Strategic Directions and Country Working

Plan of the Republic of Moldova

Petru RotaruHead of the Department for Forestry, Protected Areas and Forest Conservation and ProtectionMoldsilva Agency

MINSK- 2013

Latest Strategic Changes and Achievements in the

Forest Sector of the Republic of Moldova

Increase of areas under forest vegetation on degraded community lands – 60

thousand hectares

•Due to the partnership between central regulatory bodies (Moldsilva) and local governments•Cooperation with the World Bank (BioCarbon Fund) in the field of implementation of projects on carbon absorption by forest vegetation•Improvement of environmental situation and resolving of local social and economic problems

Evaluation of the Forest Ecosystems State

(With FLEG’s assistance)

•Analytical survey of actual annual consumption of wood and other sources of biomass energy

•Analytical survey of the situation with forest protection (illegal wood-felling and respective trends)

•Forest vegetation on Moldsilva’s lands has been mapped in the digital form (e-mapping of community forests and those of other forest owners has not yet been done)

•The area of community forests covered by fieldworks has been increased (the increase made 2572 hectares)

Concept of Institutional Reform Strategy for Moldova’s Forest

Economy(With FLEG’s assistance)

•Consultations have been held with involvement of all the stakeholders (Parliament, Ministries, political parties, civil society, mass-media, etc.)•There have been set up Commissions (Parliamentary and Governmental ones) for control of the state of forests and assessment of forest management•The concept was submitted to the Government (2012)

Priority activities that are already under way: :

•There have been developed Terms of References (TOR)•The call for tender has been published on Moldsilva’ website (www.moldsilva.gov.md)

Promotion of proper management of forests owned by other-than-public users for

improvement and rational use of local natural resources

•Setting up of Advisory Office on Forestry •Transfer of public administration experience to other users (communities, private users)•Continuation of community and private forests management (about 5000 hectares)•Development of the inter-community forest enterprise concept (district-level)•Dissemination of best practices in the proper use of natural resources (forest and non-forest ones, as well as hunting grounds) existing at the level of local governments

Improvement of conditions for the pilot nursery forest and promotion of energy crops

•Informational and technical support•Methodological consulting on the work related to tree-planting material cultivation•Provision of technological support in the creation of model high-quality stool beds•Provision of technological support in the creation of model energy plantations (on the basis of high-quality foundation stock)•Development of a website for the pilot nursery forest and publication of information for public access

Country Plan of Activities for the First Year of EPD FLEG 2 Program (2013-

2014))

1. Promotion of correct management of forests owned by other-than-public users for improvement and rational use of local natural resources

2. Improvement of conditions for the pilot nursery forest and promotion of energy crops

3. Carrying out of analytical survey on the evaluation of services provided by forest ecosystems:

•Review of international methodology and its adaptation to local conditions•Use of complex approach for evaluation (FLR);•Impact of forest management methods (for example, in the state, community and privately owned forests) on the services (including harvesting of wood and economic benefits)•Proposal of mechanisms for capitalizing on the sustainable use of forest resources•Proposals aimed for improvement of the normative and legislative framework

4. Development of the system for tracking movement of forest products and provision of support to respective structures aimed at the reduction of illegal activities:

•Analysis of the forest products movement chain (from the country of origin to the end user);•Analysis of all possible models of violations, and evaluation of the real size of corruption related to the forest products turnover;•Development of the program (applications) for their tracking, and carrying out of training seminars;•Proposal of recommendations on the improvement of tracking (for example, audits, monitoring and other technologies)

5. Comparative analysis of national forest legislation versus the international legislative practice aimed at assurance of more efficient control of forest resources:

•Analysis of the following normative and legislative documents:- Forest management in near-border regions;

- Control and management of community forests;

- Control and management of private forests;

•New version of the Forest Code (based on the FLEG 1 developments)•Revision and development of the new Action Plan on implementation of the existing National Strategy on Moldova’s Forest Sector Sustainable Development (2001); •Participation of interested parties and the public in the analysis and preparation of above-stated documents. 

6. Reduction of illegal forest activities by raising public awareness :•Development and implementation of Moldova’s FLEG Communication Plan for 2014-2016•Carrying out of an extensive public awareness campaign (videos, radio and TV programs, Forest Flash Mob, etc.)•Continuation of publication and distribution of Moldova’s Forests: Products, Services, Benefits•Preparation of the special publication for younger generation titled Children and Forest•Updating of the Moldsilva Agency’s web page (www.moldsilva.gov.md) in order to improve transparency and accountability, as well as availability of information

7. Improvement of educational and institutional framework for the training of young messengers on the issues of Moldova’s forests :

•Development of didactic materials and use of experimental approaches (out-of-class activities, on-site classes, etc.)•Instruction of teachers-trainers at the schools with specialization in forestry or environment •Organization of competitions titled Our Solution for Saving Forests for school students with participation of parents and teachers •Organization of campings for school students having respective competitions awards  

Thank you for your attention!