The proposed regulation planning for the Bulgarian forests continues to consider them only as a place for cutting

The coalition „Let Nature Remain In Bulgaria“ welcomes the development of the new regulation for forest areas. They are of great importance not only as a place for harvesting, but also for tourism development, protection of water resources and of biodiversity in Bulgaria.

Environmentalists support the idea of increasing the visibility and opportunities for public participation in the planning of regional and forestry level. This will strike a balance between the interest of the timber industry and the public interest in other forest functions.

Coalition "Let Nature Remain Iin Bulgaria", however, offers the plans to be published on the websites of institutions that assign or approve the inventory or the relevant forest plan.

The coalition insist on the synchronization of the regulation with the Biological diversity Act, which ensure that harvesting does not threaten the rare species and vulnerable ecosystems in the forests of the European ecological network Natura 2000. Although under the Forestry Act such forests are mainly with special environmental protection functions, in this version of the regulation, they are simply another forests for harvesting.

Environmentalists point out that the inventory must assess the conservation status of the affected natural habitats and forest species, and planning to provide for measures that do not lead to deterioration.

For example, if there is not enough old forest for the protection of the rarest forest species such as white-backed woodpecker or boreal owl, the total area of a forest habitat in the forestry then the planning should include leaving of old forests or to extend the renewal period in mature forests.

Environmentalists insist that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food actively seeks the public opinion on the Regulation for inventory and planning in forest areas, because the planning of activities in the forest is the only legal procedure in which society can state its position on how to manage the Bulgarian forest.