Holzindustrie Schweighofer

Austria's Holzindustrie Schweighofer continues to source timber from Romania's national parks, despite five years of public pledges not to, according to a recent report drawn by the US Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).

Romania is more affected by illegal logging than any other country in Europe | Photo: BIRN

Romania has toughened its legislation in order to protect its natural resources by defining illegal logging - but also any action "which endangers the country's water, forests and land" as a threat to national security. 

The centre-left government of Prime Minister Victor Ponta is to pass an emergency ordinance banning the export of unprocessed wood next week.

Thousands of Romanians protested in cities across the country on Saturday, calling on the government and parliament to find ways to better protect the country's forests against illegal loggers.

Over 3,000 people gathered in Bucharest, while thousands also demonstrated in the Transylvanian cities of Cluj and Brasov, and in Timisoara, Iasi and Galati.

The Minister of Environment, Waters and Forestry, Gratiela Gavrilescu, on Friday stated in Suceava that she took notice of the suspicions signaled by the media and by the representatives of the civil society referring to Austrian company Holzindustrie Schweighofer and that she will also notify the General Prosecutor's Office, if the alleged illegalities are confirmed.

After over two years of discussions, Romania is to finally adopt changes to the Forest Law to better protect the country's forests against the actions of illegal loggers.