Bulgaria is situated in the central part of the Balkan peninsula with over 33 percent of its area covered by forests. Most of the forests are situated on mountain slopes and non-arable lands. The timber-line reaches 2200 m above sea-level. The concentration of forests is quite uneven, ranging from almost 70 percent of land in the most wooded district to only about 8 percent in the least wooded one.
The variety of species, which depends largely on the altitude, is great. Coniferous forests cover 33.1 percent of the total wooded land; deciduous forests, 66.9 percent. Oak forests cover the zone up to 1200 m altitude; beech forests rise up to 1600 m; and the coniferous zone stretches to the upper forest limits.
Only a few tree species are of economic significance. Important among the coniferous are the white pine, the black pine, the spruce, the fir tree and the Balkan pine, while among the deciduous are the beech, the oak, the poplar and the ash-tree.
Forestry became known in Bulgaria in 1880, when the first forest nurseries were opened, but it did not reach a comparatively large scale until 1905. In the past century hundreds of forest nurseries were created in the country, and more than 40000 ha were forested every year. Plantations of rapidly growing tree species for industrial purposes, as well as forest fruit trees (walnut, hazelnut and almond) were created. Another aspect of forestry in Bulgaria was the creation of shelter-belts, mainly in the flat areas of the northeast.
The average age of Bulgarian forests is 42 years, they are well preserved and with a high plant and animal diversity, especially in semi-virgin forests over Bulgaria. Statistics show that 2% of the forests are situated on inaccessible locations or on locations which cannot be easily reached. These are classified as virgin forests in Bulgaria (not-affected by man). The category semi-virgin forests are partly situated in national and nature parks in Bulgaria and conists of high-stem coniferous and broadleaf forests. A special category includes the high-stem coniferous and broadleaf stands which are a potential source as gene pools in Bulgaria. They are extremely important for Bulgarian flora and for the future of Bulgarian forests.
Compiled by Paulia Bojkova
The first full week of April is observed as Forest week in Bulgaria. The tradition started in 1925 when at the initiative of the Bulgarian Foresters’ Society a tree-planting day was held. Since then the first full week of April has been dedicated to the noble activity of afforestation.