The Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova issued an order declaring protected five centuries-old trees in the districts of Blagoevgrad, Pernik, Kyustendil, and Lovech.

Two of the newly announced centuries-old trees are of the species blagun (Quercus frainetto). One is 356 years old, with a height of 13 m, trunk circumference of 3.74 m, it is located in the land of the Rakitna village, Simitli municipality, Blagoevgrad district, and was declared protected on proposal by the Association of Parks in Bulgaria. The second of this species is approximately 300 years old, with a height of about 25 m, a trunk circumference of 4.10 m, it is within the land of the village of Mazarachevo, Kyustendil municipality, and the proposal for its announcement came from the mayor of the Municipality of Kyustendil.

Also on proposal by the mayor of Kyustendil, a centuries-old tree of the species Quercus cerris, approximately 400 years old, with a height of about 22 m, a trunk circumference of 5.00 m, and located in the land of the village of Kershalevo, Kyustendil municipality, was declared protected. Another century-old tree of the cer species was declared under protection – it is approximately 300 years old, with a height of about 30 m, a trunk circumference of 4.50 m, and is located in the land of the village of Ezdimirtsi, Trun municipality, Pernik district. It was proposed by the mayor of the Trun Municipality .

A centuries-old tree of the hairy oak species (Quercus pubescens), over 150 years old, with a height of about 15 m, trunk circumference of 3.50 m, in the land of the village of Vladinya, Lovech municipality, Lovech region, on proposal by a private individual, has also been declared protected

Upon publication of the orders in the State Gazette, the trees will be entered in the registers of centuries-old trees and will be marked.

According to the Biodiversity Act, it is prohibited to uproot, cut down, prune and break branches of centuries-old trees, as well as to injure their trunks, as well as conduct any other actions that would lead to their destruction, to damage or deterioration of their physiological state.

The preservation of centuries-old and remarkable trees through their timely protection is one of the priorities of the MOEW. A large part of them have withstood the weather and the elements of nature and have been preserved thanks to the commitment of the local communities.