Moldovan president says afforestation must become country's major medium, long-term goal

Chisinau, 14 April /MOLDPRES/ - President Maia Sandu today had the first meeting on the presidential platform, focused on the working out and implementation of the a new national programme on afforestation. Representatives of more state institutions and the civil society from the environment sector, as well as representatives of the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM) participated in the event.    
According to the presidential press service, the head of state highlighted the need to extend the vegetation plantations in Moldova, where woods account for 11.3 per cent of the total area, as compared to the average of 30-40 per cent in the European Union.  
„The afforestation must become a major medium- and long- term goal of the country. We will work on a comprehensive programme on afforestation, elaborated for a ten-year period, which is to contain measures of extending and protection of woods, subsidizing farmers for the foundation of protection belts, as well as ceasing corruption in the forestry system. A programme on the extension, management and active protection of woods is necessary, in order to stop the excessive exploitation and degradation of the forestry fund,’’ Maia Sandu stressed.   
The participants in a working group set up discussed also the problems faced on the way to the extension to the forest fund, the institutional capacities as to the implementation of an action plan on afforestation, as well as the financial needs. ‘’There is an unanimous agreement that a national programme on afforestation would bring benefits to the citizens from more viewpoints: creation of jobs in the rural zone, improvement of the farming production and diminution of the soil’s erosion, climate’s regulation locally, air’s purification and waters’ protection,’’ President Maia Sandu added.  
photo: presedintie.md