site.btaForests in Bulgaria Are Permanently Ageing due to Lack of Care

The Bulgarian Branch Chamber of Woodworking and Furniture Industry (BCWFI) on Thursday sent a message to the media, in which they warn that the forests in Bulgaria are permanently aging due to lack of care.

Bulgaria's forests occupy over 39% of the country's territory. They fulfil many ecological, social and economic functions and it is therefore important to keep them in good health. Bulgaria is lagging behind in their regeneration and the quality of wood is deteriorating, the statement says.

There has been a steady ageing of forests. They are mainly coppice (nearly 48%) and conifers, which are not long-lived, explains engineer Petar Dishkov from BCWFI. According to him, Bulgaria is critically lagging behind with the regeneration of forests and their conversion into seed forests. This creates preconditions for future environmental problems: drying, pest attacks and massive disturbances from biotic and abiotic factors. Dishkov predicts that landscape change can also be expected. And there are already visible signs: replacement of forests with bushes and bare areas. Lack of effective care for forest resources could also lead to an increase in fires.

Moreover, the quality of harvested wood is also deteriorating. Currently 75% of the broadleaf wood harvested is for firewood, i.e. the worst quality. This limits the market opportunities for timber, reduces the income of forest holdings, and also reduces the added value of timber products. In this way, Bulgaria does not meet the priorities in the European Forest Strategy 2030 for the production of products with a long life cycle and high added value, Dishkov further commented.

In other European countries, on average 80% of the forest increment is extracted, while Bulgaria extracts less than 50%. “Which means that we plan little and execute even less,” the expert says. The lack of active care for forests leads to health problems, including deforestation. Dishkov gives the example of Croatia, which produces quality oak wood, using about 75% of the increment, the BCFMP press release says.

A change in the way logging is carried out and a switch to modern mechanized logging is needed. According to a study by the University of Eastern Finland, 90% of timber harvesting in Western Europe takes place mechanically. Unfortunately, in Bulgaria this percentage is 2%. This means that logging in Bulgaria is at an extremely outdated level and is losing competitiveness, the expert adds.