Afforestation campaign: On March 14, citizens of the Republic of Moldova and Romania plant saplings on both banks of the Prut
The forested area will be expanded by 3,000 hectares, with plans to plant 11 million saplings. This announcement was made by the Minister of Environment, Gheorghe Hajder, on the morning of March 1. He provided details about the upcoming afforestation campaign, which will take place from March 14 to April 14. The campaign will kick off in Sculeni, Ungheni, on a 3.5-hectare plot of land. For the first time, citizens from both the Republic of Moldova and Romania will participate in planting the saplings.
"Forest generation will take a remarkable step forward as it crosses the Prut for the first time. In an unprecedented display of unity, citizens of the Republic of Moldova and Romania will plant trees simultaneously on both banks of the Prut. This collective effort illustrates our shared roots and emphasizes that protecting our land is a national responsibility, regardless of which bank we occupy.
Currently, Moldova's forest cover stands at 11%, significantly lower than the European Union average of over 35%. This disparity is more than just a statistic; it highlights the difference between drought and abundance, soil erosion and fertile land, as well as health and disease," stated Minister Gheorghe Hajder during a press conference on March 1.
This year, a budget of 345 million lei has been allocated for afforestation and equipment procurement. Volunteers, state institution employees, and citizens interested in participating in the campaign can find more information on the "Moldsilva" agency's website.
This spring's campaign is part of the National Forest Expansion and Rehabilitation Program, "Forest Generation," initiated by President Maia Sandu. The goal is to plant and rehabilitate 145,000 hectares of forest by 2032, with over 20,000 hectares already afforested."
