The coalition of NGOs and civic groups 'For the Nature in Bulgaria' participated in field visits to logging in Public hunting area 'Mazalat' where severe irregularities were revealed

The on-site inspection revealed that in most cases, the logging is carried out by a company, which is according to local people is associate with one of the political parties in the current government. Further this company is the successor of another company, investigated in 2007 for major law violations found after transportation of illegal timber by more than 800 illegal permits.
The Inspections in the public hunting area "Mazalat" was held in the presence of journalists from German public television ARD, which is preparing a report on the implementation in Bulgaria of the Forestry logging legislation and of the EU Directive 995/2010.
During the visit in the forestry logging site the experts from the coalition "For the Nature in Bulgaria" and the journalists were accompanied by representatives of the Southeastern state company, who, however, prevented them to reach some of the logging sites and refused to devise protocols for the establishment of the above irregularities
The Coalition "For the Nature in Bulgaria" calls for an immediate inspection of the Executive Forestry Agency and the prosecution to ascertain the above irregularities and potential crimes. The case shows that restrictions in the Forest Act for access to logging areas is used by forestries to reduce and prevent civilian control over the maintenance of the forests.