site.btaForest Fires Increase, Prevention Funding and Measures Remain Inadequate, National Audit Reveals

The forest areas in Bulgaria affected by fires have been increasing since 2021, yet no additional funding has been requested for prevention, nor have the planned fire protection measures been implemented;  the national forest management strategy expired in 2020 with no further updates; there is no effective regional forestry planning, indicated the National Audit Office report on Protection, Restoration and Sustainable Management of Forests covering the period from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023, the audit institution reported on its website on Thursday.

The audited organizations were the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Executive Forest Agency (EFA), to which the National Audit Office has issued several recommendations to be implemented by June 30, 2026.

The absence of a national strategy and development plan also affects planning at the district and territorial levels, creating a risk for the effective management of forest areas.

Regarding the third level of planning, territorial forest management plans and programmes, only 30% of privately-owned forest areas have developed and approved forest management plans (FMPs), compared to 87% of forest areas owned by municipalities.

The audit also revealed that a national forest inventory has not been conducted, despite the provisions of the 2011 Forest Act, which requires inventory of all forest territories, regardless of ownership.

Auditors from the National Audit Office found that one of the key principles of forest planning established in the Forest Act has been violated - the implementation of a unified information system for forest territories and activities, intended to serve as a foundation for decision-making and ensure transparency for forest resources usage.

The report also highlights a lack of sufficient financial resources for forest fire protection despite the increased risk of fires due to climate change.

The audit further identified unrealized investments and activities in forest territories, including under the EU programmes for 2021–2027, where no funds have yet been utilized.

No analyses or assessments have been conducted by the EFA regarding the necessary investments, allowing allocation of funding for forestry activities as part of EFA’s investment programme.

Administrative enforcement has also been found to be insufficiently effective, due to the low number of penalty rulings that have been issued and entered into force following administrative violations, said the National Audit Office.

Neither the Agriculture Ministry, nor the EFA has ensured traceability of reforestation efforts, as the annual reports lack data on the planned reforested areas.