The Minister of the Environment, Diana Buzoianu, announced that illegal tree cutting in urban green spaces will be classified as crimes, with penalties of up to 3 years in prison.

The project provides for prison sentences of 6 months to 3 years for the illegal cutting and destruction of forest vegetation in green spaces within the urban areas of localities, covering an area of over 500 square meters. Additionally, Buzoianu emphasized that the average price used by authorities to calculate the damages caused by illegal logging is 164 lei per cubic meter, while the actual price is 272 lei, leading to underestimated assessments of damages. This update of the legislation is necessary to more effectively protect green spaces.