Romania has one of the largest area of certified forests in Europe, of about 2.32 million hectares, which are the state’s public property.

The certification represents a guarantee for responsible forest management, according to Romania's forest administration company Romsilva, reports local Agerpres. The company made the first steps for certification in the early 2000s, and got the first certificate in 2002.

In the last months, deforestation has been a focus of public outcry. In May, tens of thousands of Romanians took to the streets protesting against deforestation and illegal logging in Romania. Austrian group Holzindustrie Schweighoffer was one of the protesters’ targets, as it is the biggest timber producer in Romania.

The Parliament passed a bill that caps the wood quantity one single company can buy in Romania.

editor@romania-insider.com