SmartBirds
Wildfires in forests and open areas with pastures and shrubs once again put both the people and nature of Sakar to the test. The livelihoods of local farmers are threatened by a fire that began in the village of Lesovo, then managed to cross the Tundja River and spread towards the villages of Radovets and Studena, and is now threatening the villages of Ustrem and Srem. Agricultural buildings and orchards of local farmers, with whom the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds partners to preserve biodiversity in the area, have been completely destroyed, while others are at risk as the fire advances under the force of the wind.
In addition to the pastures and forests, the fire is also damaging many other valuable natural habitats, home to a wide variety of species, some of which are globally endangered. Apart from the trees with existing nests of the imperial eagle, under threat are also the few remaining large trees in the region that the eagles could use to build new nests, in case the old ones are no longer usable. Thus, alongside other threats, the imperial eagles will be limited in terms of suitable trees for nesting and opportunities for successful breeding for several decades.
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The fire has also affected many of the trees planted in the last 20 years by BSPB volunteers as part of activities aimed at improving the nesting habitats of the Imperial eagles, including the black poplars planted at the end of 2024. Lands with grassland habitats, purchased and restored by BSPB and local farmers for their preservation and sustainable management, have also been damaged by the disaster.
The populations of most species of reptiles and amphibians in the region have been particularly impacted. The terrestrial tortoises are the easiest to identify as victims, but other reptiles, such as the sand boa, crested newts, and other species with more secretive lifestyles, have also been severely affected. Those that did not perish in the fire are left in a completely destroyed habitat, which no longer offers them food or adequate shelter, ultimately becoming indirect victims of the fire.
BSPB teams are scheduled to conduct on-site inspections to assess the extent of the damage to some of the region’s most valuable natural areas.
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The primary cause of forest fires is human negligence. A moment of inattention or intentional actions can lead to severe and lasting ecological and economic consequences, and the restoration of a forest after a fire can sometimes take longer than a human lifetime. If a fire is noticed in the forest, it is imperative to immediately report it by calling 112.
The activities to protect the imperial eagle in Sakar and restore the natural oak forests are being implemented within the framework of the “From Iron Curtain to Green Belt” project, funded by the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme (ELSP).
