Environment Minister demands top resignations in Romsilva

Fechet rejected a proposal received from Romsilva's management for a recovery plan that would reduce the number of forestry directorates from 41 to 30 and make 1,200 people redundant by the end of the year, more than half of whom would be foresters. "Such measures do not save the Regia, at most they prolong the moment until the threshold of disaster is reached," the minister said.

The minister pointed out that Romsilva spends more than 100 million lei annually on the administration of national parks and herds, suggesting that these expenses should be covered by the state budget. He also mentioned that he will initiate legislative changes to eliminate "unjustified bonuses", referring to retirement bonuses that can reach up to €100,000.

Instead, he announced that he will come up with "a courageous plan" based on the formula of performance management, noting that he is working on amending the Forestry Staff Statute and on a Government Decision that will regulate the new structure of Romsilva.

Opinion

In the current context, when Romsilva is in its fourth year of difficulties and has reached the situation of having to pay salaries late in December 2024 and January 2025, it is obvious that the institution needs reform. However, reorganizations and restructurings are not done through social media statements or TV appearances, but through concrete plans and their actual implementation. Calling for resignations and throwing the stone at the 'old men' seems more like a populist approach than a concrete step towards reform. We await with interest the plan announced by Minister Fechet and, more importantly, its implementation.