The Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov declared six century-old trees protected.

Two of them are approximately 300 years old – one is a sedge oak (Quercus robur) with a trunk circumference of 4.40 m and is located in the village of Galabovo, Kuklen Municipality, Plovdiv Region. The second tree is a common beech (Fagus sylvatica) on the land of the town of Apriltsi, Lovech Region, and has a trunk circumference of 4.80 m. The proposal to declare the trees protected was submitted by the two municipalities on whose territory they are located – Kuklen Municipality and Apriltsi Municipality.

In the land of the Smolyan village of Stoykite there are three of the newly declared century-old trees, two of which are of the species common spruce (Picea abies) – one of which is approximately 220 years old and has a trunk circumference of 3.45 m, and the other of which is approximately 200 years old and has a trunk circumference of 3.05 m. The third protected tree in the territory controlled by the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water – Smolyan is of the species common beech (Fagus sylvatica), of approximately 140 years of age and with a trunk circumference of 2.10 m. The three trees were declared protected on proposal by the State Forestry Enterprise "Shiroka Laka".

The Minister's order also includes a century-old black poplar tree (Populus nigra), which is approximately 80 years old, with a trunk circumference of 5.60 m and located in the land of the town of Belene, Pleven district, on the territory of the Persina Nature Park. The proposal to declare it protected was submitted by the park's directorate.

With the declaration of the six trees as protected, uprooting, felling, pruning, breaking the branches, injuring the stems and any other actions that would lead to the destruction, damage or deterioration of the physiological condition of the trees are prohibited.

The order is to be published in the State Gazette, after which the trees will be entered in the registers according to the requirements of the Biodiversity Act and designated as century-old trees.

The protection of century-old or remarkable trees through their timely protection is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Environment and Water. A large part of these trees, distinguished by their remarkable shapes and sizes, have withstood time and the natural elements, and have been preserved thanks to the commitment and public awareness of local communities.