We are pleased to invite you to the International Conference on Forest Habitat Restoration taking place on 16-17 October 2024 in Sofia. This conference will gather experts, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss and address the pressing issues related to forest habitat restoration.

The Conference is organized by WWF Bulgaria, in partnership with Southwest State Forest Enterprise, in the framework of the project LIFE REFOREST, co-financed by EU’s Life Nature 2019 Programme. 

16 October 2024 /Wednesday/, Metropolitan Hotel, Sofia

8:30 – 9:30   Registration of participants

9:30 – 9:40   Opening, Welcoming words from the South West State Forest Enterprise and WWF Bulgaria

9:40 – 11:00   Introductory session - Challenges to Forest Management Related to Increased Damages Caused by Forest Fires and Other Natural Disturbances

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Momchil Panayotov, LTU Sofia - Living with Natural Disturbances in Forests - the Recent Situation in Bulgaria

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgi Kostov, LTU Sofia, - FIRE-RES - Activities related to Creating More Sustainable Landscapes and Their Integrated Management

• Elias Tsiritis, WWF Greece - Wildfire Prevention in Greece and Lesson Learnt from Evros Case Study

11:00 – 11:20   Coffee break

11:20 – 13:00   Session 2 - Restoring Forest Habitats After Natural Disturbances to Protect Biodiversity and Mitigate the Effects of Climate Change

• Eng. Teodor Todorov, South West State Forest Enterprise - Restoration of Forest Habitats in South-West State Forest Enterprise, Bulgaria (presentation for LIFE REFOREST project)

• Pal Bodis, WWF Hungary - Following Natural Disturbance Regimes as a Guide for Sustainable Forest Management

• Radu Melu, WWF Romania - Management Measures to Increase the Resistance and Resilience of Forests Against Extreme Climatic Phenomena

• Nikos Geogiadis, WWF Greece - Management Guidelines for the Restoration of Forest Ecosystems after the Evros Fire, 2023

13:00 – 14:00   Lunch

 14:00 – 14:20   Session 2 (continued)

• Aggeliki Griva, Greek forest service /Ministry of Environment and Energy of Greece, Reforestation Directorate of Central Macedonia - The Contribution of Regional Reforestation Departments for the Restoration of Forest Habitats After Natural and Human Caused Disturbances  

14:20 – 15:40   Session 3 - Transforming Forest Plantations into Close to Natural Forests 

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Neno Aleksandrov, Forestry University Sofia - Transformations as a Tool of Adaptation to Climate Change and Biodiversity Conservation

• Eng. Dr. Stanislav Lazarov - Transformations - Examples from Bulgaria 

• Eng. Radoslav Radev, DLS Balchik - Restoration of Forest Shelterbelt System Damaged by Biotic Factors as a Result of Climate Change 

15:40 -– 16:00   Coffee break

16:00 – 17:15   Session 4: Practices for Restoring Forest Habitats 

• Prof. Tzvetan Zlatanov, IBEI, BAS - Does Strict Protection Assure Conservation of Quercus Robur Dominated Forests along Tundzha River, Southeast Bulgaria?

• Eng. Zlatan Mehandzhiyski, DGS Asenovgrad, Eng. Emil Komitov, South Central State Forest Enterprise - Restoration of Riparian Forests in Gushterova Odaya

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgi Hinkov,  Forest Research Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences  - Restoration of Riparian Forests in Bulgaria 

17 October 2024 / Thursday/

8:30   Departure from the parking lot of Hotel Metropolitan, Sofia

9:00   Departure from the parking lot in front of National Stadium Vasil Levski towards Stara Kresna

11:00 - 12:30   Visit of a site for the restoration of tree-like juniper, hairy oak, and black pine
Note: The site is reached after a 20-minute walk on a gentle slope.

13:10 - 14:00   Lunch in Simitli

14:00   Departure from Simitli

15:30 - 16:30   Arrival at Lokorsko village and visit to the tree nursery at DGS Sofia

16:30   Departure from Lokorsko

17:00   Arrival at Hotel Metropolitan, Sofia and departure for National Stadium Vasil Levski

17:20   Arrival at the National Stadium Vasil Levski

Join us for two days of insightful presentations, engaging discussions, and valuable networking opportunities. Your participation will contribute to advancing the knowledge and practices in forest habitat restoration, ensuring healthier and more resilient forest ecosystems for the future.

We look forward to welcoming you to the International Conference on Forest Habitat Restoration.

Contact:Tanya Georgieva-Schnell, Project Manager, WWF Bulgaria, Email: tschnell@wwf.bg.