Agent Green blocks Transelectrica forest clearing in 14 protected areas at the Bucharest Tribunal
Yesterday, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled that the forest clearing along the corridor needed to build the Porțile de Fier-Reșița-Timișoara-Săcălaz-Arad/400 kV Porțile de Fier-Anina-Reșița overhead power line had been carried out illegally, annulling the timber valuation documents issued for this purpose. The Bucharest Tribunal also suspended the timber valuation documents until the case is finally resolved.
Construction of the Porțile de Fier–Reșița overhead power line began in 2019, after the building permit and environmental agreement had been issued more than 6 years earlier. The line crosses 9 protected natural areas of national interest (reserves, national and natural parks), 8 of Community interest (Natura 2000 sites) and one protected natural area of international interest (a RAMSAR site).
The timber valuation documents were issued without analysing the impact of this clearing on protected species within the protected areas. When the environmental agreement was issued 6 years earlier, these protected natural areas had no management plans or approved conservation objectives. The subsequent review of the environmental agreement did not analyse the impact of forest clearing on protected species and habitats.
The same route also passes through several potentially virgin forests that are legally protected until studies are completed to establish whether they are virgin or near-virgin forests.
The timber valuation documents were also issued without forest management plans providing for this project or analysing its impact on the forest’s functions or habitat fragmentation.
The reasons for the Bucharest Tribunal’s ruling have not yet been issued, and it may be appealed:
http://portal.just.ro/3/SitePages/dosar.aspx?id_inst=3&id_dosar=300000000906500
More information about Agent Green’s campaign against Transelectrica’s abusive project:
Press contact: Cătălina Rădulescu, Agent Green lawyer, office@agentgreen.org, 0745138165
Agent Green protest in Iablanița, Caraș-Severin County, at the inauguration of the Transelectrica construction site – October 2019
Agent Green and Robin Wood protest in Iardaștița – March 2020
Iardaștița virgin forests before clearing
Iardaștița virgin forests after clearing
