In August, two short videos were produced under the SMURF project, showing the mission, goals and key activities, the challenges facing forest owners and their sustainable management. Ten original photos were also taken, presenting the organization, members, landscapes and good practices for forest management.A professional photographer with specialized equipment and a drone were involved in the filming of these videos and photos.The first video was filmed in the area of Rozhenski Polyani and Mechi Chal Peak, a panoramic video that presented footage from the Western Rhodopes. The focus is on the headquarters of the National Forestry Association "Gorovladelets" in the town of Chepelare, the place with the most private forests in Bulgaria, both in number and area. The Western Rhodopes region is known for some of the most productive spruce forests. Approximately 11% of the forests in the country are private, and the majority are united in cooperatives and associations for joint management and management of forests.We talked about the existing forest cooperatives and associations, which are the successors of the forest associations established at the beginning of the 20th century and are functioning again after the restitution of the forests. Even our ancestors realized that forest management in the region provides an opportunity for a livelihood and valued the forest as a wealth in a personal and social aspect.We emphasized how important other functions of the forest are for us: - protection of the soil from erosion, the release of oxygen, regulation of the water balance and the local climate, maintaining good conditions for tourism, preserving biodiversity, etc.The second video was filmed in the forests of some of the nearby forest cooperatives and in it we talked about forest management - the preparation of a forest management program or plan. As well as the types of felling applied in the forests. Foresters were presented at their work in the forest, marking the trees intended for felling and the used forestry equipment in action.The selected photos show good practices in forest management, landscapes and some of the events held by the National Association of Owners of Private Forests "Gorovladeletz" National Association of Owners of Private Forests "Gorovladeletz" is the only Bulgarian partner in the SMURF project.SMURF project website https://www.smurfproject.eu/.Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture
