site.btaBulgaria to Host 18th European Forest Pedagogics Congress

The 18th European Forest Pedagogics Congress will be held in the Bulgarian mountain resort of Yundola between September 2 and 5. Its theme will be "European Forests Stressed by Fire, Drought and Storm - A Challenge for Forest Pedagogy!", the Executive Forests Agency said on Thursday.

Over 120 experts from EU member states have been invited to the congress. Seventy Bulgarian educators will join the event. Speakers will present their experience and the challenges they face in working with various age and target groups on the theme of the congress. The participants will hold discussions, share good practices and make proposals concerning new methods and approaches to improve their work.

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, 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.

Bulgaria's hosting the 18th Congress is a recognition for the country's progress and achievements in this field and the daily hard work of Bulgarian forest educators, the agency said.