WWF Romania announced on Thursday, April 14, that it launched the first website dedicated to the virgin forests in the country.

The online platform - available here - works as a hub that includes news about the forests’ identification process, an interactive map, educational digital publications, historical data, and answers to the most pressing questions in the field.

“Romania has so far included over 70,000 ha of forests in the Catalog of Virgin and Quasi-Virgin Forests, the only tool that keeps a record of them and ensures protection. Basically, a forest is recognized as virgin or quasi-virgin only if included in the Catalog,” WWF Romania explained in a press release.

To date, the WWF has assessed over 600,000 ha of forest and identified about 53,000 ha of virgin and quasi-virgin forests. Last week alone, it included in the Catalog another 490 ha of forests in Suceava County and is has another 5,000 ha in the analysis procedure.

“The National Catalog is now operational, and all those interested in the protection of virgin forests need to be involved in completing the process of identifying and recognizing these forests. I’m referring to the managers of forest and protected areas, as well as educational or research institutions or NGOs,” said Radu Melu, national manager of the forest department at WWF Romania.

irina.marica@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Laurentiu Nica/Dreamstime.com)