Bulgaria - Forest Development Project : environmental assessment executive summary

This is an environmental assessment for the Forest Development Project for Bulgaria, which strengthens public forest sector management while promoting forest biodiversity conservation. Recommended environmental measures to offset negative environmental impacts comprise the following: Updating state regulations on logging and silvicultural activities with environmental requirements (e.g., maintenance of biodiversity and control of impacts on soil and water0 along with requiring logging and other forest management companies to respect the safety legislation of Bulgaria and guidelines of the World Bank. The direct impact of road construction/rehabilitation is minor, and upgrading the forest road network is expected to have both positive and negative environmental effects. Negative impacts include overexploitation of easily accessible forests is a negative environmental side effect. Also, timber extraction causes damage to the remaining stands and to soil and water due to long skidding distances and application of inappropriate logging technologies. Furthermore, forest road construction opens access to untouched forests with high biodiversity values and potentially fragments forest resources. The possibility exists for landslides and other types of erosion, changes in water flows on slopes, silting of watercourses , accidents with hazardous materials, dust and noise, chain saw accidents, negative effects on landscape and cultural values, and expropriation of private lands. Adverse impacts of soil rehabilitation may be significant; prior to planting, prepare the soil with mechanical or manual methods, and construct terraces in slopes. While carrying out thinnings, diversify tree species composition and protect soil, water, and biodiversity. In order to safeguard against other negative implications, carefully study the influence of and detail plans on the fuel switch installation on the wood supply to local communities; and prepare a pest management plan that considers various alternate designs of plantations to minimize risks of pests and fungi and risks for fie into account, and evaluate the need to use fertilizers to ensure high productive supply of biofuels.