Eight students from the Central Balkan National Park region participated in the first youth exchange dedicated to beech forests as a UNESCO site
10 September 2025
From 20 to 31 August, Germany hosted the first youth exchange called “UNESCO World Heritage – European Beech Forests”. A total of 60 young people and group leaders from six countries – Bulgaria, Italy, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and the hosts from Germany – participated.
The exchange was implemented under the EU’s Erasmus+ programme for support of education, training, youth and sport in Europe. The event provided an opportunity to visit two of the German components of the serial site “Old and primary beech forests of the Carpathians and other regions in Europe”, which are located in the Schorfeide-Korin Biosphere Reserve and in the Jasmund National Park.
Within the framework of the youth exchange, working sessions, art activities and group games were held, aimed at measures to get to know the old beech forests, how the world heritage can be interpreted at the local level, the role of these sites for local communities, the opportunities for young people to be active and in solidarity in preserving the UNESCO World Heritage. The program also included activities for intercultural exchange, a culinary evening, a forest rope attraction, a visit to historical and cultural landmarks.
Bulgaria was represented by eight young people aged between 15 and 18, students from the surrounding park area, accompanied by two experts of the National Park. The participants were selected from 54 applications according to criteria such as place of residence, educational profile, level of English proficiency, thematic activities and interests, and a motivation letter.
The Central Balkan National Park Directorate expresses sincere gratitude to the participants and their parents for the preparation, support and brilliant performance during the exchange. Currently, preparatory activities are underway to apply for the next edition of the youth exchange in 2026.
The exchange was implemented under the EU’s Erasmus+ programme for support of education, training, youth and sport in Europe. The event provided an opportunity to visit two of the German components of the serial site “Old and primary beech forests of the Carpathians and other regions in Europe”, which are located in the Schorfeide-Korin Biosphere Reserve and in the Jasmund National Park.
Within the framework of the youth exchange, working sessions, art activities and group games were held, aimed at measures to get to know the old beech forests, how the world heritage can be interpreted at the local level, the role of these sites for local communities, the opportunities for young people to be active and in solidarity in preserving the UNESCO World Heritage. The program also included activities for intercultural exchange, a culinary evening, a forest rope attraction, a visit to historical and cultural landmarks.
Bulgaria was represented by eight young people aged between 15 and 18, students from the surrounding park area, accompanied by two experts of the National Park. The participants were selected from 54 applications according to criteria such as place of residence, educational profile, level of English proficiency, thematic activities and interests, and a motivation letter.
The Central Balkan National Park Directorate expresses sincere gratitude to the participants and their parents for the preparation, support and brilliant performance during the exchange. Currently, preparatory activities are underway to apply for the next edition of the youth exchange in 2026.
