The Minister of Environment and Water Borislav Sandov declared six centuries-old trees protected.

Three of them are located in Asenovgrad and are of the species Eastern plane tree (Platanus orientalis) – these include a tree approximately 150 years old, 25 m high, with a trunk circumference at the base of 3.16 m; a tree approximately 150 years old, 25 m high, with a trunk circumference at the base of 3.28 m; and a tree of approximately 150 years of age, with a height of 25 m, with a trunk circumference of 4.75 m at the base.

Two centuries-old walnut trees (Juglans regia), located in the municipality of Pavel Banya, Stara Zagora district, have also been declared protected. One is approximately 100 years old, 18 m high, with a trunk circumference of 4.20 m, located within the land of the village of Tazha, the proposal for the declaration was submitted by a private person to RIEW - Stara Zagora. The second is over 180 years old, 13 m high, with a trunk circumference of 4.10 m, and is located in the village of Turia and the proposal to declare it protected was submitted by the Association of Parks in Bulgaria.

The Minister’s order also includes a century-old summer oak tree (Quercus robur), approximately 200 years old, 15 m high, with a trunk circumference of 3 m at the base, located on James Boucher Street in the city of Sofia. A proposal for declaring it protected has been submitted to the RIEW - Sofia by the administration of the Lozenets district.

The declaration of protection of the six trees prohibits uprooting, felling, pruning, breaking of branches, inflicting damage to the stems and any other actions that would lead to the destruction, damage or deterioration of the physiological condition of the trees.

Upon publication of the order in the State Gazette, the trees will be entered in the registers in accordance with the requirements of the Biodiversity Act and marked as centuries-old trees.

The protection of centuries-old or remarkable trees through their timely protection is one of the priorities of the MOEW. Many of these trees, which are remarkable in shape and size, have withstood the test of time and natural disasters, and have been preserved thanks to the commitment and public awareness of local communities.