A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SELECTION CRITERIA OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE SUBMEASURE 8.1 AFFORESTATION AND CREATION OF WOODLAND OF 2014-2020 NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The authors intend to develop a critical analysis of the selection criteria of the beneficiaries of the Submeasure 8.1. Support for the first afforestation and creation of forested areas from the 2014-2020 National Programme for Rural Development taking into consideration the case of Țara Oașului, county of Satu Mare. The need of investment in afforestation in Țara Oașului is required to improve its environmental capital. The forest biodiversity indicators have to be improved after the increase of forested areas, as a result of the investment in the sustainable development of the region. The forest environmental indicators were calculated (forested surfaces, diversity indices of forest species and forestry species equity) and their values show the necessity of the afforestation in each administrative unit of Țara Oașului. The solution seemed to be the submeasure 8.1 of 2014-2020 National Programme for Rural Development, through grants as financial support for afforestation. The authors identified some issues in the selection grid included in the Applicant's Guide which are not in accordance with the field reality, impeded the access of applicants to the grant and attracted the failure of this action aimed to support the improvement of forests viability and the sustainable development of rural areas.