The Ministry of Environment is breaking the law and blocking nature protection

The Ministry of Environment is breaking the law and blocking nature protection:
“The owner’s consent is an invention to avoid paying compensation for strictly protected areas”

Bucharest, 29 January 2026 – Agent Green, Declic, Greenpeace and the Climate Adaptation Platform strongly condemn Environment Minister Diana Buzoianu’s intention to make designation of the 10% strictly protected areas conditional on the agreement of landowners and local councils. They maintain that this approach breaches national legislation (Article 44, paragraph 7 of the Constitution, Civil Code Articles 602-3), betrays the public interest and attempts to conceal the state’s refusal to provide fair compensation for protected natural areas.

Romania’s commitment to place 10% of its national territory under strict protection derives from the European Union Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Moreover, Romania has accessed funding through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Milestone 13.2) conditional on achieving this objective. The process particularly concerns the conservation of areas of exceptional ecological value, such as primary and old-growth forests, where human intervention must be absent. Implementing this measure requires scientifically based mapping and sustainable funding mechanisms to compensate landowners subject to restrictions on exploitation, ensuring a balance between biodiversity conservation and local economic interests.

“The owner’s consent is an invention to avoid paying compensation. The Ministry fears the legal obligation that comes with restrictions: fair and prior compensation for private owners and local communities. We draw the public’s attention to the fact that the money exists. The Environmental Fund Administration (AFM) has an enormous budget and must release funds for biodiversity conservation, but this money is blocked or directed inefficiently”, said Valentin Sălăgeanu, Forests and Biodiversity Campaign Coordinator, Greenpeace Romania.

“Leaving at least 10% of the country to nature would secure the remaining 90% of the territory against extreme weather. This requires a shared cross-party commitment from mayors and the Ministry, which this time must bow their heads and pens to science”, said Gabriel Păun, President, Agent Green.

“We observe with sadness that, like her predecessors at the Ministry of Environment, Ms Buzoianu forgets that the role of her position is to protect the environment, rather than the interests of those who cut down forests or destroy natural areas of great value”, said Antoniu Bumb, Campaigner, Declic.

“Owners’ consent is not won through statements, but through compensation paid on time. The Environment Minister has this responsibility because Romania collects billions of lei in taxes specifically for nature conservation”, said Ciprian Gălușcă, Coordinator, Climate Adaptation Platform.

Note to editors:
A technical briefing with further information about designating 10% of national territory as strictly protected areas is available here:
Technical briefing on strict protection of 10% of national territory (PDF)

Press contacts:
Valentin Sălăgeanu, Senior Programme Strategist, Greenpeace Romania, valentin.salageanu@greenpeace.org, +40721616308
Gabriel Păun, President, Agent Green, office@agentgreen.org
Antoniu Bumb, Campaigner, Comunitatea Declic, antoniu@declic.ro
Ciprian Gălușcă, Founder, Climate Adaptation Platform, ciprian.galusca@gmail.com