Abstract
Illegal logging has come to the attention of the public eye for several years. Violent conflicts resulting even into murdering the rangers that tried to protect the forests represent a serious alarm for the general population regarding the extent to which corruption can go. As one of the three pillars of economic and financial crimes, corruption represents the core of illegal logging, which brings ultra-high incomes to those involved. Interested groups become organized crime networks as they exploit wood without permits and avoid taxes. There is a stringent need for a clear and deep understanding of this phenomenon. The aim of this study was to provide a SWOT analysis of the role that corruption plays in the exploitation of wood and to find practical countermeasures by interviewing experts involved in protecting the forests. Even though the legislative framework in Romania is appreciated to be of good quality, its implementation seems to be the problem. The politicians, who are also considered to be highly responsible for the theft of the wood, are not eager to take and implement decisions in their power to stop these environmental crimes. Education and technology are identified as the key drivers for protecting the forests more efficiently. It is a general expectation of those interviewed that Romania will achieve higher sustainability over time.
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Acknowledgement
This work was supported by a grant from the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-2174, within PNCDI III.
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Appendix
Appendix
Interview related to deforestation and illegal logging in Romania
Firstly, I want to thank you for accepting to answer a few questions related to your activity in protecting forests.
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1.
Which do you consider to be the quality of the legislative framework in Romania regarding the protection and sustainable exploitation of forests?
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2.
What legislative measures are now required to minimize illegal cuts of wood?
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3.
What is the reason why these measures are not yet adopted and/or implemented?
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4.
How complex do you think this phenomenon is in Romania? But in the world?
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5.
What are the main used techniques in illegal logging?
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6.
Do you feel any pressure in carrying out your professional activity? If so, by whom and in what way?
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7.
What do you think is the share of those who carry out their activity correctly in the total of those who have the role of protecting the forests? Are those at the base of state institutions more corrupt or those in their leadership?
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8.
Starting with corrupt foresters, how high does the corruption go? How high are the stakes? What is the chain of corruption when we talk about illegal logging?
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9.
What do you think is the role of civil society in this phenomenon?
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10.
What do you consider to be the impact of NGO activity? Is their activity effective in the fight against the timber mafia?
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11.
Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is an indicator calculated by Transparency International, which measures the level of corruption perceived by the inhabitants of a country. In 2022, Romania is the third country in the European Union in terms of perceived level of corruption, after Hungary and Bulgaria, on the opposite pole being Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. What do you consider to be the causes, the reasons, the factors why the level of corruption in Romania is so high?
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12.
What are the main vectors that could destroy this “wood mafia”?
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Is the Romanian timber mafia supported by people from other countries?
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14.
What do you consider to be the direct effects of illegal logging? Who is directly affected?
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15.
What about the indirect ones? How far do you think the negative effects of the timber mafia extend?
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16.
What is the major difference in approach regarding forest management between Romania and Austria, considering the involvement of the Austrians in the exploitation of Romanian timber?
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17.
Do you think that Austria’s approach to promote forests for tourism can be a solution for Romania as well, to monetize the forest fund in a sustainable way?
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18.
How do you think the phenomenon of illegal woodcutting will evolve in Romania in the coming years? But in the long run?
Thank you so much for your replies and all your support!
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Cozma, AC., Achim, M.V. (2023). A SWOT Analysis on Illegal Logging and Corruption: Romania Case Study. In: Achim, M.V. (eds) Economic and Financial Crime, Sustainability and Good Governance. Contributions to Finance and Accounting. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34082-6_3
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