Southern Romania combats desertification with EU-supported reforestation efforts, according to the nation's environment minister.
In a bid to combat the growing environmental crisis in the south of Romania, the country is ramping up reforestation efforts, primarily funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), a post-pandemic recovery mechanism provided by the European Union.
1. **Targeted Reforestation**: The environment minister, Diana Buzoianu, has emphasized reforestation as a key strategy to prevent areas from becoming desert in the near future. These efforts focus on regions at risk of desertification[1].
2. **PNRR Funding and Goals**: The PNRR funds are being used to reforest areas that are otherwise at risk of desertification. Buzoianu aims to double the area reforested in the last two years within a single year, indicating an ambitious expansion of these efforts[1]. However, there is a time constraint as Romania has only until next year to utilize the remaining PNRR funds allocated for these projects[1].
3. **Progress So Far**: Nearly 9,000 hectares have already been reforested across Romania using European funds. The minister is committed to ensuring that these funds are used for much-needed reforestation projects in local communities[1].
4. **Addressing Challenges**: Previous afforestation programs in Romania faced issues such as seedling shortages. However, recent amendments now allow for the purchase of seedlings within the EU, addressing some of these challenges[2]. This change has improved the prospects for successful reforestation.
Romania's approach to addressing desertification through PNRR-funded reforestation highlights the country's commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development. Buzoianu is actively working to bring in European funding for reforestation projects in local communities. The minister's ambition is to achieve significant progress in reforestation within a short timeframe. Romania has only one year left to spend the remaining PNRR funds allocated to environmental efforts.
[1] Source: Minister's statements and press releases [2] Source: Romanian environmental policy reports and updates
- With an emphasis on sustainable health-and-wellness, Romania's environment minister, Diana Buzoianu, is expanding reforestation efforts to combat desertification, utilizing science to prevent future ecological degradation in at-risk regions, as part of the strategy to mitigate climate change.
- For the betterment of fitness-and-exercise, fresh air, and overall environmental wellbeing, these reforestation projects, funded by the PNRR, are aimed at doubling the reforested area within a year, integrating environmental-science principles to achieve these rapid and sustainable growth targets, while addressing previous challenges such as seedling shortages.
