Eng. R. Radev: The protective belts need to be restored.
Bulgarian Forests: Our work for Bulgarian forests goes on
The Northeastern State Enterprise – with headquarters in Shumen – manages the state forest territories in 4 administrative districts – Shumen, Varna, Dobrich and Targovishte. It consists of 18 territorial sib-divisions – 13 forestry and 5 hunting units. The total area of the state forest territories within the scope of the enterprise is 327 528 ha while the afforested rea reaches 94% of this territory (309 098 ha). The total stock of wood amounts to 36 million m3, with an average annual harvest of 670,000 cubic meters. Some 2.5 million saplings are produced annually in 9 forest nurseries, 2 of which are of national importance. Of particular value are the protective forest belts in Dobrudja for the protection and management of which the enterprise utilizes all available human potential. Over the years, the sub-divisions of the Northeastern State Enterprise have had many successes in hunting and forestry fields, and are leading the way in the construction and repair of new forest roads, the introduction of innovative methods for timber extraction, and constantly increasing afforestation. Among the fast developing activities of the Enterprise are the ones targeting the public public, especially the children’s audience – such as the Forest Pedagogics.
HOW WE BEGIN THE YEAR
Despite the pandemic and shrinking markets in recent months, the enterprise management has managed to implement several ideas related to the construction of forest roads, improving the existing base and building a small game-meat processing plant in State Hunting Unit „Palamara“ – Venets. The director of the Northeastern State Enterprise, Veselin Ninov, is optimistic about what 2021 will be like and hopes that there will be a movement in the markets, the planned harvesting volumes will be reached and the crisis will gradually subside so that everyone’s work is calmer.
The most important for the year are the two projects on which the enterprise is working, as well as the achievements under Measure 8.4. Thanks to the project „Forests of the Northeast“ LIFE19 NAT / BG / 001133 – LIFE IASHAB will be eradicated plantations of invasive tree species on an area of 105.3 ha. In their place will be afforested typical of the Northeast mixed deciduous forests. The huge work on replacement of forests of non-typical for Bulgaria species, as well as restoration of field protection forest belts, in bad condition, will be carried out on an area of nearly 200 ha, as all planned for replacement and restoration plantations fall into protected areas of the ecological network. Natura 2000 Significant afforestation is worth 1,386,763 EUR, 74.40% of which are provided as co-financing under the LIFE Nature 2019 Programme of the European Commission. The project is important not only at national but also at European level, as the eradication of invasive alien species and the restoration of natural forest ecosystems are one of the key measures for adapting to climate change and conserving biodiversity at EU level. Restoration and creation of field protection forest belts is also a priority for Bulgaria and the region, and experts from Romania will co-work in this direction, for whom the dry winds in Dobrudja, the reduction of soil moisture and wind erosion are also major problems. Partners in the implementation of the project are the Executive Forestry Agency, Romsilva, North Central State Enterprise – Smolyan, Southwestern State Enterprise – Blagoevgrad, ABZ-2006 and WWF.
NEW FORESTS WILL BE CREATED
Another 121 ha of new forests will appear on the territory of NESC in the period 2020-2023. The funds for afforestation in the amount of BGN 1 million are under the Project „Restoration of damage to forests affected by catastrophic events, diseases and pests“ funded by the Operational Program for Rural Development in the period 2014-2020, co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, under a contract signed between the Northeastern State Enterprise and the State Fund for Agriculture. The objective of the project is to restore forests affected by diseases and pests through afforestation activities, including cleaning of areas, soil preparation and afforestation of a total of 121 ha. 739,822 saplings and 1,024 kg of acorns will be planted. Timely restoration of damaged forests will have a beneficial impact on soil, water, air, biodiversity and environmental protection. In addition to economic recovery, restored forests have a much more significant environmental impact, contributing to the fight against climate change and increasing carbon sequestration.
UNIQUE FIELD PROTECTIVE FOREST BELTS
53 ha of forest with belts will be afforested in the regions of Dobrich, Balchik and General Toshevo in the next 4 years, and 130 ha of them will be newly created forest belts. The funds are under the Project „Measures for the protection of the Lesser Spotted Eagle and its habitats in Bulgaria“, which is part of the EU LIFE program. Parties to the project are the Executive Forest Agency, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, the Northeastern State Enterprise – Shumen, and the Southeastern State Enterprise – Sliven, and its goal is to create new habitats for the Lesser Spotted Eagle preserved the biological diversity of forests in Bulgaria.
In last year Unusual drying was found at nearly 100 km from the field protection belts in Dobrogea. Their importance is huge and therefore the efforts of specialists are focused on finding the causes of drying, restoring the belts and creating new ones. During this and the following years this will be one of the main directions in the work of the Enterprise, therefore most of the project activities are on the territory of the State Forestry in Dobrich and General Toshevo and in the State Hunting Unit – Balchik. The application for another project is currently being prepared – „Integrated Management for Adaptation to Climate Change and Increasing the Role of Forests as a Carbon Absorber“, and afforestation is also envisaged during the implementation of the project. Combating climate change, rising temperatures, harmful emissions, the extinction of many plants and animals are upsetting the ecological balance, and everyone must do what is necessary to stop these processes today and now.
INNOVATIVE BODY REMOVAL SYSTEM
In last year an innovative system for removing logs from steep terrain was tested at the Enterprise. The new method, which aims to protect the soil and undergrowth during felling, was developed by Dr. Eng. Tihomir Krumov from the University of Forestry. The system allows the cut trees to descend on gutters over 100 meters long, thus saving a lot of time and resources. The new way of working will be applied on the territory of the Northeastern State Enterprise for felling in rugged areas, where animals are now used for timber removal or the logs are removed by machines. The system of gutters, through which the logs will be removed, will facilitate the work of people and will protect the soil and undergrowth in the felling area.
The work for the benefit of the Bulgarian forest and the people connected with it in the Enterprise will continue this year as well. It is important to protect the health of workers so that they can work professionally and with heart for the invaluable national capital – forests.
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