Romania had almost 6.4 million hectares of forest in 2015, 11,539 hectares (0.2%) more compared to the previous year, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INS).

However, the new wood surfaces mainly include afforested meadows and degraded land that needs to be afforested.

The amount of wood harvested by logging increased by more than 143,000 cubic meters (1.4%) year-on-year in 2015, to 18.13 million cubic meters.

Moreover, the area of regenerated forests dropped by 755 hectares last year, to 28.750 hectares, INS data shows.

Illegal logging continues to be a major problem in Romania. A Greenpeace Romania report from last October revealed that illegal logging caused damages of some EUR 52.1 million (almost RON 231 million) in Romania in 2013-2014, the damages in Alba, Cluj, and Maramures counties amounting to 79% of the total. A total of 45,502 cases of illegal lodging were registered in Romania in 2013-2014, which represents an average of 62 cases per day.

His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Wales, who is a big fan of Romania and the country's wild nature, has also expressed his concern about the illegal logging in Romania earlier this year.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com