Bulgaria is ranked among the first in Europe in terms of biodiversity and old-growth forests. This has taken place following a decree dated Nov. 4 for fixing 7 percent (109,000 hectares) from the habitats in Natura 2000 as forests in an old-growth phase in state forest territories. The Executive Forest Agency has said that this way Bulgaria is ranked among Europe’s leaders as per the most forests with such a status. Old-growth forests are important for the preservation of a precious gene pool. They assist the protection of biodiversity and have a key function for the improvement of the water balance of ecosystems. According to environmentalists the decree is a significant step for the protection of Bulgaria’s wild nature.