NATURE, FOREST AND BIODIVERSITY:
Nature protection
policies and management
The Law on Environmental Protection (1993) states the right to existence
of all natural species as an essential element of the planetary cycle of
matter, climate and renewal potential of natural resources. The Law
calls for the drawing-up within a year from its adoption of a programme
for biodiversity conservation aiming at protecting all species and habitats
in the spirit of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
As illegal logging and hunting were getting out of hand,
a Law on the Declaration of a State of Emergency on the Whole Territory
of the Republic of Moldova in Connection With the Forests and Hunting Fund
Destruction was adopted in 1994. It provides for a stricter guarding
of forests with the help of the
Ministry
of Internal Affairs and local authorities and gives additional responsibilities
to Moldsilva to control the ecological situation and impose penalties in
case of forest law violation. It also calls for a forest regeneration
programme for 1995-2000. The programme has not been issued so far.
Simultaneously, the country also has to meet the objectives of the
international conventions to which it adheres. Moldova adhered to
the World Charter on Nature (New York, 1982), ratified the Convention on
Biological Diversity (1995) and the United Nations Convention on Climate
Change (1995). At regional framework level it is also a Party to
the Bern Convention (1993). Moldova is now considering ratifying
the Bonn Convention, the Ramsar Convention and the Convention to Combat
Desertification.
Amongst the priorities and objectives of NSAPEP, a national biodiversity
strategy was requested for 1996, protecting the rare and disappearing species
threatened by trade, reintroducing rare species, creating a natural genetic
fund, and creating protected areas. Forest protection and sustainable forestry
were also on the agenda, a forestry code was to be issued by 1995 and a
complex programme drawn up for the ecological recovery of the silvicultural
fund. The latter should in the period 1995-2005 provide for the planting
of 1400 ha of forests a year, 200 ha of forest belts a year on slopes,
and tree planting along rivers, on landsliding surfaces and slopes. 
NSAPEP also aims to double in the short term the present overall surface
of protected areas (to 2.8% of the territory). Recently, proposals
have been made to create a national park in Orhei to protect a forest zone
(24 000 ha). There was another project for a biosphere reserve of
24 000 ha in the Prut river basin. This would preserve some remaining
wetlands, as most of them have practically disappeared due to extensive
land improvement and consolidation; only few still exist along the lower
stretches of the Prut and Nistru. The Republic of Moldova has also been
invited to adhere to the biosphere reserve of the Danube Delta.
Source: Department for Environmental Protection, Institute of Geography
of the Academy of Sciences
Until the end of 1996, Moldsilva was in charge of managing State forests
only (86% of forest stock), which are all classified in category I (so-called
ecological forests). Since then, in an attempt to better control
illegal cutting, a special forest guard was created to improve forest protection
with the help of the police and local authorities. As illegal cutting
was particularly intensive in non-State forests (in 1995, 150 000 m3 cut
against 4 702 m3 in State forests), these remaining 14% of forests, i.e.
former sovkhoz-and kolkhoz-owned forests given to municipalities when privatization
started, were placed under Moldsilva's management. There are no private
forests.
Legal instruments for nature protection
Main laws:
- The Law on Environmental Protection (1993), and in particular Chapter
6, section 5, devoted to biodiversity and nature monument protection;
- The Law on Cultural and Natural Monument Protection (1993);
- The Code on Mineral Resources (1994);
- The Law on Declaration of a State of Emergency on the whole territory
of the Republic of Moldova in connection with the Forests and Hunting Fund
Destruction (1994);
- The Law on the Protection of the Animal Kingdom (1995);
- The Land Code (1991), revised in 1995;
- The Forestry Code (1979), revised in 1996;
- The Law on Protection of Riparian Zones (1995);
Other laws:
- The Code on Administrative Sanctions (1985 and 1993);
- The Law on Ecological Expert Evaluation of Impact on the Environment
(1996);
Decisions:
- Governmental decision 595 of 29/10/96 on improvement of forests and
forest vegetation management;
- Decision on the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova (1985);
- Decision regarding the State protection of natural objects and complexes
(1975);
Decrees :
- Payment for Released Wood;
- Regulation of Pastures and Hay Collection in Forests;
- Fees in case of Forestry Law Violation;
- Regulation on rare and vulnerable animals and plants (1975);
- Regulation on State Natural Reserves (including rare animals and
plant species) (1975).
Introduction
Curent state of habitats Driving
forces for nature and biodiversity changes Nature
protection policies and management
Conclusions and recommendations
Home Page