site.bta18th European Forest Pedagogics Congress Starts in Bulgaria

The 18th European Forest Pedagogics Congress has started in the Bulgarian mountain resort of Yundola, the Executive Forests Agency said in a press release on Tuesday. The event is taking place at the territory of the Yundola Training and Experimental Forest Range and will continue until September 5.

The congress brings together more than 120 experts from EU Member States and 70 forest educators from Bulgaria. The forum includes discussions, as well as exchange of good practices and proposals for new methods and approaches to improve forestry activities.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Executive Forests Agency Director Stoyan Toshev said the fact that Bulgaria is hosting the Congress is proof of this country’s results and an appreciation of the efforts of forest educators who, for more than 15 years now, have turned their work into the best way for forest conservation and good forest management.

In Toshev's words, forest pedagogies contribute significantly in fighting wildfires and other disasters. He described the topic as extremely important.

Adverse environmental changes and natural disasters that affect forests are indicative of the public's lack of understanding of the natural processes taking place, Toshev warned.

Citing historical data, the expert recalled that, since the 19th century, mass afforestation in flood catchment areas has been the most effective way to combat floods in Bulgaria, which have annually claimed human lives and caused significant damage in the central and southern parts of the country. These afforestations lasted until the middle of the 20th century and have literally changed Bulgaria’s face, Toshev added.

Forest pedagogics has been developing in Europe for over 40 years. A European Forest Pedagogic Network was set up in 2007 at the initiative of Austria and Germany. The first congress was held in 2008.

In Bulgaria, forest pedagogic activities started about 15 years ago. Over 300 forestry workers and teachers visited hundreds of kindergartens and schools nationwide. They familiarized the children with the management of Bulgarian forests, the job of forestry workers and the variety of wild animals and plants, and taught them how to protect nature and take care of it.