Prolemn Urges Swift Action as Romania Faces Timber Shortage, Advocating for New Regulations and Fair Pricing
Introduction:
Romania is grappling with a severe shortage of timber, significantly impacting its furniture industry. Prolemn, a prominent industry association, has raised urgent concerns, demanding immediate measures to address the crisis. This predicament has led to a surge in timber prices, prompting protests in several cities, including Baia Mare, Bistrita, Brasov, and Lugoj.
Regulatory Challenges:
Prolemn has called for urgent actions to overcome the timber crisis. Their demands include the implementation of a new timber valorisation regulation, ensuring legal and fairly priced wood quantities for the industry. Additionally, Prolemn seeks the promotion of an emergency ordinance to eliminate environmental evaluation obstacles for forestry arrangements. Despite discussions with the Ministry of Environment, disagreements persist, leading to continued protests.
Government’s Response:
Minister of Environment, Mircea Fechet, announced the formation of a task force to analyse necessary amendments to the Timber Valorisation Regulation. The government aims to expedite the digital transmission and publication of forestry arrangements, streamlining environmental evaluations. While the government sees progress, Prolemn representatives argue that no concrete agreements have been reached, prompting them to adhere to their protest schedule.
Industry Implications:
The ongoing crisis has forced Romania’s timber and furniture industries to resort to importing wood from Austria and Germany due to its scarcity and high local prices. The reduction in timber production, as reported by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), is impacting industries that contribute significantly to Romania’s GDP, with a direct and indirect contribution of 3.5%. This situation jeopardises jobs, particularly in rural communities, with Prolemn predicting a continued decline in production throughout 2024.:
Prolemn’s advocacy for regulatory reforms and fair pricing underscores the urgency of addressing the timber shortage to protect jobs and maintain the competitiveness of Romania’s timber sector. The industry’s plea for government intervention remains critical for sustaining its crucial role in the country’s economic landscape.
Source: Jurnalul.ro, photo: JANNIS DIRKSEN
Editor: Andreea Gudin
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