Logging is a serious problem across Bulgarian forests which wouldn’t stop causing alarm among the society, as well as among environmentalists, foresters and state institutions. Data of environmental organizations says that some 1% of the forests are logged with annual revenues to the tune of around EUR 50 mln.

Sometimes illegal logging takes place also thanks to the inertness of state institutions, whose representatives tend to close their eyes for the crime – due to political dependencies or private interest. Publicity and civil activity are needed, in order for this attack on nature to be ceased, environmentalists say. The GIS e-platform, created by WWF-Bulgaria’s experts is one tool for that. Alexander Dunchev from the organization tells us more about it:

“We can’t cope with illegal logging via alarming the bodies of control only. That was why we created GIS 2 – 3 years ago – it is a platform, allowing everyone to get aware and to alarm on illegal forest logging, in case anything suspicious has been spotted.”

The platform is used by 200 – 300 people per day, providing information about the forest type, the size of the site and also about the eventual logging permits issued. Romania and Ukraine also make such interactive maps, as they face a serious problem as well. Each month Bulgarian environmentalists receive 4 – 5 signals on illegal logging, but they succeed in reacting only to one of those due to their limited number. They hope that media will cover more issues, regarding forests. Thus people will realize that some of the problems find their solution, though it’s not easy.

“We have looked for common solutions with the Executive Forest Agency /EFA/ through the years for the improvement of forest legislation, in order for options for abuse to be reduced. So, we have installed GPS devices on all trucks and also video control through the industrial units; special barcode plates are placed on each larger log; there are electronic cargo tickets and information plates across clearings,” Mr. Dunchev goes on to say.

In his turn Head of the Forest Protection Directorate with the Executive Forest Agency Dimitar Batalov insists on changes in the Criminal Code and the Administrative Violations and Penalties Act /AVPA/, regarding the control over violators. He says that over 16,800 administrative acts have been issued in 2016, with barely 15% of the fees collected afterwards. The AVPA says that in case the doer is unemployed or indigent, an act can be issued, but the fee cannot be forced due to the lack of enough property. That is why one of the proposals is for community service work for the doers. EFA statistics says that there are over 1,000 systematic law violators in this country’s forests.

Experts also pay attention to another serious issue – forest fires and the options for their avoidance. Negligence is the main reason for most of them. Such forests often fail to recover and so the terrains have to be afforested again, but if the spot has not been completely burnt down, authorities rely on its natural recovery. Environmentalists also say this is the better and more sustainable option. According to data of the agricultural ministry, nearly 5,000 ha of forests were affected by fires in 2016. The average restoration cost for 0.1 ha is EUR 400 – 500.

Forest destruction boosts the greenhouse effect, harmful emissions are not processed via photosynthesis and the levels of oxygen in the atmosphere hit dangerous lows. And we can’t live without oxygen – it is important to realize that before it’s too late.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev