A New Scientific Advisory Council Will Support the Work of the Park Directorate
On 25 and 26 November 2025, a founding meeting was held in the town of Apriltsi to establish a Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) to the Directorate of “Central Balkan National Park” (CBNPD). During the meeting, the first session of the Council also took place.
Earlier this year, the Director of CBNPD, Mr. Georgi Krastev, issued an official invitation to academic institutions to nominate representatives to participate in the new scientific advisory body. As a result, 13 highly qualified specialists with extensive professional experience and a proven interest in Central Balkan National Park were appointed. These are:
• Prof. Tsvetan Zlatanov, PhD – Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), Sofia
• Assoc. Prof. Desislava Sopotlieva, PhD – Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, BAS, Sofia
• Prof. Miglena Zhiyanski, PhD – Forest Research Institute, BAS, Sofia
• Prof. Tatyana Bozhanska, PhD – Institute of Mountain Stockbreeding and Agriculture, Troyan
• Prof. Stoyan Beshkov, PhD – National Museum of Natural History, BAS, Sofia
• Chief Assistant Prof. Asen Ignatov, PhD – National Museum of Natural History, BAS, Sofia
• Prof. Marius Dimitrov, PhD – University of Forestry, Sofia
• Chief Assistant Prof. Nikolay Kodzhabashev, PhD – University of Forestry, Sofia
• Chief Assistant Prof. Alexandrina Kostadinova-Slaveva, PhD – University of Forestry, Sofia
• Assoc. Prof. Slaveya Petrova, PhD – University of Plovdiv “Paisii Hilendarski”, Plovdiv
• Prof. Rosen Tsonev, PhD – Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia
• Chief Assistant Prof. Siya Cholakova, PhD – Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia
• Rumyana Ivanova – Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, Sofia
The Chairman of the Council is the Director of CBNPD. Mr. Krastev opened the meeting with a welcoming address and expressed gratitude to the participants for their readiness to work for the protection of natural heritage and for the cause of Central Balkan National Park.
After the introduction of all nominated representatives, discussions began on the Rules and Procedures of the SAC to CBNPD, which were subsequently adopted. The founding meeting concluded with the ceremonial signing of the Founding Protocol.
On the same day, 25 November, the first session of the newly formed Scientific Advisory Council was opened. It took place in two sessions – afternoon and morning. During the meeting, Mr. Anton Stanchev, Director of the “Biodiversity, Control and Protection” Directorate, Mr. Sergey Alexandrov, Chief Expert in the “Biodiversity, Plans, Projects and Programs” Department, and Eng. Desislava Tsvyatkova, Junior Expert in the same department and Technical Secretary of the new Council, presented the regulatory framework, structure and management of CBNP, the UNESCO designations awarded to the Park, the management of natural resources, as well as the maintenance and development of visitor infrastructure and tourism in Central Balkan.
Participants engaged in active discussions and defined the main priorities for future scientific and practical activities through which the SAC can support the development of the Park.
The Scientific Advisory Council is a permanent expert body that operates in accordance with national legislation and the Management Plan of Central Balkan National Park. It assists the Director of CBNPD in formulating policies and decisions related to the management of natural components, as well as in the development of scientific, educational, recreational and tourist activities and environmentally sustainable livelihoods within the Park.
