Europe’s oldest forests are at risk by big furniture corporations

Deep into the Carpathian Mountains of Romania stand one of Europe’s last pristine old-growth forests, virtually untouched by human activity. However, these virginal woods could soon come to an end.

Now, Greenpeace warns that the indiscriminate logging in Romania is growing at a concerning pace, including areas protected by the Natura 2000 European Commission initiative.

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The New Republic explains that Romania is home to 70% of Europe’s virgin forest, earning it the nickname of ‘The Amazon of Europe’.

The Communist era closed off Romania from the global economy, while keeping the forestry traditions virtually intact.

However, it all changed in the 2000s, with vast swaths of land being privatized in a manner that, looking back, seems reckless and corrupt.

More concerning is that these logging companies in Romania are supplying wood to one of the most important furniture retailers around the globe.

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After all, Romania is home to some rare forests of oak, spruce, and beech that virtually have disappeared across Europe.

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According to Greenpeace, at least seven manufacturers linked to the destruction of high-conservation value forests supply IKEA across Europe.

Specifically, products made from Romanian old-growth forest wood can be found in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

“Our nature heritage can’t be turned into pieces of furniture”, declares Robert Cyglicki, Biodiversity Campaign Director at Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, on the Greenpeace press release. “Old forests are vital to the planet’s health and must be immediately protected”.

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“IKEA must live up to its own sustainability promises and clean up its supply chain from old-growth forest destruction”, affirms Robert Cyglicki.

The website Romania Insider reports that IKEA owns 33,600 hectares (over 80,000 acres) of wood in the country and that it has planted over one million new trees.

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The New Republic highlights that IKEA is Romania’s largest private landowner, getting roughly 10% of its wood from this tiny Eastern European nation.

However, despite the best intentions that a company can have, it doesn’t divorce it from the harsh realities of the logging industry in Romania.

The New Republic explains that over half of the timber cut down in Romania is done by illegal logging, with violence breaking between lumberjacks and environmental activists a common occurrence.

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At the end of the day, is such destruction really worth to get a cheaper coffee table for your living room?

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