Ministry of Agriculture and Foods

Executive Forest Agency

Program

Monday, September 2 – arrival and accommodation of the participants.

A transportation from the Sofia airport to Yundola will be organized. For the participants who will arrive at Sofia airport before 12:00 am EET, a welcome excursion will be organized with the Rhodope narrow gauge railway on the only functioning railway line in Bulgaria with a gauge of 760 mm, on the route Tsepina - Avramovi kolibi! https://tesnolineikata.wixsite.com/home/en

During the trip, you will be able to enjoy the picturesque gorge of the Chepinska River and the Avram saddle, which separates the Rila and Rhodopes mountains. Avramovo station – the highest station on the Balkan peninsula, located at 1267 m above the sea level will be the final stop pf the trip. During the travel, participants will have the opportunity to enjoy traditional Bulgarian food, through appetizers and wine tasting.

PROGRAMME

2-5 September 2024

 

Date

Hour

Activities

02.09.2024

 

Arrival and transportation of participants to Yundola and accommodation

 

Organized transportation from Sofia airport to Yundola

 

For early arrivals (up to 12:00 am EET) - an ice-breaking activity is foreseen

19.00

Dinner

FIRST CONGRESS DAY

03.09.2024

8.00-8.45

Breakfast

9.00-9.30

Registration of participants

9.30-9.45

Opening of the Congress

9.45-10.45

Plenary sessions and discussions

  1. Resilient Forest Landscapes – A Challenge For Experts And Society - Assoc. Prof.Georgi Kostov PhD – University of Forestry, Sofia, Bulgaria;
  2. Learning to live with fire: How wildfire is changing along with our climate and the important role of forest educators in wildfire prevention” - Edward Olson - German Forest Protection Society (SDW);

10.45-11.00

Coffee break

11.00-12.00
  1. “Exploring the Perspectives and Challenges of Forest School Teachers Trainers in Developing Forest Pedagogy Approaches for Climate Change Education” - Moriya Netzer – School of Social Sciences at Haifa University;
  2. Impact of Climate Change on Eco-Anxiety and Mental Health - Prof. Dr. Snezhana Ilieva, Prof. Dr. Sonya Karabeliova - SU "St. Kliment Ohridski"

12.00-12.30

Plenary session - Questions and answers

12.30-14.00

Lunch

14.00-17.00

Practical workshops - 7 workshops of 40 minutes each (part I)

17.00-18.00

Market of activities

19.30 -23.00

Dinner with musical programme

SECOND CONGRESS DAY

04.9.2024

8.00-8.45

Breakfast

9.00-11.00

Small discussion groups

  1. Who/what is a forest pedagogue? (methods, quality standards, evaluation, …) - Dirk Schmechel, Ulrike Schuth;
  2. Role of parents in Forest pedagogy - Veronika Jaloviarová;
  3. How to handle philosophical and psychological-processes in Forest pedagogy offers (feelings/emotions, losses, disconnected, ...) - Przemysław Szabłowski;
  4. May Forest pedagogy be in favor to reach consensus in controversial/conflicting cases as “Bistrishko Branishte”, “Białowieża Forest”, “Bavarian Forest” etc. Branishte”. Pests in forests - way of communication with society by forest pedagogy - Momchil Panayotov PhD, Petya Mateva PhD;
  5. Naturally regenerated forests with lower risk of abiotic and biotic damages versus artificial plantations – effective communication approaches - Andreana Trifonova;
  6. Forest shelterbelts as possible element for establishing of green corridors to protect the biodiversity. Searching of social support through effective communication and transferring of knowledge to general audience. How to increase the interest of the society to maintain the existing forest shelterbelts? - Radoslav Radev;
  7. How to explain the need of sylvicultural activities aiming to reduce the negative impact of climate change on forest ecosystems and regain the social trust. - Elena Rafailova PhD.

11.00-12.00

Result of the small discussion groups and conclusions

12.30-14.00

Lunch

14.00-17.00

Practical workshops - 7 workshops of 40 minutes each (part II)

17.30-18.30

Folklore programme - outside in the nature

19.00 -

Dinner with musical programme

THIRD CONGRESS DAY

05.9.2024

7.30-8.15

Breakfast

8.30-10.00

Closure of the congress

10.30-12.00

Departure and transport to Sofia, Sofia Airport

12.30-16.00

Optional excursion to Vitosha Nature Park and Sofia city

 

A visit to Vitosha Nature Park and the city of Sofia with an overnight stay in Sofia is planned in case at least 20 participants express interest.

(Expenses for the excursion are not included in the participation fee)

The congress is organized in partnership with:



Key Dates to Remember:

01 May – Registration for the Congress opens and publication of the preliminary Congress program;

June 30 – deadline for registration of participants;

June 30 – deadline for sending a brief description of the workshop activities

July 30 – deadline for payment of the Congress participation fee;

August 20 – deadline for keynote speakers to submit presentations and abstracts.

August 15 - September 2 – selection for participation in a small working group on September 4th.

 

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