Bulgaria is the third country in Europe to introduce the newest requirements for responsible forest management

For the purpose of certification of a forest a number of requirements are necessary to be met, among which:
1. The water catchment areas and the river courses are preserved (In water catchment areas intensive felling is not allowed because it could result in reduction of water flow. The felling within the 15-metre strip along the river basins, as well as along both sides of the basin is forbidden, etc.)
2. The vulnerable and threatened of extinction species and ecosystems are preserved (At least 5% forests in the phase of old age are designated and kept. This means that the old forests with 100-, 200-, 300-year old trees and older trees found in the region are preserved. At least 10% of the natural quantities dead wood is left. In this way home and food basis for over 50% of the forest inhabitant species are ensured since at least half of the forest animal, fungi and microorganism species are dependent namely on the availability of decaying wood. Trees are not cut down where there are hollows of birds, bats and other mammals, as well as trees below which there are rare and endangered plants.)
3. The culture and occupation of the local population are kept.
4. The rights of the forest workers are guaranteed (to have proper protective clothes, to have contracts and to be insured, to be well trained and qualified, child’s labour not to be exploited).
5. The use of dangerous pesticides is not allowed.
6. Reduction of the forest area is not permitted (e.g. clear felling of a forest in order that the place is built up or a ski track is made).

A final step remains until the standard is introduced in our country – it is the official approval by the FSC. We expect within several months an FSC team to review the standard adapted to the Bulgarian conditions and to finalize the procedure.

Up to now over 560 000 ha forests have been certified. In all these territories more strict rules regarding the stewardship of forests are introduced and their implementation is checked annually by international audit teams. FSC certification is applied in Bulgaria since 2006 and WWF supports actively this process because FSC is recognized globally as one of the best working instruments for friendly attitude to forests.
“So far Bulgaria demonstrates a great interest to the forest certification and it is a positive indication for our forests. Of course, more and more maturates the necessity that Bulgaria makes serious efforts not only regarding the quantity of certified areas but also towards improving the quality of the forest certification,” states Neli Arabadjieva, a Forests Department expert of WWF Bulgaria. “The elaboration of a national standard is an important step towards a more qualitative certification in our country,” she added.