Eurostat: Some 89% of Bulgarian forests are state-owned, compared to only 40% in the EU

Some 89% of the Bulgarian forests are state-owned, compared to only 40% in the EU. This figure ranks our country among the world frontrunners. The data is from the most recent Eurostat report dubbed "Forestry in the EU and the world", quoted by the National Civil Coalition called ‘Nature for People and Regions’. The report reveals that the Bulgarian forest areas are steadily increasing each year, while exceeding the deforestation rate. In fact, Bulgaria and Latvia registered the highest growth of over 10% per year, while for the period 2000-2010 the EU's forest areas increased by 2%. Deforestation is reported only in five EU member states, whereas the Denmark’s deforestation rate of 5% was the highest, followed by Portugal, Slovenia and Finland. The most considerable expansion of forest areas of over 400,000 ha was registered in four EU countries, including France, Bulgaria, Italy, and Sweden. According to Eurostat, the growth of the timber industry slumped by 10-20% in the majority of EU countries, while the greatest reduction was registered in Bulgaria (39.8%) and Cyprus (53.1%). According to the Eurostat report, as a result of fires, Italy lost the largest forest area of over 100 000 ha, while the most severe damages were inflicted in Greece, which loses an average of 2,3% of its forest areas per year.
 

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