Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria ranks second in Europe when it comes to forest fires

Photo: BTA

Bulgaria is in second place after Cyprus in the ranking of forest fires in Europe in 2024, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.

About 600 forest fires break out in this country every year, affecting nearly 10,000 hectares of land and causing economic losses of about 2.5 million euros. This year will probably be the worst for the Bulgarian forest since the beginning of the new century.

The main causes of forest fires are negligence and arson. In addition, many years of harmful practices in agriculture and electricity distribution have persisted to this day.

"The data highlight the urgent need for comprehensive fire prevention strategies and sustainable forest management to mitigate the ecological challenge," commented Engineer Tihomir Tomanov, Executive Director of the Association of Municipal Forests. According to him, the passive behavior of the authorities and institutions responsible for fighting this phenomenon is also added as a reason for the huge number of forest fires.

"The only investments that are made in this direction are through the European programs for rural areas and for the environment," engineer Tihomir Tomanov adds. According to him, half of the Bulgarian forests fall into the high-risk category for fires.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Cloudy with showers in the south-west and north-east

Most of the country will be cloudy on Thursday . Showers will occur in the afternoon in the south-west and in isolated places in the north-east. Minimum temperatures will range from 9°C in the west to 15°C in the east, 12°C in Sofia. Highs will be..

published on 9/18/24 7:05 PM

Bulgaria's government authorizes the delivery of goods and technologies from Russia for Kozloduy NPP

The Council of Ministers has granted the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant a derogation from the European regulation on restrictive measures in light of Russia's actions in Ukraine. With this derogation, Bulgaria's only nuclear power plant and its largest..

published on 9/18/24 6:10 PM
Mihail Mihaylov

Namibia opens an Honorary Consulate in Sofia

At today’s meeting, the Council of Ministers approved the opening of a consulate of Namibia in Bulgaria, headed by an honorary consular official based in Sofia. Bulgarian Mihail Mihaylov will take on the role of honorary consular official. He served..

published on 9/18/24 5:41 PM