site.btaDeputy Agriculture and Food Minister Paligorov: Forest Dieback Spreads to Native Species in Northeastern Bulgaria

Forest dieback in Northeastern Bulgaria has spread to native tree species previously considered relatively resilient, Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Paligorov told journalists on Wednesday.

Paligorov said such cases had previously been limited and managed through routine silvicultural operations, but far more substantial action was now required. The greatest concern was that native species such as elm, linden and Turkey oak, which had previously been considered resilient, were also beginning to die.

Paligorov said the affected forests could be restored through regeneration and the replacement of existing stands with new plantations. This would alter the landscape in the affected areas. “We must inform the public through the media that this is not indiscriminate, wholesale logging, but mandatory measures and operations needed to ensure that future generations have forests,” Paligorov said.

Paligorov noted that unless the necessary action was taken, future generations would be unlikely to have the forests that exist at present.

Paligorov also addressed the condition of shelterbelts in Northeastern Bulgaria. Around 17–18% of them, or approximately 1,500–1,600 hectares, were damaged or in poor condition and could no longer fully perform their functions, Paligorov said.

This created problems for farmland because shelterbelts play an important role in retaining moisture and creating more favourable conditions for crops, Paligorov said.

“The data show that yields from various crops are up to 40% higher in areas with shelterbelts. On average, crops are 25–30% more productive than they would be without shelterbelts,” Paligorov said.

Paligorov noted that shelterbelts should not be removed or incorporated into agricultural land, as this would reduce their beneficial effect on agricultural production.

The scale of the dieback would require a substantial increase in the salvage harvesting of affected timber, Paligorov said. The timber should be utilized, and options for its use in various industries were being explored, Paligorov added.

Paligorov said talks were under way with wood-processing companies, while options to use the timber in the energy sector were also being discussed. Expert estimates put the quantity suitable for heat and electricity generation at around 700,000–800,000 tonnes.

Paligorov also said preparations were under way to support forest owners in Natura 2000 protected areas. Applications were expected to open by the end of the year through a simplified electronic procedure.

The funding could be used to restore affected forest areas, including site preparation and the establishment of new plantations.

Prolonged drought was the main phytosanitary problem in Bulgarian forests in 2025, while poplar spotted borer attacks and the dieback of beech, oak, Turkey oak and linden were among the most serious biological threats. Biotic and abiotic factors affected 86,242 hectares of forest land, about 2.2% of the country’s forested area, while protection measures planned for 2026 cover 14,963 hectares.

Coniferous stands planted outside their natural range have also been drying out for decades. By June 2024, the process affected around 21,000 hectares nationwide.⁠