Romania has the resource, experience and expertise to increase the market of wooden constructions, as it happens in Western countries, and this would contribute substantially to achieving the objectives of the Green Deal, reads a press release of the Association of Foresters in Romania (ASFOR) sent on Wednesday to Agerpres.

Wood is the only sustainable structural material worldwide that can allow a substantial decarbonization of the built environment. It is a natural renewable material that stores carbon and replaces materials produced with intense carbon consumption: steel, concrete, plastic material. The production of one tonne of cement generates 1.25 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The construction sector is responsible for 40% of CO2 emissions globally.

„Romania is one of the countries that could have a say in the European wooden construction industry. It would strongly contribute to decarbonization and to changing the architectural landscape for the better. A properly made wooden house is ecological and healthy. Moreover, the use of wood in construction stimulates the sustainable management of forests which leads to a greater growth of the forest fund. It contributes to a circular economy, as wood products can be reused, recycled and recovered for low-carbon energy at the end of life,” the source adds.

In its programmatic document, Green Romania in 10 steps, ASFOR proposed a series of measures to increase the use of wood in construction: „Wooden buildings” programme – public authorities will build passive wooden houses and use at least 10% wood in all constructions made from public funds; „Wooden house” programme – individuals will be financially supported to build wooden constructions; „Wooden constructions for a green economy” programme – legal entities will be supported to build headquarters, technical spaces, spaces for trade and production from wood; Reduction of the VAT rate for wood used in construction to 5%.

These measures, doubled by investment programmes both in the area of forest management and forest exploitation, as well as in the development of the industrial production infrastructure, would contribute substantially to the development of the country and the achievement of the objectives assumed through the Green Deal.

Agerpres