Moldova’s forests are rich in biodiversity and ecological value, yet face significant challenges related to deforestation, degradation, and unsustainable management. With forest cover at just 11%—far below the European average of 39%—the country is dealing with the legacy of wars, famine, Soviet-era agricultural expansion, and widespread logging. These historical pressures have left forest ecosystems fragmented and in urgent need of restoration and expansion.

Governance capacity is another key issue: while Moldsilva, the national forestry agency, manages the majority of Moldova’s forests, local authorities often lack updated Forest Management Plans (FMPs) and trained personnel. This results in low productivity and practices that compromise sustainability and ecosystem health.

To address these challenges, Moldova has launched a long-term national effort aligned with the EU Green Deal and the Paris Agreement, aiming to reach climate neutrality by 2050. The Moldova Forest Development Programme, supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB), is designed to integrate technical, institutional, and community-based solutions to promote sustainable forestry.

The programme’s main objectives include:

• Improving forest governance and strengthening the legal framework

• Building institutional capacity of local stakeholders

• Enhancing production and supply of forest reproductive material

• Restoring and rehabilitating approximately 70,000 hectares of degraded forest land through afforestation, forest rehabilitation, and shelterbelt creation

Etifor is supporting the project to ensure alignment with EIB’s Results Measurement (ReM) framework and environmental and social standards. Specifically, our contribution includes:

• Supporting the development of the Environmental & Social Gap Analysis Report

• Reviewing and validating risk assessment and mitigation methodologies

• Ensuring compliance with EIB Environmental & Social Standards

• Contributing to social development and monitoring activities

• Strengthening the project’s procurement function by integrating sustainability criteria and verifying compliance with EU and EIB environmental regulations

• Supporting the drafting of the project’s Results Framework, including Theory of Change, KPIs, and MRV system

• Structuring data collection and impact measurement processes based on EIB’s ReM framework

• Assisting in the design of training curricula for forestry governance and technical capacity building

Through this work, Etifor contributes to the creation of a resilient, well-managed forest sector in Moldova—one that supports biodiversity, local livelihoods, and the country’s broader environmental commitments.