site.btaSoutheastern State Forestry Enterprise Purchases Japanese Tree Planting Equipment

New Japanese equipment will assist in the creation of new forests at the territory of the Southeastern State Forestry Enterprise (SSFE). The machines are worth BGN 10 million and were purchased under the Operational Programme "Environment". The equipment was shown in the Ormana area near Yambol in the presence of Deputy Agriculture Minister Miroslav Marinov, Deputy Agriculture Minister Georgi Toshev, Takayuki Shinozawa - Councilor at the Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria. The event was also attended by representatives of the local government.

SSFE Director Dimcho Radev told reporters that the equipment will be used to support the natural regeneration of over 5,600 hectares of forest, as well as the cultivation of nearly 1,800 hectares of young plantations. "We expect to create new forests to sustain the resources we have and manage," Radev said. So far, 10 machines have been purchased. They are mostly small-sized, but eight more powerful and larger tractors are to be obtained.

Councilor Shinozawa explained that the equipment was manufactured by the Japanese company Takeuchi. Takeuchi's market share in Japan is very small - they export their equipment outside the country - mainly to Europe and Bulgaria in particular. Takeuchi are quite advanced in the development of mini-excavators, Shinozawa added.

Radev further said that SSFE is reforesting in 32 forest holdings, mainly in the riparian zones near Elhovo and Yambol.