Gift Tree Planting Project – Romania

Project Description

The Gifted Tree’s planting project is in the area around Sighișoara in the historic region of Transylvania, Romania. The area was densely forested until tremendous windstorms in February 2020 brought down a wide swath of trees. The degraded forest is in the vicinity one of Romania’s largest rivers, the Olt river, thereby affecting the water runoff into the river. Your project aims to restore the natural forest type and enhance it with species capable of making structural changes in the future forest stand in order to create a resilient forest with often occurring natural disasters such as high intensity storms causing windfalls. The restoration activities include planting species which are tolerant to higher temperatures and drought in order to prepare the future forest for eventual climate change. These species include Norway Spruce, Larch, Sycamore, Rowan, and Wild pear. Not only will your planting help in improving water quality, but by using species which offer fruits (pear, rowan) we will be able to help with habitat reconstruction and wildlife retention, including the brown bear, which will hopefully readapt and survive without having to descend into the surrounding villages.