Bulgaria Confronts Tree Cover Challenges as Latest Fire Incident Reported in Stara Zagora

Bulgaria Confronts Tree Cover Challenges as Latest Fire Incident Reported in Stara Zagora

Bulgaria faces ongoing environmental challenges as recent data reveals a single fire incident in the Stara Zagora region. Over the past two decades, the country has experienced a net change in tree cover that reflects a complex interplay of loss and gain, with a net increase of 1.41%. However, the total tree cover loss over this period amounts to tens of thousands of hectares, with forestry activities being the predominant driver.

The country's tree cover extent spans over 4.10 million hectares, representing a significant portion of Bulgaria's total area. Despite the apparent stability in tree cover, the loss due to forestry has been a consistent trend, contributing to substantial emissions of CO2 equivalent gases. Notably, the shifting agriculture practice, although a minor factor, has also played a role in this environmental impact.