Emergency Ordinance No. 77 of June 30, 2021 on the establishment of the National Forest Guard.

This Emergency Ordinance establishes the National Forest Guard (Garda Forestieră Națională) as a central public institution with legal personality, operating under the authority of the central environmental ministry. The primary purpose of this body is to centralize the coordination of forestry and hunting control activities, which were previously managed by regional inspectorates.
The institution is granted significant technical and administrative powers to oversee the national forest fund and the national hunting fund. Its mandate includes the rigorous verification of how these resources are utilized, the monitoring of timber traceability systems, and the technical auditing of wildlife management practices. To fulfill these duties, the Ordinance provides the entity with the authority to conduct field inspections, issue sanctions for legal violations, and supervise the activities of both public and private entities operating within these sectors.
Employees are granted the legal standing of forestry staff, which authorizes them to wear uniforms, carry firearms for protection during field operations, and exercise law enforcement powers in the detection and documentation of environmental crimes. This status ensures that inspectors have the necessary legal protections and tools to intervene in high-risk scenarios, such as illegal logging or unauthorized hunting activities.
Financially and logistically, the Ordinance facilitates the transition of assets, budgets, and personnel from pre-existing regional structures to the centralized National Forest Guard. It mandates the creation of regional branches that operate under the direct coordination of the national body, ensuring a uniform application of environmental standards across all geographic areas.