“Forest Generation”: Volunteers plant trees to show respect for nature
Millions of trees are set to be planted in Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The "Forest Generation" campaign has expanded with volunteers from both countries mobilizing to take part in afforestation efforts. This initiative aims to restore forests and protect the environment, sending a clear message: nature knows no borders.
The campaign began in the village of Sculeni, Victoria commune of Iași County, in an area managed by Romsilva. Students and foresters planted oak and ash saplings on two plots of land, covering a total area of seven hectares.
"Through this activity, we demonstrate our respect for nature and our commitment to our country, as this effort will leave a legacy for future generations.”
"I think it’s a wonderful initiative because it teaches us practical life skills and helps us better understand and protect our environment."
" Nature has no borders, and together with my students, we are working for the future of Romania and the Republic of Moldova."
In Romania, forests cover approximately 30% of the territory, making initiatives like this particularly valuable.
"I am pleased that we can take action together, and I believe this is just the beginning. We have many more projects to undertake collectively. Throughout the year, we aim to plant 25 million seedlings from Romsilva on publicly owned land. However, this March, we will also initiate additional work on approximately seven thousand hectares," announced Diana – Anda Buzoianu, the Minister of Environment of Romania.
The campaign continued in the village of Blindești, in the Sculeni commune of Ungheni district.
In Blindești, oak, ash, and maple seedlings will be planted over 3.5 hectares. In November, as part of the same initiative, 110,000 seedlings were planted. This time, the authorities aim to plant about 31 million trees in both the Republic of Moldova and Romania. People of all ages participated, hoping to make the Republic of Moldova a greener and cleaner country. We can all contribute to the "Forest Generation."
"The work is in full swing, as you can see. We are proud to be part of such projects," stated one of the participants.
"We are planting oak seedlings, which is very important, as these activities help increase forested areas in the country."
"A larger forest means cleaner air, richer soil, and purer water, so the importance of this work is evident."
"What stands out this time is the increased involvement in the project, along with the impeccable preparation of the land and the application of advanced planting technologies," noted Nicolae Munteanu, the director of the "Moldsilva" Agency.
Currently, the afforestation rate in the Republic of Moldova is just over 11%, significantly lower than the European Union average of over 35%.
"For the first time, we planted seedlings simultaneously in Romania and the Republic of Moldova. We understand that environmental issues know no borders and that our responsibilities are shared. We hope this will mark a positive start for greater collaborative afforestation efforts with Romania,” said Gheorghe Hajder, the Minister of Environment.
The “Forest Generation” campaign is part of the National Program for Forest Expansion and Rehabilitation, initiated by President Maia Sandu, which aims to create 145,000 hectares of new forests nationwide. In recent years, over 20,000 hectares have already been afforested.
