Level of illegal logging is alarmingly high, environmentalists warn

More than 25 percent of logging in Bulgaria is illegal, a report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) warns. The ongoing trend threatens to deprive entire regions of clean air and drinking water.

In addition to illegal logging, half of the ostensibly legal logging is done in violation of laws on forests, environment, biodiversity and protected areas. According to the report, illegal logging generates hidden revenues of over 50 million euros per year.

The insufficient number of foresters, just 3,000, as well as the high level of poverty of the population in the forest areas are pointed as prerequisites for the abuses.