Currently, only local authorities may apply for financing to establish forests in areas with degraded soil.
The minister pointed out that 2011 is International Year of Forests and UN members have agreed to earmark more funds for forests and afforestation. The Environment Ministry’s program has been allotted six times more funds than in 2009, specifically 180 million lei (EUR41.7 million) for local authorities, and a similar venture is run by the Agriculture Ministry, through the National Program for Regional Development.
Through the Agriculture Ministry’s program, landowners who do not use their plots to grow crops can receive financial support to plant and maintain a forest on their property. The program has been allocated EUR200 million.
(EUR1=RON4.3146)