Preliminary assessment of the third payment request of Romania (2024)

projected climatic conditions in sufficient quantities with the involvement of the private sector, and for measures to discourage the creation of commercial nurseries for short rotation or monoculture production." Article 3(7) of Annex 1 of the amended Ministerial Order No. 1648/2000 enacts this requirement by requiring that forest reproductive material of tree species and ecotypes that are suitable for Romania’s future climatic conditions will be used for afforestation, therefore complying with the requirement for the National Forest Strategy 2020-2030 set out in point (b) of milestone #22.

The Strategy stipulates under point d) of SDA7: "Requirements for afforestation to contribute positively to the objectives of biodiversity conservation, water management, and soil protection by prohibiting afforestation or reforestation on agricultural land with high nature value, grassland or wetlands, excluding habitat restoration." Article 3(8) of Annex 1 of the amended Ministerial Order no. 1648/2000 enacts this requirement by stating that afforestation or reforestation on high nature value agricultural land, grassland or wetlands shall be prohibited, except habitat restoration, which contributes positively to the objectives of biodiversity conservation, water management and soil protection, therefore complying with the requirement for the National Forest Strategy 2020-2030 set out in point (c) of milestone #22. Under point e) of SDA7, the Strategy mandates specific requirements for urban afforestation to enhance ecological connectivity and sustainability. The strategy specifies: "Requirements for urban afforestation to be achieved through a landscape level approach that contributes to strengthening connectivity with natural or semi-natural areas (such as

forests or agricultural areas) with a focus on linking habitats with green infrastructure and ecological corridors." This requirement is justified by Article 3(9) of Annex 1 of the amended Ministerial Order No. 1648/2000 enacts this requirement by, providing that urban afforestation must be carried out through a landscape approach that contributes to strengthening connectivity with natural or semi- natural areas, with a focus on connecting habitats with green infrastructure and ecological corridors, therefore complying with the requirement for the National Forest Strategy 2020-2030 set out in point (e) of milestone #22. Finally, point f) of SDA7 in the Strategy stipulates: "Requirements for afforestation and reforestation projects to be carried out in areas exposed and vulnerable to climatic hazards, in particular to drought and floods, and where appropriate afforestation or reforestation reduces the resulting risks." Article 3(10) of Annex 1 of the amended Ministerial Order No. 1648/2000 enacts this requirement by requiring the establishment of special requirements for afforestation and reforestation projects to be carried out in areas exposed to and vulnerable to

climate hazards, in particular drought and floods, therefore complying with the requirement for the National Forest Strategy 2020-2030 set out in point (f) of milestone #22.

This order is aligned with the specific objectives of the National Forest Strategy to support the socio- economic functions of forests and protect, restore and expand Romania’s forests (page 11).

c. Order no. 1649/2000 on the approval of the Technical Norms for the care and management of stands

Ministerial Order No. 2534/2022 was approved by the Minister for Water and Forestry on 28 September 2022. It approves the technical rules for the care and management of stands and the Guide to good practice on the care and management of stands. Article 4 of Ministerial Order No. 2537/2022 provides that with its entry into force Ministerial Order No. 1649/2000 ceased to apply. Ministerial Order No. 2534/2022 was published in the Official Journal No. 989 on 12 October 2022 entered into force on the same date, according to the provisions of Article 12(3) of Law No. 24/2000 on legislative technique rules for drafting legal acts.

Point e) of SDA6 in the Strategy stipulates: “Management for the stability of forest ecosystems will include requirements on adaptation to climate change to ensure that forest management is based