EuroNatur and Agent Green present a photo documentation and a video that give an insight into the tragic fate of the wild forests in Romania’s Natura 2000 areas. The Romanian environmental minister Costel Alexe seems to try distracting media attention from the Natura 2000 issue.
The centuries-old beech trees are pulled out of the woods with large harvesters - usually end up as charcoal.
© Matthias Schickhofer/EuroNaturOn April 22. 2020, the NGOs EuroNatur, Client Earth and Agent Green submitted a complaint on the progressive destruction of primeval and natural forests in Romania’s Natura 2000 areas. In order to visualize the catastrophic situation of these particularly valuable forests, EuroNatur is now publishing the photo documentation “Natura 2000 and Forests – the Romanian Status Quo” and the video “Out of Control” that give insights into the harsh reality in Romania’s European protected areas.
The photos were taken at local inspections in the Natura 2000 sites, among others at Fagaras Mountains. They document the progressive destruction of ecologically extremely valuable primary and old growth forests. The documentation also shows pictures of intact natural forests that illustrate the extraordinary biodiversity and beauty of these forest areas.
Romanian environmental minister Alexe Costel, however, does not seem to appreciate the topic of Natura 2000 and forest protection in Romania very much. According to a post on his Facebook page, he spoke on April 22. 2020, the day of the submission of the EU complaint, to the EU environmental commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius via video. But if the EU complaint and the ongoing infringement procedure apparently were discussed there is doubtful – at least the Natura 2000 topic is not mentioned in the posting. The video conference with the EU Environment Commissioner therefore appears to be a targeted PR stunt to divert attention from the uncomfortable Natura 2000 topic.
Take a look at the photo documentation: https://www.saveparadiseforests.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RO-Natura-2000_photo-Documentation_EuroNatur-publication-2.pdf
Take a look at the video "Out of Control": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybr_IxyNflo