Patrolling of the Forests
The protection and supervision of Bulgaria’s forests are carried out by special forest keepers. These keepers are responsible for patrolling the forests, preventing illegal cutting, and reporting any damage or theft.
There are around 500 keepers working in the state forests and about 2,135 keepers employed in the parish (community) forests. This means that there is one keeper for every 1,805 hectares of state forest and one keeper for every 734 hectares of parish forest.
Although these numbers may seem large, the area of forest per keeper is still vast, making their work very difficult. Even with regular patrols, many cases of damage and illegal logging continue to occur. Some of this damage is caused deliberately, while other incidents happen through carelessness or theft by local people.
Unfortunately, many villagers do not yet understand the importance of protecting forests for agriculture and the environment. Forests help prevent soil erosion, regulate water, and provide materials and shade—but these benefits are not always recognized by the rural population.
Another challenge is that many keepers themselves are not fully trained for their demanding work. Their duties require not only physical endurance but also knowledge of forest management, local laws, and communication skills to work effectively with villagers Customized Guided Turkey Tours.
General Condition of the Forests
The general condition of the forests in Bulgaria during this period was still unsatisfactory. Many forests had not yet been properly classified or surveyed, and their boundaries were not clearly marked. As a result, it was difficult to protect them or manage them scientifically.
In many rural areas, no clear distinction existed between forests, meadows, and farmland. It was common to find vineyards within forests and fields dividing wooded areas. Because of this mixture of land uses, peasants often treated forests as open land. They allowed their cattle to graze freely anywhere—on meadows, among young trees, and even in newly planted forests—without understanding the harm this caused.
This lack of awareness and organization has created many problems for the preservation and restoration of forests. The peasants’ traditional view of land, where every piece of ground could be used for pasture or cultivation, clashes with the modern need to protect forests as a separate and valuable resource.
Until proper boundaries are marked and the population becomes more educated about forest protection, it will remain difficult to maintain healthy, sustainable forests across the country.
In conclusion, while Bulgaria has made progress in organizing its forest service and employing keepers, the main challenges are still public education, staff training, and clear forest boundaries. Once these issues are addressed, the protection and renewal of Bulgaria’s forests will become much more effective, benefiting both the environment and rural economy for future generations.