Around 100 People Protests in front of Vilnius Parlament to Protect Forests from Logging
In Vilnius, around 100 people protested near the Seimas against the logging of protected forests. They carried signs with messages like “Stop the Genocide of Lithuanian Forests!” and voiced concerns about the environmental impact. The organizers plan to continue protests until forests are better protected.
Lithuania plans to log over 4,000 hectares of forest this year under sanitation logging. Environmental groups claim that more than 80% of Lithuania’s forests are subject to clear-cutting, a practice they say harms nature and recreation areas.
Environment Minister Simonas Gentvilas refutes claims of excessive logging, stating that the country practices sustainable forestry, cutting 70% of annual growth while leaving a third for future generations. He aims to make sanitation logging in protected areas more sustainable.
Despite the ministry’s announcement of halting logging in some areas, NGOs claim logging has already occurred. Amendments to logging regulations, expected in December, aim to ensure only dead trees, not entire areas, are logged in case of pest infestation.