiversity, as well as liability for violation of forestry legislation are regulated.

At the same time, the new Code provides for the division of forests into groups, subgroups and functional categories. The first functional group, with special protection functions, refers to forests that are used for nature conservation, gene pool and forest eco-pool conservation, scientific research, protection of historical and cultural heritage, protection of water bodies and soil, recreation and ecological tourism. The second functional group, with protection and production functions, refers to multipurpose forests that ensure food and energy security for the population, which are used for wood production, trade in wood and non-wood products, all contributing to environmental protection.

In the period 2001-2017, the Forestry Code was subjected to several changes. In this context, by approving the new Code, it is intended to improve and bring the national forestry legislation into line with European requirements, which will ensure sustainable forest management practices, the integrity of the forest fund, the promotion of the fundamental natural type of forest, as well as the recovery of damages caused by illegal use of forest resources.

The forestry code, developed by the Ministry of the Environment, will enter into force, with some exceptions, at the expiration of 12 months from the date of publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova. At the same time, upon the entry into force of the new Code, the current Forestry Code and the Law for afforestation of degraded lands will be repealed.