Eng. R. Radev: The protective belts need to be restored.
174.8 hectares of new forests will be created in 2022 on the territory of the North-Eastern State Enterprise. Over 1 million saplings of various forest tree species will be used for afforestation. Currently, 97.2 ha are afforested, and their cultivation is pending. The remaining areas will be afforested in the fall, said engineer Hristina Manolova, an expert at the enterprise.
The areas planned for afforestation on yearly basis by the forestry units within the scope of the North-Eastern State Enterprise are not large since almost all freed areas have been afforested in the recent past, and those that are freed for various reasons are being afforested in a timely manner.
It should be known that afforestation is a very complicated, long and expensive process that requires a lot of time, labor and funds. First of all, the tree species for reforestation must be correctly selected in accordance with the environmental conditions, in order to guarantee the stable development of the young forest. It is necessary to perform good soil preparation as the activity does not end with the planting of the saplings. Their cultivation follows, by digging up, weeding and aerating the soil which continues for the next few years. After that, a lot more care and efforts are needed until the trees become a mature forest, says eng. Manolova.
The enterprise has financially ensured the implementation of a greater part of the afforestation activities thanks to the financial support under three European projects. Under the „Eagle Lands and Forests“ project this year new forest belts will be created on an area of 27.5 ha, the largest of which are on the territory of Balchik State Hunting Unit – 19.1 ha, 5.2 ha are located in the General Toshevo State Forestry Unit and 3.2 ha located in Dobrich State Forestry Unit. With the provided funds, part of the dried ash belts in Dobrudja will be restored. Under the „Forests of the Northeast“ project, a total of 28.9 ha will be afforested, respectively on the territory of the Balchik State Hunting Unit – 8.7 ha, 10.2 ha are located in the Varna State Forestry Unit and 10.0 ha are foreseen in General Toshevo State Forestry Unit. Under the Operational Program „Development of Rural Areas“, a total of 76.5 ha are planned to be afforested this year, including 13.1 ha in the Balchik State Hunting Unit, 7.1 ha in General Toshevo State Forestry Unit, Varna State Forestry Unit – 13.0 ha, Shumen State Forestry Unit – 14.7 ha, State Forestry Unit Novi Pazar – 4.4 ha, and the most planned areas for afforestation under this programme are in Omurtag State Forestry Unit – 24.2 ha. 27.2 ha will be afforested with funds for compensatory afforestation and 14.7 ha with funds provided by the enterprise.
New forests are not created by afforestation alone since forests also regenerate naturally. Just like people are born, grow and die, so are forests. And naturally grown forests are stronger and more resilient to climate change, as well as to attacks of diseases and pests. Therefore, a large part of the efforts of the foresters from the forestry units within the scope of the enterprise are aimed at supporting the natural regeneration, which requires less funds and efforts, and the positive results are more likely, explains Eng. Manolova.
For 2022, within the territorial scope of the North-Eastern State Enterprise, it is planned to carry out activities for the support of natural regeneration and cultivation of young forest plantations on an area of some 4,000 ha.
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