The Forest Research Institute – Sofia was established in 1928 as “Experimental Forestry Service”. Today it is an independent research body. FRI performs scientific and applied projects in the following main fields: Close-to-nature and multifunctional management of the forest resources; Ecology and adaptation of forest ecosystems; Biological diversity of forest flora and fauna; Monitoring of forest resources. Four experimental base stations and seven experimental stations situated in different parts of Bulgaria are maintained. Through the publishing house of BAS, the Forest Research Institute publishes the journals “Nauka za gorata” (Forest Science) and Silva Balcanica. In ARANGE, the main responsibility of FRI will be the implementation of the Rhodopes mountains case study (data, models, stakeholders, testing the AFM ToolBox).
Persons involved:
Tzvetan Zlatanov
senior researcher, PHD. His main research interests include sustainable forest management, forest succession and forest stand dynamics. He has been actively involved in many international and national projects, i.a. “Inventory and strategy for sustainable management of virgin forests in Bulgaria”, assigned by the Royal Dutch Society for Nature Conservation; “Natura 2000 in Bulgaria – Public contribution” (PIN MATRA); Multi-functional management of coppice forests: Contributions to rural development, maintenance of biodiversity, and climate change mitigation and adaptation in natural resource management (SEE-ERA.NET). Currently he manages the project “State and prospects of the Castanea sativa population in Belasitsa mountain: climate change adaptation, maintenance of biodiversity and sustainable ecosystem management” ruled by the European Economic Area and represents Bulgaria in COST Action FP0601 “Forest Management and the Water Cycle” (FORMAN).
Ivaylo Velichkov
senior researcher, PHD. His main research interests include multi-functional forest management, stake holder analyses, forest policy. He has experience in optimizing harvesting systems in mountainous terrains and has been involved in the Program for German-Bulgarian technical cooperation and Bulgarian-Swiss forestry program. Currently he represents Bulgaria in COST Action “Forest models for research and decision support in sustainable forest management” and is coordinator of the project “State and prospects of the Castanea sativa population in Belasitsa mountain: climate change adaptation, maintenance of biodiversity and sustainable ecosystem management” ruled by the European Economic Area.
Boris Nikolov
Associate Professor, PhD. Currently responsible for running the Bulgarian bird ringing scheme. Main scientific interests: migration, breeding biology, behavior and conservation of birds. Participation in a number of research and conservation projects financed by EU or Bulgarian donors as a leader, coordinator or senior expert. Extensive consultancy work – expert’s reports for various GOs and NGOs, reviewer of research journals.
