The UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Moldova Mr. Simon Springett at the launch of the Feasibility Study on the Production of Forest Reproductive Material

A very good morning and it is my pleasure to welcome you at the launch of the Feasibility study on the production of forest reproductive material, to discuss the results of the study and to seek joint solutions to the identified challenges.  

As we are well aware, Moldova’s forests and woodlands suffer from severe degradation. Historically, a quarter of the land area, or 40% of agricultural land, has been eroded due to the removal of protective forest belts around farmlands back in 1990s and since then these fields have been continuously exposed to wind and water erosion. The forestry sector’s contribution to GDP is far below 1%. Despite this, forest products and forest ecosystem services are important to many people in Moldova: most rural households depend on firewood for cooking and heating, or on timber for construction of their houses. 

When forests are managed responsibly, they can provide great benefits to both people and the environment through unlocking a range of positive effects. As Moldova has limited land resources, it is important that sustainable forestry is not only contributing to environmental objectives of carbon footprint reduction, soil protection and biodiversity conservation, but also brings social and economic benefits. For instance, ecotourism initiatives centred around reforested areas can attract visitors, create local jobs, and stimulate local economies.

Recently, under the auspice of Moldova’s President Sandu, the country has committed itself to a highly ambitious target (under the national strategy “European Moldova 2030”) of expanding forest area from the current 11% up to 16.3% by 2030. Earlier this year, this target has been reiterated (i.e. at least 15% of total land shall be covered with forests) and operationalized through the adoption of National Afforestation and Reforestation Programme for 2023-2032, which among others means planting of 150,000 hectares in the next less than 10 years. This challenge requires massive joint effort from development partners, the Government and the people. I am therefore glad to see here today representatives from the development partner community and civil society and call for their proactive support.  

In this regard, to also note that the upcoming Moldova Support Platform will also work to garner support for Moldova’s ambitious, flagship National Forest Expansion and Rehabilitation Program (NFERP).

I would also like to highlight that the EU-Moldova Association Agreement requires the Moldova to “promote trade in forest products derived from sustainably managed forests...” while installing “...sustainable management of all types of forests, with use of certification promoting responsible management of the forests”. In this regard the UNECE Environmental Conventions to which Moldova is a signing Party contain strong tools for harmonizing Moldova’s legislation and its governance processes to best international standards and most importantly, facilitate the process of the EU accession.   

In closing, I would like to express deep appreciation for the timely and strategic contribution of UNECE to the Moldova’s Ministry of Environment and would like to reiterate that United Nations in Moldova remains committed to working closely with partners to support Government-led efforts for the climate mitigation and adaptation.