Agent Green strengthens its team with a gendarme as it celebrates 17 years of work
Bucharest, 3 March 2026 – Agent Green today marks 17 years since its founding by strengthening its team with an unusual new employee to help stop illegal logging nationwide. Non-commissioned officer Vasile Crețu successfully concluded his career in the Mountain Gendarmerie this winter. He was even given an award after recording hundreds of administrative and criminal offences, demonstrating professionalism, responsibility and commitment to protecting forests and wildlife.
Drawing by Dan Perjovschi
“I met Chief Adjutant Vasile Crețu 9 years ago when we blocked a timber truck at Vidraru, a protest watched LIVE online by 4 million Romanians. He not only maintained public order, but also showed a particular understanding of the national problem of illegal logging. From then until today, we have cooperated exceptionally well in our common fight to protect the forest in Argeș County, where he worked. Today he joins us as an employee for a project that I believe has the power to put an end to illegal logging. Through numerous strategic investigations over 17 years, we have brought forests to the center of public attention. We prompted the state to establish forest guards, digitize the forest, create the Inspectorul Pădurii application and improve legislation. We have even pursued hundreds of court cases against the government to get here. We prompted the European Commission to begin infringement proceedings against the environment ministry. Now it is time for the decisive blow. Together we will draft a new law penalizing forestry offences that will decisively deter theft. We will back up the law by strengthening its enforcement. Vasile will lead a training course for law enforcement bodies: the Gendarmerie, Police and Forest Guard,” said Gabriel Păun, founder of Agent Green.
Vasile Crețu: “I am joining Agent Green to continue what I began within the Romanian Gendarmerie. To contribute to the planet’s climate security. To help efforts against illegal logging. To be an example for everyone who wants to change something in this country. So my child and his generation have a role model. Because the Agent Green team was a great help to me in what I achieved during my work within the Romanian Gendarmerie, serving Romania with dignity and honor.”
Crețu is not the first representative of the authorities to choose to join Agent Green. Forestry engineer Dan Cătălin Turiga joined the nongovernmental organization after leaving Romsilva. “I love the forest and refused Romsilva’s initiation, which involves a theft that holds you captive throughout your career. I refused to steal and am still fighting them in court to bring the truth to light. At Agent Green I can freely put my training to use. That means exposing wrongdoing, helping improve legislation and helping enforce it.”
In the 17 years since its work began, Agent Green has operated on 5 key pillars corresponding to threats that would endanger the planet even if human civilization disappeared: genetically modified organisms, plastic, nuclear waste, climate change and the degradation of natural ecosystems. The organization uses every possible tactic to bring about the necessary change in these fields: investigations, exposés, advocacy, complaints, protests, litigation, education, conferences and scientific studies. These tactics have improved legislation and had the positive side effect of environmentally educating Romania’s general public, which has become increasingly sensitive to environmental problems. Hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest have been saved from illegal logging and tens of thousands permanently and strictly protected during the organization’s existence. When the government and justice system failed, the organization approached the European Commission, which launched the necessary infringement proceedings to resolve the problems. The proceedings launched in February 2020 over illegal logging and the degradation of Natura 2000 sites remain open. During them, Agent Green has so far secured a ban on clear-cutting in Natura 2000 sites (23% of Romania’s area), improvements to SUMAL and Inspectorul Pădurii, and mandatory appropriate assessments before forest exploitation is approved. The campaign to protect Romania’s 13 national parks has also recorded a key success: strictly protected areas in these parks have increased from approximately 30% in 2011, when the organization launched the campaign, to over 67% in most parks. The ultimate objective is to extend strict protection to at least 75% of each national park’s area, in harmony with IUCN principles.
The complete Agent Green press-release archive for 3 March 2009 – 3 March 2026 is available here: press releases
Contact
Gabriel Păun, office@agentgreen.ro
Vasile Crețu, +40 787 270 170
Dan Cătălin Turiga, +40 728 273 782, dan-catalin.turiga@agentgreen.org
