The reforestation process in Bulgaria should begin as soon as forest fires are extinguished, said senior research associate Hristo Stoikov of the Forestry Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences on July 31 2007.

Replacement of the forests will prove most important for conifers, which do not self-regenerate like deciduous trees.

According to Stoikov, the highly resinous and highly flammable Scots pine was part of the cause of fires in coniferous forests near settlements in Bulgaria.

The Institute advised that the less-flammable cedar tree be planted in areas affected by fire, according to BTA Bulgarian news agency.

The burned pine forests should be fully cleared before the process of reforestation can begin, said Stoikov.

Deciduous forests should be cleaned up and self-regeneration should be monitored over the next year.