State of the Environment Bulgaria 2003
What is the general situation with the forest?
Characteristic of the forest resource
Forests’ State of Health
Bulgaria takes part in the International Cooperation Program (ICP - Forests) - for assessment and monitoring of the effects from air pollution on the forests, which is intended to formulate hypotheses for the mechanisms provoking negative changes in the functioning of the forest ecosystems as a result of different stress factors including the atmospheric pollution in Europe.
In 2001 the status of the forest ecosystems was assessed on 120 sample zones that are part of the European monitoring network.
The total number of the surveyed trees in 2001 was 4323, of which 2415 are coniferous and 1908 are deciduous trees.
For all surveyed types, the relative proportion of slightly to strongly damaged classes 1 - 4 is considerably lower in comparison with results from 2000. Trees without visible damages have increased from 20.3 % in 2000 to 31.6% in 2001.
The status of the coniferous forests has also improved. The percentage of damaged trees decreased 11.3% in comparison with 2000. Some differences among the various types are indicated. For trees aged 60 years and below the relative proportion of the non–damaged trees has increased: for the white pine by 15,8 % and for the fir by 14%. On the other hand, severe worsening of the spruce’s status is indicated – the proportion of the non–damaged trees has decreased by 40%.
For trees aged 60 years and above the relative proportion of the non–damaged trees has increased: for the white pine by 20,6 %, for the black pine by 16.1% and for the fir by 35,3 %.
The status of deciduous trees is also better in comparison with 2000. The proportion of non–damaged trees has increased by 10.7%. The proportion of slightly damaged trees has also increased, while the moderately damaged trees have decreased by 18.7%. The beech is in relatively better status than the oak. Despite this, the moderate and the strongly damaged beech trees aged 60 years and below have increased respectively by 12.3% and 5.6% in comparison with 2000. The proportion of dead beech trees aged over 60 has increased by 2.6%.
In comparison with the results of 2000 there is a positive tendency regarding the oaks. In both age groups the proportion of the moderate to strongly damaged trees has decreased, but dead beech trees aged over 60 have increased by 7.6%.
Last update on March 2003