---
title: "Moldova will produce up to 70 million saplings annually to expand forests"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/89649/moldova-will-produce-up-to-70-million-saplings-annually-to-expand-forests
published: 2026-11-13T14:00:00Z
language: en
author: "Iulian Fanaru"
section: "Social"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Moldova will produce up to 70 million saplings annually to expand forests

> Final preparations are underway in Pogănești, Hâncești district, for the November 14 tree-planting event, which will cover 40 hectares. This autumn’s campaign introduces a new feature: alongside traditional saplings, the campaign will also plant trees with protected root systems, a method expected to improve their chances of survival.

![imagine-simbol](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/858a6964-a6b0-4f55-870a-82ea2bf4f87a.jpg)

*Sursa: imagine-simbol*

Final preparations are underway in Pogănești, Hâncești district, for the November 14 tree-planting event, which will cover 40 hectares. This autumn’s campaign introduces a new feature: alongside traditional saplings, the campaign will also plant trees with protected root systems, a method expected to improve their chances of survival.

Although the "Moldsilva" Agency produces over 40 million saplings annually, the challenge lies not only in the quantity but also in the saplings' ability to survive and thrive after planting. In this context, the transition toward containerized cultivation represents a key step in modernizing the forestry sector.

Saplings with protected root systems offer significant advantages, including higher establishment rates and greater flexibility regarding the timing of planting operations. While this technology has been in use for several years in other countries, it is still in its early stages in the Republic of Moldova.

Alexandru Sainsus, the director of an organization that produces such saplings, notes that one of the method's primary benefits is a substantial reduction in the time required to produce planting stock.

"From seed to a stage ready for planting, we can achieve results within a single growing season—in as little as three to four months. For instance, oak saplings do not develop nearly as quickly," explained Alexandru Sainsus during the program "Dimineața cu Radio Moldova".

This autumn, the organization represented by Alexandru Sainsus has prepared over 30,000 saplings with protected root systems, which are set to be planted in three locations: Ungheni, Chișinău, and Tighina.

Modernizing the production system for forest planting stock is also among the objectives of the reform of the "Moldsilva" Agency. The authorities aim to develop specialized centers equipped with modern technology, which will enable the production of high-quality saplings and reduce the production process's dependence on climatic conditions.

Ion Talmaci, interim director of the Institute for Forestry Research and Management, explained that using container-grown saplings could extend the planting season and help lower the costs associated with establishing and maintaining forest plantations.

*"Growing planting stock in containers—or with protected root systems—would allow us to extend the planting period, thereby increasing the chances of success,"* stated Ion Talmaci.

According to him, the plans involve creating industrial-scale production centers that cover the entire technological process: from the harvesting, processing, and storage of seeds to the cultivation of saplings. These future centers are expected to have an annual capacity of 60–70 million saplings, aged between one and two years.

This year, the "Forest Generation" autumn campaign will combine reforestation efforts with an initiative for social solidarity. On November 14, in Pogănești (Hâncești district), the reforestation of 40 hectares will be accompanied by a clothing drive for people in need. Minister of the Environment Gheorghe Hașder explained that the initiative stemmed from inquiries by citizens asking what they could do with clothes they no longer use but which are still in good condition. In response, the Ministry of the Environment proposed a partnership with the organization Concordia to support vulnerable individuals.

*"The clothes must be well-maintained, clean, and—most importantly—in good condition,"* the Minister emphasized, urging citizens to get involved and contribute to a good cause.

The Republic of Moldova has one of the lowest forest cover rates in Europe, at only 11.6%, compared to an average of over 35% in the European Union. Through the National Program for Forest Expansion and Rehabilitation, the authorities aim to plant 145,000 hectares of land by 2032.

[Audio: https://trm.blob.core.windows.net/photos/25d0ccd6-4554-4554-bd50-fdac7e6a8dea.jpg](https://original.trm.md/video/definst/MP4:2026/11/13/13-11-26-PRISACARI-CAMPANIA-DE-PLANTARE.m4a/playlist.m3u8)