Foto:ForestPress

Forestry company Egererdő Zrt, which manages Hungary's largest uninterrupted foresty area in the northern part of the country, has asked for help from prosecutors, lawmakers and national tax office APEH against organized crime gangs stealing wood. Illegal loggers are causing tens of millions of forints in damage to the company annually, in addition to incalculable damage to the environment and ecosystem, writes stop.hu, based on a report by the MTI.

László Pallagi, leader of the company, said that their 120 forest wardens are not sufficient to protect 74,000 hectares of forests. He added that while in the past, the motive for thefts was usually bad social circumstances, today the operations are carried out by "well-equipped" crime gangs. The problem is most imminent in the vicinity of Ózd and Arló.
Forest wardens have a right to ask for identification and report individuals suspected of crimes, however, they have no right to stop trucks on public roads or enter private property. For this reason, Pallagi called for stricter regulations and cooperation between authorities. As an example, he pointed out that a thief caught trying to steal one cubic meter of wood will be sentenced to five days of community service as punishment. He believes that stricter punishment, such as seizing the chainsaws and trucks used for stealing the wood would be more effective.
Pallagi also said that society's attitude should also change in order to stop the negative trend, as an estimated 90% of people who buy "cheap" wood are aware of where it comes from.
In related news, the European Commission (EC) has launched an investigation against the Hungarian state for failing to protect a forest near Miskolc, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, under the protection of the Natura 2000 network. The EC is expecting answers from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture within 30 days, writes hirszerzo.hu, based on a report in daily Magyar Nemzet.
Wood thieves have destroyed 30% to 40% of the 190-hectare Sajólád forest, which is home to rare species. Experts are working on restoring the area.