Criminal investigation after illegal logging in the Hoia forest near Cluj-Napoca. Local residents are calling for the forest to be declared a "protected area".

The Hoia Forest near Cluj-Napoca is at the center of a criminal investigation after Romsilva employees carried out illegal logging, exceeding the limits permitted by law. Inspectors from the Forest Guard found that more trees were felled than legally allowed, and the irregularities were reported to the prosecutors. The people of Cluj have been asking for years for the area to be declared a protected natural site, but the authorities prioritize timber production. Romsilva justified the logging as necessary to replace less profitable trees, but it also included ancient oaks. The director of the Cluj Forestry Directorate claims that an environmental permit is necessary, but it has not been obtained, raising questions about the legality of these actions. The Forest Guard has notified the Environmental Guard, and the local community continues to fight for the protection of the Hoia Forest.