OUR FOREST: A New Look at Romania’s Wood Industry
Wood-Mizer presents a new film featuring stories from Romania’s sustainable woodworkers. In Romania, forests are more than just a resource — they are part of the national identity. In the film OUR FOREST, those working in the sector emphasize that sustainable forestry, responsible harvesting, and modern technology offer a way to preserve forests while still benefiting from their economic and social value.
“Everyone loves wood, everyone wants to have something made of wood in their home, but there is a lot of animosity towards foresters and woodworkers,” said Ciprian Muscă, President of the Association of Foresters.
This paradox lies at the heart of Romania’s current forest debate. While timber remains one of the country's most important resources, the industry must now operate under increasing pressure from environmental scrutiny and public mistrust.
“Since we were born here with such wealth around us, we must be very careful to preserve it for the next generations,” said Dorin Văideanu, owner of the wooden house construction company Doralnic.
Generations of Romanian craftsmen have worked with wood, and in many regions, woodworking is not just a tradition — it is an economic necessity.
“Agriculture could no longer support the family,” said Bota Viorel, owner of the woodworking company Vasicon Star SRL. “That’s why we turned to wood.”
Today, the Romanian wood industry is evolving. Outdated equipment and strenuous manual labor are being replaced with modern, efficient technologies. This shift is helping to increase productivity, reduce waste, and make sustainable practices more viable.
“We used to work brutally hard with the old machines. At one point, I decided to replace them. We’re no longer working the way we used to,” added Bota Viorel.
Sustainability is a recurring theme. In both forestry and wood processing, there is a growing awareness that forests must be regenerated, not just exploited. Around 40% of Romania’s forests are FSC-certified, meaning the wood is harvested in a sustainable manner.
“We’re very careful about how we harvest and use wood. We focus strongly on sustainability in everything we do,” emphasized Dorin Văideanu.
This new generation of forest professionals sees wood not as a disposable material, but as a renewable, long-term resource.
“Wood is the resource of the future. If we understand it, we can live much healthier lives,” said Ciprian Muscă. “It’s the only material that renews itself.”
Yet the sector’s future depends not only on tools and technology, but also on how society chooses to value wood — and the people who work with it.
In 2024, the Romanian Parliament adopted a new Forestry Code aimed at protecting forests. Under the new Code, forest roads will be monitored, new forestry offenses will be introduced, and every forest operation will be officially registered.
“It would be very good if those who come after us could understand the importance of respecting wood traceability and giving it true value through productivity, not other means,” said Liviu Țiplic from the sawmilling company Rotil Prest SRL.
Rather than ending forest use, those featured in the film argue for smart, sustainable forest management — one that allows both nature and communities to thrive.
“Let’s keep pushing to improve,” said Liviu Țiplic.
“Now we are waiting for the grandchildren to take over the job from us,” said Bota Viorel.
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