Appointment
In June 2025,Buzoianu became one of two women appointed to the cabinet led by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. She was appointed Minister of the Environment,Waters and Forests on 23 June 2025. [22]
As part of her ministerial team,she appointed two honorary advisers:Laura Bouriaud,a university lecturer specialising in forest policy, [23] and Florin Stoican,a geologist and co-founder of Buila-Vânturarița National Park and the Văcărești Nature Park. [24]
Declared priorities and policy directions
In interviews and public statements,Buzoianu identified several strategic priorities,including increasing forested areas, [25] combating desertification,ensuring the responsible management of the brown bear population, [26] and implementing environmental targets assumed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). [27]
Additional stated objectives included reforming governance in the forestry sector, [28] as well as improving the efficiency and oversight of state-owned companies under the ministry’s authority. [29]
Measures and initiatives
Among the first measures announced after taking office were the appointment of two honorary advisers specialising in environmental protection and biodiversity, [30] and the launch of a process to update national policies on brown bear population management,based on a nationwide study coordinated by the ministry. [26]
The ministry also announced the continuation of more than 500 projects related to water supply,sewerage,and waste management, [31] alongside the installation of over 1,100 electric protection systems intended to mitigate human–wildlife conflict. [32]
In the latter half of 2025,Buzoianu’s tenure as Minister of the Environment was marked by several regulatory and policy actions addressing environmental protection,biodiversity,and public safety. In November 2025,the Romanian government adopted an emergency ordinance aimed at reducing risks associated with the presence of brown bears in and around populated areas. The measure introduced fines for feeding wild bears and empowered local emergency commissions to decide appropriate interventions when bears enter settlements,including deterrence,tranquillisation,relocation or,in extreme cases,euthanasia,depending on the severity of the situation. [33]
During the same period,Buzoianu oversaw the publication of results from Romania’s first nationwide scientific assessment of the brown bear population,based on genetic sampling and habitat analysis. The study,presented at a conference in Brașov,provided estimates of between approximately 10,657 and 12,787 bears and included a national zoning framework for differentiated management strategies across the country. Ministry officials described the findings as a foundation for future policy decisions aimed at reconciling conservation needs with public safety and informed wildlife management frameworks aligned with wider European standards. [34]
At the European level,Buzoianu participated in meetings of the Environment Council,where she discussed bloc-wide climate and environmental objectives,including negotiations on long-term greenhouse gas reduction targets. In these engagements,she advocated for flexibility in implementation,emphasising the need for environmental policies that recognise national economic and social conditions,particularly for member states facing structural and regional disparities. [35]
In response to severe weather events in late 2025,the Ministry of the Environment convened inter-institutional meetings to coordinate emergency preparedness and public alerts. In October 2025,Buzoianu chaired a meeting national in scope following severe weather warnings,working with meteorological and civil protection authorities to enhance preparedness across multiple counties and to issue timely public communications. [36]
