(importance, status, challenges and measures for preservation and restoration)
Importance
Forests have a number of important functions, the main one being that they form and protect natural resources.
Through the process of photosynthesis, forests absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, thus regulating the greenhouse effect. As a habitat for many species of plants and animals, forests help preserve natural diversity. Forests improve the quality of the environment by reducing noise, deterring strong winds and absorbing dust and gases, and they also have a decisive influence on the water regime of rivers and lakes, protect soil from erosion and regulate air temperature. In this way, forests play a defining role in climate and landscape. They are also an attractive place for rest and recreation.
In the past
Centuries ago, the Bulgarian lands in the plain of Thrace, the hilly region of Ludogorie, and the Rhodope, Rila and Pirin mountains were covered with dense and impressive forests. For example, the chroniclers of the First Crusade in 1096 describe the “Great Bulgarian Forest” (Silva Bulgarorum) as “huge and vast”, spread “long and wide”. More than eight days were needed to cross the “immeasurable and unheard of forests of the Bulgarian kingdom”. To this day, many fairy tales, legends and songs describe the forest as territories surrounded by mystery, inhabited by mysterious and mythical creatures, and the big, old trees as the abode of wild animals. They were inseparably linked with people’s everyday lives and with their cultural and spiritual development. Old forests have been a source of inspiration for artists and writers who had the opportunity to touch forests’ beauty and uniqueness.
Status
Bulgarian forests are part of the European and world forest wealth, occupying more than 37% of the country’s territory. One of the oldest trees in Europe is in Bulgaria – the 1300-year-old Baikush Black Mura (Pinus heldreichii).
The largest share of the forest territory in Bulgaria is occupied by the forests that arose as a result of natural regeneration – about 70%, while the share of forest crops is 21%, and of natural forests 9%. Approximately 62% of the forest stock is mainly intended for logging and environmental functions (economic forests), while the rest – about 38% – has protective and special functions. Only about 4% of the forests have been preserved as “virgin forests”, unaffected by human activity.
Bulgarian forests are distinguished by an extremely rich biological diversity of coniferous and broad-leaved tree species. Their average age is 51 years. The distribution of forest territory by forest types follows a characteristic trend reflecting a permanent decrease in the area of coniferous forests and coniferous crops, which, as a result of large-scale afforestation programmes, increased sharply in the middle of the last century. Since 1990, this area has gradually decreased and coniferous forests currently occupy about 22% of the forest area of the country. Deciduous forests occupy around 68% of the total area of forest territories in the country and continue to expand their share. Coniferous plantations over 80 years old occupy around one fifth of the area of coniferous forests. The area of middle-aged and mature coniferous forests is increasing at the expense of a decrease in the area of young forests. Data on the age structure of deciduous tall-stemmed forests also show an increase in the proportion of middle-aged and mature stands. About 75% of all forests are exclusive state property, 32% are for special purposes, and over 8% are located in protected areas.
Bulgarian forests provide 85% of the total outflow of water in the country, or 3.6 billion cubic metres of clean drinking water. They play a huge role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by sequestering carbon in their biomass and absorbing carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis. The forestry sector employs about 43,000 people, and in some rural areas it is the main driver of economic production. The Bulgarian forest fund is home to more than 80% of all protected plants and 60% of rare and endangered animals in the country, including 43 globally endangered species of animals and plants. Bulgarian forests are a place for recreation and tourism and provide economic and social benefits for people.
The most widespread forest tree communities include representatives of the common beech (Fagus sylvatica), Turkish oak (Querсus serris), Hungarian oak (Querсus frainetto), Querсus dalechampii, Scots pine or White pine (Рinus sуlvеstris), Norway spruce or European spruce (Risea abies), European silver fir (Abies alba ), Austrian pine or Black pine (Рinus nigrа) and other tree species. Most predominant tree species are of Eurasian or European distribution. However, there are also three Bulgarian endemics: local oak, Thracian oak and Bulgarian wild pear.
Challenges
There are many problems and threats to Bulgarian forests. The most serious are the short-sighted management of forest resources and the high level of illegal activities in the forest sector.
Overexploitation of economically valuable species affects many ecosystems and habitats. This also includes the specific threats from illegal logging, fires, the collection (and export) of edible mushrooms, medicinal plants, snails and a range of reptiles and amphibians, fishing, poaching and sport hunting of large mammals and birds, as well as the control of predators – especially those such as the wolf, fox, wildcat and jackal, which feed on game.
Habitat loss and destruction are a significant threat to biodiversity. This affects all forest ecosystems and especially high mountain forests. Erosion caused by human activities, especially visible in mountain resorts such as Bansko, is fatal for forests.
Pollution of air, soil, freshwater and coastal waters has increased in recent decades and is a major threat to both biodiversity and human health. Practically all sources of pollution – domestic, agricultural, industrial and transport – are present in the forest landscape and threaten forests to varying degrees.
The effects of natural and human factors on the health status of Bulgarian forests is assessed according to the uniform methodology of the International Cooperation Programme for Forests (validated at the international level). One of the main observed parameters is the shedding of leaves from tree crowns. In recent decades, monitoring has shown an increase in the number of sick and dead trees compared to previous years. This is due to various diseases, not only of natural origin (for example, dead spruce forests on Vitosha Mountain), but also caused by human activity, mostly due to the harmful effects of air and soil acidification by sulphur, nitrogen oxides and other substances. Heavy metals and surface (tropospheric) ozone also have a serious impact – in high concentrations they are toxic to all plants. The invasion of new exotic species can have extremely detrimental effects on native forest ecosystems, species and subspecies. Only recently, some monitoring has shown that the number of trees with medium and severe defoliation has decreased significantly compared to previous years.
The change in ownership represents a possible threat to forest biodiversity if farmers and local governments are not fully informed and encouraged to protect, maintain and recultivate forests, taking into account the need to preserve forest biodiversity – both inside and outside protected areas. These conditions were not included in the forest estate restoration procedure completed in the first decade of the 21st century. As a result, a significant share of forests passed into private hands. Since then, forest property trading has become an increasingly speculative business that allows investors to buy lower-grade forests at low prices and then replace them with attractive state, municipal or private forests in mountain and seaside resorts – the so-called “forest substitutes”. The resulting forests were then usually cleared to build hotels, golf courses, etc. This deplorable practice was finally curtailed through legislative changes.
The emerging trend of permanent changes in the climate represents a serious challenge for the Bulgarian forests. Projections of rising temperatures, warmer winters and more summer droughts, along with the greater frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events such as heatwaves and cold snaps, violent storms, wet snow and ice accumulation, will worsen forest health and tree growth, increase attacks by pathogenic insects and fungi, including invasive species, and will cause severe losses from fire and storm damage. There is already evidence of the impact of these various climatic events on the forestry sector in Bulgaria. In the future they may contribute to very high economic losses and the deterioration of the ability of forests to fix carbon, as well as affecting the quality of life in Bulgaria by limiting opportunities to perform valuable ecosystem services.
According to an expert study, total forest growth could decline significantly, which would result in a 42 percent loss of annual timber yield and would have a devastating impact on primary production of forest products and the rural economy. Impacts of a similar magnitude can also be expected on the ability of forests to maintain drinking water supplies, mitigate the effects of extreme rainfall and flooding, stabilise vulnerable soils on steep slopes, meet the growing needs of the recreation and tourism sector, assimilate and fix carbon and conserve the rich resource of natural biodiversity.
The main vulnerabilities of forests to climate change include the following:
- Species-specific physiological responses to altered temperature and precipitation regimes and inability to respond to changing climatic conditions. Some species may lack the adaptability to cope with new climate conditions and thus become extinct locally or globally.
- Uncertainty about the interaction between species inhabiting forest ecosystems.
- Large areas of conifer plantations at too low altitudes and the associated potential risk of reduced growth and various health problems – in recent decades there have been numerous waves of mortality due to the combined negative effects of drought, aging and lack of opportunities for regular cultivation.
- Increased likelihood of large fires and other disturbances such as damage from high winds, damage from wet snow and ice, insect attacks.
- Improved conditions for invasive species with high potential for significant forest damage.
- Predominance of the use of wood as firewood.
Climate change is very likely to lead to undesirable consequences as well as interaction between forests and different sectors of the economy. For example:
- Water – Increased demand for water resources can lead to greater water extraction and thus certain forest ecosystems located below catchment facilities are drying out. On the other hand, degraded forest conditions due to storms and droughts can affect watersheds and surface water quality.
- Transport – Fragmentation and reduction of the area of forest ecosystems due to the development of transport infrastructure can facilitate the easier spread of invasive species. On the other hand, damage to forest ecosystems (e.g. slope erosion) can disrupt the operation of road and rail infrastructure.
- Tourism – Increased pressure on forest ecosystems from the development of tourist infrastructure caused by the demand for new tourist locations due to the reduced quality of traditional and existing locations related to climate change.
- Energy – Using wood as a renewable energy source is in conflict with the carbon capture and fixation functions of forests.
- Agriculture – Changes in applied agricultural practices can cause the spread of invasive species from agricultural lands to forest areas, as well as leading to conflicts in land use.
- Forestry – Applying new forestry practices to grow short-lived forests can reduce biodiversity. Overexploitation of forests can reduce their other ecosystem services and cause increased erosion, reduced water retention and flooding, etc.
- The threat of fires in urban areas near forest areas is increasing.
- Health and productivity of forest workers may deteriorate due to higher summer temperatures, air pollution from wildfires, increased risk to human health when dealing with the consequences of increased natural disasters.
Legislation
The Forest Act provides information and regulation relating to forest status, grants, ownership and changes to it. It classifies all forests into three categories based on their primary functions: timber production, habitat, and protected areas.
The regime for the use of forests located in protected areas is governed by a special Law on Protected Areas. Among other normative documents dealing with forests, their ownership and the protection of biological resources are the following laws: Law on Hunting and Game Protection; Law on Restoration of Ownership of Forests and Lands in the Forest Fund; Law on Territorial Planning, Law on the Ownership and Use of Agricultural Lands, Law on Environmental Protection and Law on Biodiversity. The international conventions and treaties in the field of biodiversity and the environment signed by Bulgaria are also of great importance. According to the Bulgarian Constitution, they have priority over national legislation. In any case of legislative conflict between national regulations and international treaties, priority is therefore given to the latter.
Measures and plans for forest conservation and/or recovery
The European Union Forest Strategy sets the agenda for sustainable forest management and includes among its priorities “forests in a changing climate”, which covers the integration of adaptation actions into forest policies.
The national forest legislative framework largely reflects the requirements of environmental legislation, including those related to climate change. The National Strategy for the Development of the Forestry Sector in the Republic of Bulgaria (NSDFSRB) defines the national priorities in accordance with the European framework for planning in the sector. The strategy’s priorities include “maintaining vital, productive and multifunctional forest ecosystems contributing to mitigating the effects of climate change, as well as increasing the resilience of forest ecosystems and their ability to adapt to climate change”. The strategic plan for the development of the forest sector for the period 2014–2023 included 20 operational goals corresponding to the NSDFSRB and 102 activities for their achievement.
The Forest Act and a number of other legislative acts govern the protection of the environment and the management of forest territories in Bulgaria. In addition, there is a specific “Programme of measures to adapt forests in the Republic of Bulgaria and mitigate the negative consequences of climate change on them”. This outlines the most problematic areas under different climate change scenarios and measures to adapt forests to climate change.
The measures envisaged and applied nationally include:
- Conducting scientific research, improving awareness and disseminating information aimed at preserving and improving the status of forests. Establishment of a national forestry advisory service and a system for the dissemination of results.
- Improvement and protection of forest resources, including: sustainable management of regeneration processes and increase of area and wood stock of forest territories; implementation of reforestation programmes; maintaining biodiversity, genetic diversity and resilience of forests; improving the capacity of Bulgarian nurseries and the seed collection and storage system; taking measures to limit the possibility of invasive species entering forest ecosystems; building a national system for rapid detection and response to fires and other natural disasters.
- Development of agroforestry as an integrated system combining agriculture and forestry to create productive and sustainable land use systems by growing trees and shrubs alongside or between pastures or fields. When properly implemented, agroforestry systems contribute to adaptation, including flood protection, increased water retention capacity, while generating benefits from mitigation actions such as carbon storage and reduced loss of soil organic matter.
- Improving the potential for sustainable use of forest resources, including: improving the potential for long-term use of wood products with higher added value; improving the potential for sustainable and more environmentally friendly use of wood biomass for energy production; review and extension of current building standards to improve the use of wood as a building material; creating a programme to encourage the installation of modern energy and heat production systems for households, businesses and small communities.
Several civil organisations also play a significant role in the protection of Bulgarian forests. For example, the World Wildlife Fund – WWF Bulgaria:
- Supports the implementation of independent and reliable forest certification, which is a proven tool in global practice to stimulate the responsible management of forest resources. The application of the certification under the international FSC system ensures economically profitable use in compliance with the law, protection of the interests of forest workers and local people, protection of biodiversity and limitation of pollution. The FSC logo on wood products indicates that the product comes from well-managed forests. WWF is assisting the national working group to create a National Standard for Forest Certification under the FSC scheme.
- The fund works to increase the awareness and capacity of those interested in the field of forest certification and responsible forestry. Through the Forest Certification Information Center (FCIC) working at the office in Sofia, WWF offers training and consultations, provides guides and methodologies, and carries out specialised analyses in the forest sector.
- According to a WWF project, a National methodology was developed for the identification, management and monitoring of forests with high conservation value (forests important for preserving biodiversity, forests with anti-erosion or water protection functions, or forests important for preserving cultural, ethnic or religious identity and traditions).
- WWF Bulgaria, among other NGOs, initiated a broad debate on illegal logging in Bulgaria, the level of which is alarmingly high. Expert research gives reason to believe that the amount of illegally cut wood exceeds the officially reported level of average annual yield.
Institutions and organisations
State policy and management in relation to forests is led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Sector “Forests”. Their specific activities are related to: the use of wood and non-wood products; afforestation and operation of forest nurseries; hunting; purchase/change in the ownership of forest territories, etc.
Another national institution is the Ministry of the Environment and Waters, managing the protected areas, which for the most part include forests.
The main NGOs directly related to the forestry sector are: the “Municipal Forests” association, which represents the municipalities that own forests in Bulgaria, the National Association of Non-State Forest Owners “Gorovladelets” and the Union of Bulgarian Foresters.
There are also several active civil organisations that work on topics related to the management of forest resources and climate change, such as the World Wildlife Fund Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, the Association of Parks in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, the “For the Earth” Association, “Green Balkans” Federation, etc.
Academic institutions with scientific and practical activities related to the forestry sector are: Forestry University - Sofia, Forestry Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Kliment Mindjov
Senior Expert
Borrowed Nature Bulgaria
Sofia, January 2024
