Romania Implements Forest Pest Control and Sets Bear Culling Quotas

The National Forest Administration (Romsilva) carried out biological pest control on 2,789 hectares of state‑owned forest this spring, using a bacteria‑based insecticide applied by utility aircraft to combat defoliating caterpillars. The operation covered areas in Ialomiţa, Giurgiu, Călăraşi and Ilfov districts, following similar treatments on 7,088 hectares last year.

In parallel, Romanian lawmakers approved a new regulation that allocates a national quota of 969 brown bears for shooting or hunting in 2026 – 859 under preventive measures and 110 for intervention when bears threaten human settlements. The quota is distributed among counties, with Gorj receiving permission for 16 bears. Officials cite an increase in bear‑related incidents, property damage and public safety costs as justification, noting over 7,500 emergency calls in 2023 and compensation payments exceeding €3.6 million in recent years.