Saving Romania's virgin forests

WWF seeks protection for remaining untouched woodland
November 2011: 250,000 hectares of virgin forests in Romania are in urgent need of protection, according to a new campaign launched by WWF. The campaign is seeking protection for more than 80 per cent of Romania 's virgin forests, which are currently under threat.

The Carpathian Mountains are home to a total of 322,000 hectares of virgin forests, with the vast majority being in Romania. Today virgin forests make up less than three per cent of total forest area in Romania .

Once lost they are lost for ever‘Saving all our forests and their unrivalled biodiversity is our mission, but the pinnacle of this mission is the protection of our virgin forests,' said Magor Csibi, country manager of WWF's Danube-Carpathian Programme in Romania. ‘We will never be able to rebuild this part of nature.

'Once lost, it is lost for ever. Considering that we are among the last European nations fortunate enough to have such a treasure, it is our moral obligation to preserve this piece of nature intact and to leave a small piece of wilderness to our children.'

Nature survives here in its purest stateVirgin or old growth forests are untouched by humans, the last places where nature survives in its purest state. Their scientific, educational and ecological value is undisputed. They are wonderful, complex systems where seedlings, young, mature and old trees are interspersed. Dead trees and decaying logs are just as important as the living trees, building up together an environment that is home for many different plants and animals. Romania 's virgin forests are home to up to 13,000 species.

Romania's virgin forests represent up to 65 per cent of the virgin forests still remaining in Europe, outside Russia. These forests have survived because of their inaccessibility and the low economic value of the wood coming from the old trees. However, today virgin forests are more vulnerable than ever because of socio-economic pressures in Romania .

Urgent action is neededThese include the ever-increasing demand for wood and the need to manage small patches of forests in a way that makes good business sense. To save virgin forests, total protection is needed. In a letter to the Ministry of Environment and Forests in Romania, WWF is asking for urgent measures for the effective protection of the country's remaining virgin forests.

‘We expect our initiative to be supported not only by people who wish for a sustainable future, but especially by the authorities who can decide whether to solve this problem or not. I believe that we can obtain 100 per cent protection of our virgin forests,' said Csibi.