BNAO audits forest fires
Bulgarian NAO audits forest fires
In 2014 BNAO conducted an audit on the forest fire prevention measures taken by
governmental authorities of the Republic of Bulgaria and their preparedness to extinguish
forest fires, as a part of co-ordinated audit leaded by the Russian Chamber of Control.
The audit highlights some administrative and legislative weaknesses of the proper
implementation of statutory provisions, strategies and policies, which results in lower
effectiveness of the forest fire protection. Currently efforts are taken to develop an efficient
monitoring and compliance control mechanism.
The data about forest fires are contained in two information systems. During the audited
period no measures ensuring the correctness of these data were in place, as well as no
protocols were implemented for data transfer between the existing information systems.
Priorities for the period 2013 - 2020 include the improvement of efficiency of forest fire
prevention measures and the public engagement in forest fire protection activities.
The planning of the national forest fund protection measures is based on the review of
forest fire causes and risks. However the forest fire prevention efforts are weakened due to
insufficient funding, disunity of national forest areas, and limited capabilities of local
authorities and private forest owners.
BNAO found that there is a delay in analysis and evaluation of forest fires risk and the
risk areas cartography.
Bulgaria has launched the establishment of the innovative Early Alert System. The
automated fire detection and alert systems cover only 7 % of the country’s forest territories.
The Aerospace Observation Centre suffers from low resolution capacity of images received,
low frequency of data receipt and processing, and sensitivity to weather conditions. All these
make difficult early detection of forest fires.
The level of people’s awareness of the fire safety rules in forests and the actions to be
taken in case of forest fire occurrence is low. The state educational institutions implement
training programs focused on forest fire safety issues. The information campaigns,
announcements of increased fire risk for specifically affected regions appeared to be
insufficient to reach all groups of the populations. The public believes that the activities of
governmental bodies on fire extinguishing were more effective than the prevention measures.
For further information, please contact Detelina Hadjieva at
[email protected] and Bulgarian NAO at [email protected] .
In 2014 BNAO conducted an audit on the forest fire prevention measures taken by
governmental authorities of the Republic of Bulgaria and their preparedness to extinguish
forest fires, as a part of co-ordinated audit leaded by the Russian Chamber of Control.
The audit highlights some administrative and legislative weaknesses of the proper
implementation of statutory provisions, strategies and policies, which results in lower
effectiveness of the forest fire protection. Currently efforts are taken to develop an efficient
monitoring and compliance control mechanism.
The data about forest fires are contained in two information systems. During the audited
period no measures ensuring the correctness of these data were in place, as well as no
protocols were implemented for data transfer between the existing information systems.
Priorities for the period 2013 - 2020 include the improvement of efficiency of forest fire
prevention measures and the public engagement in forest fire protection activities.
The planning of the national forest fund protection measures is based on the review of
forest fire causes and risks. However the forest fire prevention efforts are weakened due to
insufficient funding, disunity of national forest areas, and limited capabilities of local
authorities and private forest owners.
BNAO found that there is a delay in analysis and evaluation of forest fires risk and the
risk areas cartography.
Bulgaria has launched the establishment of the innovative Early Alert System. The
automated fire detection and alert systems cover only 7 % of the country’s forest territories.
The Aerospace Observation Centre suffers from low resolution capacity of images received,
low frequency of data receipt and processing, and sensitivity to weather conditions. All these
make difficult early detection of forest fires.
The level of people’s awareness of the fire safety rules in forests and the actions to be
taken in case of forest fire occurrence is low. The state educational institutions implement
training programs focused on forest fire safety issues. The information campaigns,
announcements of increased fire risk for specifically affected regions appeared to be
insufficient to reach all groups of the populations. The public believes that the activities of
governmental bodies on fire extinguishing were more effective than the prevention measures.
For further information, please contact Detelina Hadjieva at
[email protected] and Bulgarian NAO at [email protected] .