Same thing may be happening in Greece.
http://iceagenow.info/2013/01/greece-tree-theft-rise-order-warm/
“The theft of trees is taking place also in Greece a lot,” says reader Argiris Diamantis. “In the Northwest of Greece very poor people from nearby Albania are cutting Greek trees to keep warm in the cold winters.
“Use Google Translate on this link.”
http://www.alphafm.gr/archives/61822
Is it even legal to burn wood for fuel in most European countries?
If not, or if it is subject to serious regulation, then only criminals will be burning wood. They stole it in the first place, right?
Nothing like a little “hot” merchandise to warm up the ol’ home place.
Greeks Raid Forests in Search of Wood to Heat Homes Posted on January 14, 2013 by mkriegs| 32 Comments
Submitted by Michael Krieger of Liberty Blitzkrieg
Greece just seems to be getting worse and worse. Being the leading edge of Southern Europe’s descent into 3rd world status, Greece’s lessons are all of our lessons, as I outlined in my piece last year The Global Spring. From the Wall Street Journal:
Tens of thousands of trees have disappeared from parks and woodlands this winter across Greece, authorities said, in a worsening problem that has had tragic consequences as the crisis-hit country’s impoverished residents, too broke to pay for electricity or fuel, turn to fireplaces and wood stoves for heat.