FOREST RECREATION, ESTABLISHING EUROPEAN TRAINING TOOLS (2004 - 2007) - FINISHED UP

published on 08 June 2009


A pilot project under Leonardo da Vinchi Programme of EU.
Its initiator is GRAMPUS Heritage & Training.

Main Goal:
Gathering partners from different spheres, the projects aims to elaborate and test in practice new training modules in the sphere of forest treasure use. Forest should be shown not only as a wood source but through the study of various practices in the partner countries to be used for tourist goals, attractions, forest fruit gathering, route construction and other activities.


Sub Goals:
Improving the capacity of the participants and disseminated good EU practices for Forest Recreation and Establishing European Training Tool;


Content and Encompass of the Project:
More that twenty schools took part in the project:
2004 г. – Cyptus (2)
2005 г. – Great Briatian (15)
2006 г. – Finland (1), Bulgaria (4), Ireland (3), Slovakia (2).

Twelve representatives of the partners in the project took part in the practical training in Bulgaria in October 2005.

The programme included:
-Visits in the “Visit centers of Rila, Pirin and Central Balkan national parks;
-Examining tracks and Alps habitats in Pirin ;
-Visits in the Center for rehabilitation of the dancing bears in Belitsa;
-Work visit in Sava Mladenov Forestry and Woodworking Professional Secondary School – Teteven and Vasil Levski Mountain Guiders National School – Cherni Osam;
-Work meetings in the directorates of Rila National Park in Blagoevgrad and Central Balkan national Park in Gabrovo;
-Passong Bylata Reka eco-track around Kalofer;

In April 2006 with the cooperation of NP Central Balkan a visit in Tazha park district was organized for exploring the possibilities for bear watch with the participation of partners from Great Britain.

Balkan Assist team collects and prepares information about good practices for forest recreation in Bulgaria in order to be included in a guidebook that will be prepared until the end of March 2007.

Partners of association "Balkan Assist":
Balkan Assist Association, Forestry University - Sofia, Ipel Union – Slovakia, Cyprus Forestry College, Dubener Nature Park - Germany, Nuton Rigg College – Lancashire, GB, Oulu University – Finland, Silviron Konsulting – Ireland;

Professional School of Forestry and Wood – Teteven, Mountain Guiders National School - Cherni Osam , Youth Center Sevlievo, Letnitsa Municipality etc.