Bulgaria joins the global network for sustainable forest management

Bulgaria is now an official member of the Forest Stewardship Council global network, thanks to the approval of the Sustainable Forests Association, an NGO, as a FSC network partner. 

In its approval letter, the FSC Board of Directors commended the Bulgarian initiative for its consistency and long-term dedication. This is not only a sign of trust but also a recognition that Bulgaria is a remarkable example of how organizations with different interests – environmental, social, and economic – can work together for forest stewardship through long-term dialogue and consensus. 

As a FSC network partner, the Sustainable Forests Association offers Bulgarian stakeholders not only local services, but also opportunities to participate in FSC International’s three chamber governance system, which brings together environmental, economic and social interests and gives them an equal say in governance.         

Today, around 50% of Bulgaria’s forests are FSC certified. Certification guarantees that timber with the FSC label does not come from territories that have been deforested or converted for any other use. Natural regeneration ensures sustainability, while the FSC standards also set out strict criteria to protect biodiversity and natural ecosystems. 

FSC certification requires adherence to standards in conditions for forest workers, the rights of local communities, and ethical business practices. In Bulgaria this has been reflected in more attention to protective clothing for forest workers. Foresters are paying more attention to biodiversity, including, for example, preserving trees that contain birds' nests and bat roosts as well as leaving more dead wood to support the forest ecosystem. 

The companies that choose FSC certification are voluntarily and consciously demonstrating their commitment to a sustainable future, despite the challenges of the sector. 

Founders and members of the Bulgarian FSC network partner 

The newly approved FSC network partner in Bulgaria brings together a broad alliance of stakeholders, including companies from the wood processing sector, certification bodies, industry associations, environmental and social organizations, as well as individual experts. Among them are: 

Kronospan Bulgaria EOOD, Irely Bulgaria OOD, Sredna Gora AD, Svilocell EAD, the Branch Chamber of Woodworking and Furniture Industry (BCWFI), the Association of Parks in Bulgaria, NEPCon Bulgaria EOOD, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, WWF Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism, Balkani Wildlife Society, Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation, Anelia Ivanova Galabova – workers’ rights expert, Zhivko Dimitrov Bogdanov – forest certification and sustainable forest management expert, and Vladimir Dimitrov – sustainable forest tourism expert. 

For contact and further information: 

Neli Arabadzhieva – FSC Project Coordinator in Bulgaria 

 +359 896 614312, n.arabadzhieva@fsc.org, neliarabadzhieva@gmail.com