Minister of Environment and Waters Dolores Arsenova made a two-week working tour of the country to meet the staff of environmental inspectorates and view regional problems. One of the aims of the tour was to assess the prevention measures and readiness of the regional inspectorates to fight fires. The assessment took place at the time of fires in the summer, which raged for a third year in southern Bulgaria.

"Fire prevention should be our greatest concern now," Arsenova stressed during her tour.

According to the minister, arsonists caused many of the fires. The reason behind the arson was timber export. It was assumed that if parts of the forests were destroyed by fire, what was left from the once dense forests would be sold as cheap timber. Consequently, timber exporters have been accused of setting fire to the woods.

Arsenova noted that forests near borders were set fire to in order to facilitate the quick export of burnt timber. According to Ministry data, timber is being exported mainly to Greece and Turkey. No one has been prosecuted.

"The Ministry of Environment and Waters is considering banning the export of timber to deter forest arsons," said Arsenova at a press conference on Saturday. In her opinion, the environmental legislation will also have to be revised, because it does not deal with arson in forests. Last year arson destroyed 90,000 hectares of Bulgarian woods and farming land. The minister believes that a long-term fire prevention plan should be prepared.

Her tour finished last week with visits to Pleven and Veliko Turnovo last Thursday and Rousse, Shoumen and Varna last Friday.