CBNPD presented the results of the first scientific project for the territory of the Central Balkan Biosphere Park
05 September 2025
The results and activities carried out under the project “Study of forest ecosystems in mountain watersheds in the Central Balkan Biosphere Park” were presented yesterday at the “Nauka 1870” Community Center in Troyan. The project is implemented by the Central Balkan National Park Directorate (CBNP) and was implemented within the framework of the third edition of the initiative “Promoting sustainable development through UNESCO programs and sites”, implemented by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Europe and funded by the Aberdeen Group Charitable Foundation.
The meeting was opened by the Director of the Biodiversity, Control and Protection Directorate at CBNP, Anton Stanchev. He presented the three components in which the project was developed and implemented – science, innovation and education, and emphasized the benefits of joint work within the Central Balkan Biosphere Park, thanks to which the results of the project are of service and have significance for the entire local community within the boundaries of the biosphere park.
The scientific part of the project was presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Slavcho Savev from the University of Forestry in Sofia, who is also the head of the scientific team. He introduced the guests attending the event to the analysis of the results obtained and the conclusions drawn, giving various recommendations for introducing good practices in the management and management of forests in the sanitary protection zones in the watersheds of the high-mountainous parts of the rivers. The handbook for integrated forest management in such watersheds, developed by the scientific team for the project, is expected to be published soon, and is intended to be of benefit to forest users and owners.
Dimo Dimov from cube.bg presented the technological development of the project in the innovation component - an interactive model of the Cherni Osam River watershed. The model aims to visually present the consequences of the impact of various environmental factors on forest ecosystems and the water resources with which they are directly related. It is expected that the interactive model will be further developed in order to be successfully used to present the topic for educational purposes in schools. The interactive model is freely available at the Internet address www.rivermodel.visitcentralbalkan.net .
The educational component of the project was presented to the audience by Yanitsa Ivanova, Chief Expert at the Park Directorate. She informed that in 2025, the Park Directorate managed, through various eco-activities, educational games and conducting an art plein air together with partners from the Natural History Museum in the village of Cherni Osam, to engage over 200 children and introduce them to the contribution of forest ecosystems to the management of water resources.
Guests of the event were representatives of the Municipality of Troyan, mayors of small settlements in the municipality, representatives of the State Forestry Service - Cherni Osam, the Forestry Service - Lovech, the Natural History Museum - Cherni Osam, foresters and citizens. During the final discussion, they had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss with the project team current cases related to the shortage of water resources in the region - problems for which some of the solutions can be found in the conclusions and recommendations of the project "Study of forest ecosystems in mountain watersheds in the Central Balkan Biosphere Park".
The meeting was opened by the Director of the Biodiversity, Control and Protection Directorate at CBNP, Anton Stanchev. He presented the three components in which the project was developed and implemented – science, innovation and education, and emphasized the benefits of joint work within the Central Balkan Biosphere Park, thanks to which the results of the project are of service and have significance for the entire local community within the boundaries of the biosphere park.
The scientific part of the project was presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Slavcho Savev from the University of Forestry in Sofia, who is also the head of the scientific team. He introduced the guests attending the event to the analysis of the results obtained and the conclusions drawn, giving various recommendations for introducing good practices in the management and management of forests in the sanitary protection zones in the watersheds of the high-mountainous parts of the rivers. The handbook for integrated forest management in such watersheds, developed by the scientific team for the project, is expected to be published soon, and is intended to be of benefit to forest users and owners.
Dimo Dimov from cube.bg presented the technological development of the project in the innovation component - an interactive model of the Cherni Osam River watershed. The model aims to visually present the consequences of the impact of various environmental factors on forest ecosystems and the water resources with which they are directly related. It is expected that the interactive model will be further developed in order to be successfully used to present the topic for educational purposes in schools. The interactive model is freely available at the Internet address www.rivermodel.visitcentralbalkan.net .
The educational component of the project was presented to the audience by Yanitsa Ivanova, Chief Expert at the Park Directorate. She informed that in 2025, the Park Directorate managed, through various eco-activities, educational games and conducting an art plein air together with partners from the Natural History Museum in the village of Cherni Osam, to engage over 200 children and introduce them to the contribution of forest ecosystems to the management of water resources.
Guests of the event were representatives of the Municipality of Troyan, mayors of small settlements in the municipality, representatives of the State Forestry Service - Cherni Osam, the Forestry Service - Lovech, the Natural History Museum - Cherni Osam, foresters and citizens. During the final discussion, they had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss with the project team current cases related to the shortage of water resources in the region - problems for which some of the solutions can be found in the conclusions and recommendations of the project "Study of forest ecosystems in mountain watersheds in the Central Balkan Biosphere Park".
