site.btaEnvironment Ministry Launches National Campaign to Prevent Forest Fires

The Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) has launched the national campaign "Protect Tomorrow's Green", aimed at turning forest fire prevention into a shared public cause. The campaign was launched by Environment and Water Minister Rositsa Karamfilova and world mountain running champion Veradina Nacheva, who will serve as the initiative's first ambassador, the Ministry's press office said here on Wednesday. 

A special social media series titled "30 Seconds for Nature" will feature short videos in which athletes, scientists, experts, volunteers and members of the public will demonstrate through personal example that protecting nature begins with each individual. The campaign will run throughout the entire forest fires season.

According to the Ministry, the videos will combine compelling personal stories, practical advice and messages centred on one simple but important truth: most forest fires can be prevented. Every extinguished cigarette, every campfire left unlit and every timely emergency call can help save not only trees but entire ecosystems, wildlife and natural heritage built over decades, the Ministry added. 

Rositsa Karamfilova and Veradina Nacheva agreed that every major forest fire begins with a single small spark. 

"Let us ignite the spark of responsibility together, not a fire in the forest. Protect Tomorrow's Green," is the message jointly delivered by the Minister and the campaign ambassador. 

According to Karamfilova, protecting Bulgaria's forests begins long before a fire breaks out, with the attention, responsibility and everyday decisions of every individual. She presented Nacheva with a special distinction and expressed hope that she would inspire thousands of people to join the cause of protecting Bulgaria's forests.

"Veradina is a modern-day awakener. She is the spark with which we hope to ignite public commitment to protecting nature - not a fire that destroys forests, but inspiration that brings people together," the Minister said. 

Nacheva thanked the Ministry for the distinction, saying that she regarded her participation in the initiative as both a great honour and an even greater responsibility.

"The mountains have taught me to respect nature because it always responds according to the way you treat it. If this campaign inspires more people to protect our forests and helps prevent even a single fire, that will be the greatest reward," she said. 

Veradina Nacheva is Chief Expert at the Biodiversity and Forest Ecosystems Monitoring Department within the Environmental Monitoring Directorate of the Executive Environment Agency under the Ministry of Environment and Water. She is also a PhD candidate in phytocoenology at the Faculty of Biology of Sofia University's St. Kliment Ohridski.

Earlier in the day, Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov, Director of the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection, announced that the directorate will soon have a total of 84 drones to support monitoring and situational assessment during forest fires.