Photocredit: © Shutterstock

A new analysis by WWF has revealed a sobering truth: over 90% of forest fires in Bulgaria over the past 15 years have been sparked by human activity. The rising number and intensity of these fires pose a growing threat not only to the country’s biodiversity, but also to public health, rural livelihoods, and the national economy.

Since 2010, more than 7,000 forest fires have been recorded across Bulgaria, scorching over 110,000 hectares of land. In 2024 alone, nearly 600 wildfires were reported—most notably in the Rhodope Mountains, Strandzha, Pirin, and Sakar regions. The scale of last year’s fires was so extensive that the cost of firefighting exceeded the combined total of the previous seven years.

“Forest fires in Bulgaria are becoming increasingly frequent, intense, and harder to control—often spreading into protected areas,” said Neli Doncheva, Forest Practice Lead at WWF-Bulgaria. “While fire seasons traditionally peak in spring and summer, recent years have seen a dangerous shift, with fires now also occurring in autumn and winter. This trend is expected to worsen with climate change.”

What’s fueling the flames?

The vast majority of fires—96%—are triggered by human activity. Natural causes, such as lightning strikes, account for only 2–4%. Among the leading human-related causes: the burning of agricultural waste, careless use of open flames or cigarette butts, technical failures in machinery, and deliberate arson. In most cases, fires don’t begin in forests themselves. Over 80% are thought to start in agricultural land or pastures, before spreading into nearby woodlands.

The true cost of destruction

Direct damages to forests and infrastructure over the last 15 years are estimated at nearly €14.5 million. But that figure tells only part of the story. It excludes the costs of restoring burned areas, as well as the substantial expenditures by the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, regional authorities, municipalities, and volunteer brigades involved in firefighting operations.

In reality, the economic toll is far greater. Indirect damages—from lost ecosystem services, degraded biodiversity, and reduced tourism—are difficult to calculate, but expert estimates suggest they exceed approximately €51 million each year. Wildfires also lead to crop destruction, the death of wild and domestic animals, property damage, and, most gravely, endanger human lives.

Photocredit: © 2021 Bloomberg Finance LP

Gaps in enforcement, rising risks

“Starting a fire in forested areas is a criminal offense under the Penal Code, with penalties of imprisonment and fines becoming more severe in cases involving harm to people, damage to particularly valuable property, protected areas, or similar consequences,” said Dobromir Dobrinov, an expert in environmental legislation at WWF. “However, in many cases, the perpetrators are never identified. With growing climate challenges, forest fires in Bulgaria will become an even more serious threat unless urgent measures are taken for prevention, control, and engagement of all relevant stakeholders.”

A call for urgent action

WWF is calling for urgent and coordinated action to reduce wildfire risks in Bulgaria. The organisation recommends strengthening coordination between national, regional, and local institutions, as well as completing and expanding the country’s early warning and monitoring systems. Improved enforcement in agricultural areas—particularly during high-risk seasons—is needed to prevent fires from spreading into forested zones. Raising public awareness through targeted education campaigns is also essential, especially among rural land users. WWF urges greater investment in volunteer firefighting structures, including training, insurance, and equipment maintenance, alongside improvements to forest road infrastructure to enable faster response times. The report also highlights the importance of adopting modern technologies such as drones, satellite monitoring, thermal imaging, and GIS tools. Finally, WWF stresses the need to make full use of available EU instruments, technologies, and funding programmes to build long-term resilience and protect Bulgaria’s forests for future generations.

In response, WWF is stepping up its efforts to protect Bulgaria’s forests. Working alongside the National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria, the organisation is raising funds to support frontline responders. The goal: to equip volunteer firefighters with the tools they need—fire-resistant clothing, boots, masks, specialised extinguishers, and other vital gear.

Part of the donations will also go toward the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife injured in fires, in partnership with the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Centre in Stara Zagora. With most wildfires starting in human hands, the solution may lie there too—through awareness, accountability, and collective responsibility. Anyone can support the fight against wildfires with a one-time or monthly donation on the campaign page here: https://wwf.bg/pozhari 

Photocredit: National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria