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In a statement issued on April 26, Moldsilva states that it does not prohibit filming in forests and that, according to the order “On Intensification of Communication in the Sphere of Forestry and Preventing Biased Interpretations of Ongoing Forestry Works” issued on February 26, “filming in the forest fund, in the areas where forestry works are carried out shall be authorized at the distance of 50 meters from them, until the limit marked with a special tape in the areas adjacent to the works, in the presence of forestry specialists.”
The agency adds that the reason the decision is based upon is related to people’s security in the areas where forestry works take place, according to the provisions of the Forestry Code and other regulatory acts. “It is also important to provide correct information about forestry works to the public, which can only be done by relevant specialists,” the statement says.
According to the published order, “access and filming in the woods where forestry (forest exploitation) works take place, in order to comply with safety standards for protecting lives of visitors and staff involved in the work process, shall be allowed in the presence of one or several representatives of the company’s administration (director, chief forestry engineer, head of the forestry district, or other authorized specialists in the sphere of forestry and forestry works).” In addition, foresters will have to inform the Moldsilva administration and the police about breaches of these provisions, including unauthorized attempts of access and filming in respective areas.
According to the order, heads of forestry teams, in case of presence of some foreign persons in the mentioned areas, shall present a copy of a forestry technological map to the applicants whereas making photos of the document is not allowed. The order signed by Dumitru Cojocaru, Moldsilva’s director, belongs to the category of “internal regulations”.
Previously, Media Azi and the lawyers of the Independent Journalism Center have made several unsuccessful attempts to obtain the order in question. The agency’s representatives requested additional arguments for providing the order.
MOLDSILVA STATEMENT: “WE ARE SURPRISED BY BIASED INTERPRETATIONS”
In a joint statement of the Board of Directors consisting of managers of forest entities, also issued on April 26, it is stated that foresters are “surprised by biased interpretations of the content of administrative acts” and “consider statements and accusations discussed in public and allegedly aimed at banning access to media representatives to the forest fund as sorts of direct interference which menace functioning of the public authority, as well as regeneration and planting works currently taking place within subordinated forestry locations.”
Petru Rotaru, Head of the Forest Fund, Protected Areas, and Forest Regeneration Department within the Moldsilva Agency, explained during the Media Azi broadcast on April 26 that information panels regarding the type of felling and other issues could be installed near the areas where forestry works take place, and denied that it would prohibit journalists’ access to filming, “It’s not quite like this. In the second paragraph, we say that staying in forestry locations is allowed in the presence of a forestry worker, either from the forestry enterprise or from the forestry district, a person who knows what kind of works is going on and is able to provide some clarifications.”
However, Cristina Durnea, the lawyer of the Independent Journalism Center, considers that the special filming regime established by Moldsilva implies “a series of restrictions of citizens’ constitutional rights.” She mentions that the law guarantees all persons the right to free movement and freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to seek, receive, and spread facts and ideas.
