Tree Plantations – Bulgaria

Why did we choose Bulgaria?

Bulgaria is located in Southeastern Europe and has ideal climate and economic conditions for tree plantations. This includes varieties such as acacia, cherry, walnut, cedar and other types of fast-growing trees for quality wood. One of the main goals of the project is to satisfy the market demand for high-quality wood in Europe. Currently, European countries import most of their wood products from Asian countries. As a result, this causes longer delivery times, higher transportation costs, and less quality control.

Bulgaria is a member of the European Union and is located near all European markets. Therefore, this creates favorable economic conditions for supplying wood products. The demand for quick access to quality wood products at competitive prices is constantly growing in Europe. In addition, as a member-state within the European Union, Bulgaria already meets the necessary product quality standards.

At the same time, we make great efforts to preserve the ecological value of the surrounding nature. We accomplish this through carefully planting and cultivating trees according to European standards.

How did we begin?

In 2017 we began exploring the possibilities of leasing and buying land in Northern Bulgaria. At the beginning of 2018, we purchased a nursery area of 20 hectares near the town of Svishtov. The property included a drip irrigation system, premises for workers, and an office. This is where the cultivation of acacia saplings began, and this is essentially the first White Acacia plantation we established. In 2018, we leased nearly 230 ha of land and plantations on which we planted new species of trees. Tree species include white acacia, white mulberry, wild cherry, black walnut, atlas and Himalayan cedar.

Technology at the Plantations

In order to achieve rapid and quality growth on our plantations, we use modern techniques and technology. In addition, we carefully and precisely plan the care of our trees. For example, we continuously monitor the growth and development of each of the planted trees.

We have extensive experience in the development of this type of plantation. Agricultural engineers with many years of experience precisely select the varieties of trees that we plant. In addition, we use specialized laboratories to test our soil.

We use the necessary equipment and technology for the cultivation of existing trees according to European standards. Growing care includes hoeing, disking, and pruning, which varies for different species. So, we follow the relevant instructions for pruning, spraying, watering and other tree maintenance. In addition, we monitor young trees for diseases and pests, removal of damaged and broken branches from bad weather conditions, and the like.

In order to achieve faster growth, we use a 5 x 5 square afforestation scheme. This is not typical for ordinary forestry. However, this square afforestation scheme provides the following main advantages:

The symmetrical and straight growth of each tree is encouraged;
Mechanical tillage is possible in both directions;
Each tree has the same growing space.

Social Benefits

Using former agricultural and/or wastelands, we manage and maintain them in excellent agro-biological conditions, creating protected areas in them that will complement natural eco-cycles, as well as preserve the authentic biodiversity of the natural landscape.

We locate our plantations in rural areas, where unemployment is significantly high, or work is mostly seasonal. Additionally, we try to provide local residents with year-round employment, offering them good working conditions and professional training.

We are confident that building long-term prospects in rural areas and training employees will help increase efficiency as well as the workers’ wellbeing.

Municipal and private property rental policies for renting in low-income municipalities have a positive impact on local communities. This not only provides jobs, but also encourages activities such as beekeeping, hunting, the gathering of mushrooms, fruit, and nuts, and even eco-tourism. Bulgaria’s national legislation carefully monitors and regulates the conservation of biodiversity which further benefits the local communities in which we operate.

Globally, tree plantations contribute significantly to biological carbon capture and carbon footprint reduction. At the regional level, the microclimate of tree plantations inhibits extreme temperature manifestations, reduces the speed of air movement, and protects the soil from erosion.

TYPES OF WOOD AND GROWING TECHNOLOGIES

White acacia is a medium-sized tree that grows quickly, develops a strong root system and is not demanding on soil. It reaches a height of 25 meters, a thickness of more than 1 meter and an age of up to 100 years. Wood rots strongly, lasts up to 80 years in the open air. The mechanical properties of wood are high and correspond to the properties of oak, and sometimes surpass them. It is very rigid with very high compressive and tensile strengths. It is characterized by high elasticity and rigidity. Growing acacia stimulates the flow of bees and the development of their populations in the areas of our plantations.

White mulberry in Bulgaria is selected for the needs of sericulture. Therefore, it has a large leaf mass, which is the main reason for its rapid growth. In addition, it has very valuable wood due to its beautiful texture, similar to the texture of white acacia, decorative color and light polishing.

With its hard and reddish-brown color wood wild cherry is specially used for making furniture and musical instruments.

In addition to its value as a tree for the production of shade and nuts, black walnut has long been known as a valuable species for the production of wood and veneer. Black walnut prefers rich, deep soils with well-drained clay soil that grows poorly on sandy or rocky soils. A high-quality walnut is valuable mainly for its use as a furniture tree, but especially for its use in veneer.

Himalayan cedar is a species of cedar native. It is a large evergreen coniferous tree reaching 40–50 m (131–164 ft) tall, exceptionally 60 m (197 ft) with a trunk up to 3 m (10 ft) in diameter. It is widely grown as an ornamental tree, often planted in parks and large gardens for its drooping foliage. General cultivation is limited to areas with mild winters, with trees frequently killed by temperatures below about −25 °C (−13 °F)

Himalayan cedar is in great demand as building material because of its durability, rot-resistant character and fine, close grain, which is capable of taking a high polish. Its rot-resistant character also makes it an ideal wood for constructing the well-known houseboats of Srinagar.