Romanian Govt Bans Zoo, Botanical Garden Land Exchanges

The executive amended an emergency Ordinance regulating environment protection in Romania.

 

“We hope that promoting these amendments will put an end to real estate speculations involving the lands of zoological gardens, whose designated purpose can no longer be changed now, unless the zoological gardens are to be changed into botanical gardens or green spaces,” secretary of state with the Environment Ministry, Lucia Ana Varga said.

 

Changing the designated purpose of the mentioned lands is now considered a crime, according to the amendments promoted by the government.

 

Environment officials repeatedly said the overall surface of green spaces in Romania reduced by half since the 90s.

 

Following last year’s scandal involving the Bucharest zoological garden, which nearly closed down for failure to observe EU regulation in the field, the Environment Ministry asked all zoos in the country to forward proper documentation in view of receiving financing for expansion and upgrade works.

 

All zoological gardens that fail to meet EU functioning requirements risk being closed down, the ministry said. 

 

Romania has currently 32 zoological gardens, of which 28 are in the state’s hands. Museums or private owners own the remaining zoos.