Bulgaria will establish a forest fire early warning system, announced Minister of Agriculture and Food Dr. Miroslav Naydenov at the opening of the exhibition on Lake Ariana in Sofia in connection with the International Year of Forests - 2011. The system is electronic and is based on thermal sensors, which are located in forest areas. In case of fire, sensors transmit the information immediately to the forest officers and fire station. Thus the immediate reaction becomes possible before the start of an actual fire, the Minister said. He explained that building of a uniform system for early alerting in case of fire in the border regions of Rila, Pirin and Rhodope Mountains has been discussed.
A pilot project on the territory of a state forest enterprise is going to be launched. The investment is long termed and ranges from BGN 500,000 to BGN 1 million. It will be recoverd very quickly, because losses in case of fire are much bigger and damages are difficult to calculate because fire destroys not only wood biodiversity and wildlife, the minister states. Such system operates in many countries. Experts from the Bulgarian State Forestry Agency are specially trained in Germany.
"We must protect the forests of Bulgaria, which represent one third of our country," concluded Minister Naydenov.. Control during the summer months will also be strengthened. Foresters, firefighters and gendarmerie will be included in the checks.
A pilot project on the territory of a state forest enterprise is going to be launched. The investment is long termed and ranges from BGN 500,000 to BGN 1 million. It will be recoverd very quickly, because losses in case of fire are much bigger and damages are difficult to calculate because fire destroys not only wood biodiversity and wildlife, the minister states. Such system operates in many countries. Experts from the Bulgarian State Forestry Agency are specially trained in Germany.
"We must protect the forests of Bulgaria, which represent one third of our country," concluded Minister Naydenov.. Control during the summer months will also be strengthened. Foresters, firefighters and gendarmerie will be included in the checks.