NEWS

Survey on forest management accounting and records

2025-10-13T12:59:22+00:00

The survey is part of the HORIZON SMURF project. This is a survey aimed at collecting information on forest management accounting and records. In this way, both forest owners in Europe and forest holdings will be characterized. National Association of Owners of Private Forests "Gorovladeletz", as a forest owners association participating in the SMURF project, is to survey three small forest holdings. They will be selected from among the 15 surveyed forest holdings under activity 1.3. It is desirable that they are representative for the region. The results provided will help to analyze small forest holdings in terms of ownership and economic performance – income, costs, investments. Each of the three surveys must be completed by the project coordinator in a special form for this purpose. The areas must be recorded in hectares and the international system of units – SI – must be used. The following clarifications are made as key concepts for the correct completion of the form: - Forest owner - the owner of a plot of land that is legally considered a forest and is therefore the one who makes decisions about the fate of the property. - Forest manager - a person responsible for decisions in the forest, such as logging, thinning, afforestation, appointed by the owner. The forest manager is usually a professional forester with a university degree in forestry. - Forestry - a set of assets and rights organized in an economic manner by the holder, when exercising forestry activities mainly with a market purpose. The deadline for submitting the studies is 28.11.2025.

SMURF project website https://www.smurfproject.eu/.Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture

Financial incentives applicable to small forest holdings and their impact

2025-10-12T12:52:59+00:00

Financial incentives applicable to small forest holdings is a report prepared as part of the SMURF project - funded by the European Union. For the implementation of sub-activity 1.8.2, this document prepared specifically for Bulgaria was reviewed. NAOPF "Gorovladeletz" is a beneficiary of the project and represents a large number of forest owners in the country. By reviewing this report and providing the relevant comments, we assisted in preparing an analysis of the European forest sector in terms of support schemes for small forest holdings - those managing less than 500 hectares. The completion of the form aims to accurately present the financial incentives, aids, tax breaks and subsidies affecting forest owners and their impact on sustainable forest management. The answers to the form will be analyzed and processed anonymously. The comments and responses were entered into a pre-prepared form sent to us. It was important that the information provided was accurate and based on real facts. The report accurately stated that we lack funding for the forestry sector from regional and local authorities, foundations and business associations, educational institutions, as well as innovative sources of funding. The report also examined the possibilities for EU funding: - The European Regional Development Fund covers the Environment Programme 2021-2027 - priority "Biodiversity" and priority "Risk and Changing Climate". However, until May 2025, no projects related to forestry were reported among the projects financed under the programme; - The Common Agricultural Policy: The CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 includes eight interventions. Six of them allow small forest holdings. These are: II.A.13 - Forest-ecological activities in forests II.A.14 - Natura 2000 support for forests II.A.15 - Support for newly created and restored forests II.G.10 - Afforestation and restoration II.G.11 - Prevention of forest damage from forest fires, natural disasters and catastrophic events. II.G.12 - Improving the health and sustainability of forest ecosystems by supporting logging in forest areas. - The LIFE and Horizon Europe programs are other funding opportunities. As a comment, the opinion was expressed that there are no examples of small forest holdings that have benefited from funding. The high bureaucracy and complexity of the application process discourages interested forest owners from applying. Regarding the existing cooperatives and associations under Art. 183 of the Forestry Act, the opportunity for them to be allowed to apply has just begun. It was noted that they are not owners, but an association of owners for joint management.SMURF project website https://www.smurfproject.eu/.Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture

Legal and Regulatory Framework Applicable to Small Forest Owners in Bulgaria

2025-10-10T12:48:30+00:00

Legal and Regulatory Framework Applicable to Small Forest Owners and Sustainable Forest Management is a report prepared as part of the "SMURF" project - funded by the European Union. It is aimed at organizations representing forest owners throughout Europe, participants in the projectIn the implementation of one of the sub-activities, it was necessary to review the report and make all comments and suggestions in a questionnaire form.The goal was to reflect the most truthfully and close to reality the regulatory framework concerning small forest owners and whether sustainable forest management practices are applied. Small forest holdings are those with an area of less than 500 hectares.By reviewing this document, a contribution was made to the preparation of a comprehensive analysis of small forest holdings in Europe, including Bulgaria.The requirement was that the comments provided were based on accurate information, and that the challenges and limitations facing forest owners were correctly presented. An important part of the comments on the report was the opportunity to present local, regional problems and challenges. All comments are provided in English.The basis of the report was the Forestry Act and the by-laws, fully affecting the functioning of the forestry sector in Bulgaria. Review. The “National Strategy for the Development of the Forest Sector of the Republic of Bulgaria until 2030” and the “Strategic Plan for the Development of the Forest Sector 2014 – 2023” were also considered as strategic documents.It states that 38% of the country’s territory is forest, and private forests are 11% of this area. Presented in hectares, it amounts to just over 438,000. This does not include forests on agricultural land. There are over 1.5 million private forest owners in Bulgaria. The report also addresses all rights and obligations of forest owners and what compensations or subsidies they may receive under interventions for the development of rural areas.The report also states that, according to Art. 10 (3) of the Law on Local Taxes and Fees, forest owners are exempt from real estate tax.The National Association of Owners of Private Forests "Gorovladeletz" is mentioned as the only Association that protecting the interests of forest owners.SMURF project website https://www.smurfproject.eu/.Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture

Forest ecosystem services and carbon credits

2025-10-08T10:25:05+00:00

What are ecosystem services and are they applicable in Bulgaria?According to the Forest Act, Chapter Seventeen, public ecosystem services from forest areas are the result of specialized management activities.These are:

1. protection against soil erosion from avalanches and floods;

2. ensuring the quantity and quality of water;

3. maintaining biodiversity;

4. shielding, absorbing noise and pollutants, maintaining amicroclimate;

5. providing conditions for recreation and tourism;

6. maintaining the traditional landscape;

7. protecting the natural and cultural heritage;

8. protecting infrastructure sites and facilities;

9. slowing down and regulating the impacts of climate change.

The current Forest Act has been in force since 2011 and according to this Act and specifically Art. 249 para. (1) Public ecosystem services are recoverable. The regional forest development plans define territories and zones in which the use of ecosystem services is recoverable and the types of economic activity for which payment for public ecosystem benefits is due.More than a decade after the entry into force of the Forest Act, the regulation thus adopted remains only on paper.The functioning of such a mechanism would be an additional incentive for forest managers to perform their work conscientiously. Every forest owner should be proud of their work and the benefits they provide to society.In many European countries, the provision of ecosystem services by forests is valued by society and their managers are given their due.A forest provides ecosystem services for decades to the benefit of society before the owner receives financial benefits.Another incentive to stimulate forest owners would be the trading of carbon credits. A completely new mechanism for us has gained momentum in the last 20 years in different parts of the globe. In our country, this type of activity in forests is still lagging behind.The goal is to capture carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable forestry practices, thus generating valuable carbon credits.The policy for carbon credits in the field of forests can be divided into two directions:- Creating new forests and thus capturing carbon;- Managing already created forests in a way close to natural processes in forests.In Bulgaria, carbon credits are still applied only in agriculture. In forests, they are expected to start.SMURF project website https://www.smurfproject.eu/.Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture

SMURF - the project targeting small forest owners and their representative associations

2025-10-03T10:22:55+00:00

No one knows the number of forest owners and forest holdings in Europe. It could be more than 20 million people, and in many countries there are strong structural barriers to forest management and investment in forests, such as the lack of an updated cadastre or clear ownership documents.
The SMURF project defends the right of the forest owner to decide on the objectives and management systems to be applied in his own forests.
The SMURF project aims to create a European network of small forest holdings. The aim is to encompass the diversity of forest associations and cooperatives and to use their experience to support small forest holdings.
Forestry in Europe aims to be multifunctional, integrating a variety of societal requirements, such as biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation or the production of clean water and cultural services such as recreation or human health.
SMURF – the Forest Owners Project will help create value in the forest sector by ensuring sustainable and profitable management and business models, a standardised payment system for ecosystem services and will provide a support and training structure for small forest holdings.
Socio-economic changes in forest ownership in Europe, combined with the threats of climate change and other changes such as the process of urbanisation, agricultural intensification and others, are leading to land abandonment, fragmentation of forest holdings, forest decay, increased risk of fires, loss of forest habitats and a reduction in many ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, wood production, recreation and biodiversity conservation.
Over the last 60 years, European farms have undergone a profound transformation, with clear improvements in structures, new business models and more, clearly guided by the Common Agricultural Policy. European forestry has not yet undergone such a transformation and there are large differences between public and private forestry. The situation of small forest holdings (SHFs) is particularly precarious, given the lack of forest registers in many European regions.
The problem of farm fragmentation has been clearly addressed for decades to overcome barriers to agricultural modernization, but the serious problem of forest fragmentation and unclear ownership has not been addressed in many countries and is a major obstacle to sustainable forest management.
The Forest Owner Association was approved under the SMURF project together with 37 other associations and associations of forest owners from 16 European countries. The SMURF project provides us with a basis for comparing the situation of small forest holdings in Europe.
SMURF_CF1_03 Association of small forest land's owners from Umbrías Spain
SMURF_CF1_06 Forest Owners Association: Mountain Boards of Asturias Spain

SMURF_CF1_08 Forest Owners Association VORTANA Romania
SMURF_CF1_09 Forest Owners Association - STEJARUL TOPOLOVENI Romania
SMURF_CF1_10 Romanian Forest Owners Association - Romania
SMURF_CF1_11 Association of Traditional and Environmental
Agricultural Producers Portugal
SMURF_CF1_12 Baixo Vouga Forestry Association Portugal
SMURF_CF1_13 AguiarFloresta Portugal
SMURF_CF1_14 Montnegre-Corredor Forest Owners Association Spain
SMURF_CF1_15 Laye-Lauzon Forest Management Association France
SMURF_CF1_19 Land Association Spring Valleys Italy
SMURF_CF1_22 National Center for Private Forest Ownership France
SMURF_CF1_23 Ocejon community of forest owners Spain
SMURF_CF1_25 Forestry Consortium "Gulf Corkwoods" Italy
SMURF_CF1_26 Ticino river forestry consortium Italy
SMURF_CF1_27 Forestry Consortium of Villa Basilica Italy
SMURF_CF1_28 De Bosgroepen Belgium
SMURF_CF1_30 Departmental federation of forestry groups of Hérault France
SMURF_CF1_31 Fenafloresta - National Federation of Forest Producers' Cooperatives, FCRL Portugal
SMURF_CF1_33 The non-profit association for commercially sustainable multi-use of forests Sweden
SMURF_CF1_35 FORESTIERS D'ALSACE France
SMURF_CF1_37 Holzcluster Steiermark GmbH Austria
SMURF_CF1_38 Croatian Union of Private Forest Owners Associations Croatia
SMURF_CF1_39 Irish Wood Producers Ireland
SMURF_CF1_40 Irish Woodland Owners Co-operative Society Ltd Ireland
SMURF_CF1_41 Rural Flanders Belgium
SMURF_CF1_42 Latvian Forest Owners' Association Latvia
SMURF_CF1_43 Model Forest Istria Croatia
SMURF_CF1_45 Pozemkové komposésorátu a Urbariátu Šalková Slovakia
SMURF_CF1_46 Association of private forest owners Lithuania
SMURF_CF1_47 NTF- Rural Landowners of Wallonia Belgium
SMURF_CF1_48 Royal Forestry Society of Belgium Belgium
SMURF_CF1_50 Forest Association Styria Austria
SMURF_CF1_51 Association of Owners of Community and Private Forests of the Banská Bys

Production of raw material that is not in demand

2025-10-03T10:12:44+00:00

In 2025, forest owners in Bulgaria, and the entire forestry sector, faced an extremely serious problem.
After many years of operation, the Mondi Stamboliyski EAD plant, part of the Mondi Group, one of the world's largest pulp and paper producers, stopped operating. It was also the largest user of technological softwood.
Although the plant is located in central Bulgaria, it accepted wood from all over the country. The wood accepted was from the technological category or wood of the lowest quality, which is not suitable for any other type of processing. It was purchased for the purpose of crushing and producing pulp. It is a main ingredient in the production of paper and cardboard.
This type of wood is always an inevitable part of the total quantity in logging. There is always a market for high-quality wood, but it is difficult to sell this low-quality raw material. It took decades to produce it, and when it turns out that after so many years there is nowhere to sell it, it is a heavy financial blow to the forestry sector and forest owners.
The closure of this plant led to the storage of this raw material in the forest for a long time and its abandonment. The accumulation of this raw material in the forest is a prerequisite for the development of pests. The owners suffer financial losses and for this reason reduce its yield. Part of the forestry sector is looking for new opportunities for the sale of technological wood. It finds it in the production of wood and pellets for heating. Unfortunately, at the moment this market is limited compared to the capabilities of the producers. And the trend is to decrease with each passing year.
The cessation of the work of Mondi Stamboliyski EAD in 2025 is only 2-3 years after the excess demand for this raw material. In 2022, record levels of consumption were reached, both in quantities and, accordingly, in price.
The inability to realize technological wood will directly reflect on the youngest forests, those up to 40-50 years of age. The silvicultural activities carried out for the purpose of cultivation and thinning will decrease. When carrying out these silvicultural activities, exactly such wood is mainly harvested, and this will be reflected in the quality of forest plantations for decades to come.
SMURF project.
SMURF project website https://www.smurfproject.eu/.Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture

NАOPF “Gorovladeletz” Presents Its Mission and Goals through Videos and Photographs under the SMURF Project

2025-09-30T10:18:01+00:00

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

Interview in a national media

2025-09-29T10:13:01+00:00

SMURF project - the forest owners' project is a 48-month project under the Horizon programme, which will try to shape the future of small forest holdings in Europe, with strong participation of representatives of the sector.The implementation of sub-activity 3.2.3 requires the publication of a report or interview in a national or regional media. On this occasion, the National Association of Owners of Private Forests "Gorovladeletz" contacted the regional office of BTA in Smolyan.The Bulgarian Telegraph Agency is a national independent information institute of the Republic of Bulgaria, it independently determines in accordance with the interests of society and the state, in accordance with the Constitution, the content of its information activities.The interview reflected the participation of the Association “Gorovladeletz in the SMURF project and its activities.National Association of Owners of Private Forests "Gorovladeletz" is the only beneficiary of the SMURF project in Bulgaria. The project includes 35 associations representing private forest owners from 16 EU countries. It is characteristic that it is mainly aimed at small owners managing less than 500 ha. of forests. The creation of an interconnected network between associations of forest owners in Europe will help to exchange experience, ideas and good practices.Part of the project activities are the preparation of 15 studies of small forest enterprises. They presented different types of forests from different regions of the country and different management models - individual owners, individual families and small cooperatives. It was noted that the cooperatives in the Rhodope Mountains are unique in terms of ownership, since all owners in them own property in ideal parts, and not in real ones. The studies of individual forest owners show that a large part of the private forests are at risk of abandonment. In most of them there is activity less than once every 10 years.The interview also draws attention to the participation of the National Association of Owners of Private Forests "Gorovladeletz" in the First European Conference of Forest Owners' Organizations. It was held in Rome from 20 to 22 May 2025 at the FAO headquarters at the UN.You can find the entire interview at the following link:https://www.bta.bg/…/970464-rhodope-forest-cooperatives-to…AsSMURF project website https://www.smurfproject.eu/.Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture

On the fight against bark beetles

2025-08-26T10:46:21+00:00

A serious challenge for forest owners and foresters in Bulgaria is the fight against insect pests. Over the past 5-10 years, great damage has been caused by various types of bark beetles.These are mainly typographer - Ips typographus on spruce, apex bark beetle - Ips acuminatus Gyll on white pine and six-tooth bark beetle - Ips sexdentatus Boern, which occur on both tree species.The attacks occur in spring, when adult individuals attack the targeted trees. There they lay their eggs and begin to feed on the bark of the tree, thus depriving it of the opportunity to feed and absorb water. In the months of July and August, the already dying trees begin to appear. In hot summers, two generations of bark beetles can develop. The affected trees change the color of their needles and they themselves begin to shed their leaves. This process at high summer temperatures can take up to 2 weeks.The main difficulty in combating these pests is that by the time damaged trees are noticed, they are already doomed to death, and the adult bark beetles attack new trees. This makes combating them extremely laborious and not easy, and the damage caused can be extremely large.One of the main options for combating bark beetles is to set up pheromone traps and thus capture male individuals. One pheromone trap covers an area of 1 ha. and it is necessary to regularly remove the captured individuals and clean the trap itself. Covering an entire forest massif with pheromone traps is a rather expensive and difficult procedure.Another frequently practiced option is to remove the attacked trees from the forest as quickly as possible, to process the wood and thus destroy the pests themselves. To apply this method, each forest owner must have an approved plan-extract from the Regional Forestry Directorate, for forests that are not forested, or a prescription for sanitary felling must be issued by the Regional Forestry Directorate or Forest Protection Station. It determines the amount of wood to be obtained and the deadline for the felling. Then, the necessary "Leaving Permit" must be issued and the removal of damaged trees must begin. Sometimes the procedure itself is quite cumbersome and takes up to 3-4 weeks. This reduces the effect of removing bark beetles.As a preventive measure, you can avoid storing freshly cut wood in the forest for a long period, especially in spring, and apply regular field inspections, and after detecting affected trees, they must be removed as quickly as possible.SMURF project website https://www.smurfproject.eu/.Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture

NATURAL FORESTRY

2025-08-26T07:28:23+00:00

This is an approach to forest management that approaches natural processes in forests, an approach that differs significantly from industrial and plantation forestry.Forestry in Bulgaria has a long history and higher forestry education has been offered for over a century. It is aimed at creating new forests and maintaining forests in good condition.We can safely say that the forestry practices applied in Bulgaria, and more specifically in the Rhodope region, where most private forests are located, belong to the "close to nature" approach.The applied regeneration fellings - fellings that are applied in mature stands in order to create a new generation, have a long regeneration period of between 20, 40 and more years in certain cases, this is a prerequisite for successful natural regeneration, without the need for artificial afforestation. Individual trees or small groups are removed for the purpose of natural regeneration. In this way, continuity of forest cover is ensured, which supports biodiversity and soil protection. This combines the economic benefits of the forest with compliance with environmental requirements. In areas permanently covered with forest vegetation, protection of water sources is ensured and the recreational value of the forest is increased.All this is achieved with high qualifications, knowledge and experience of the foresters practicing in our forests.The predominant tree species in the region are spruce, white and black pine, fir and beech at altitudes mainly between 1000 and 2000 m above sea level. The ability of these forests to regenerate naturally is extremely good. Artificial support for regeneration is resorted to in extremely rare cases. Often, regeneration precedes the maturity of the forest and it begins to regenerate even before the main stand is mature. Where there are open areas, the pioneer is the white or black pine. In most cases, the next generation is represented by shade-tolerant species - fir and spruce.In the attached photos, we have tried to show you good examples of the natural regeneration of forests in the area.SMURF project website https://www.smurfproject.eu/.Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture

Important milestones achieved under the SMURF project

2025-08-25T07:14:22+00:00

As important milestones of the SMURF project so far, we can mention.- In July, 15 surveys were prepared for small forest holdings managing areasunder 500 ha. It was described what forests they manage, whether they haveeconomic activity every year, what is the stock per hectare and what is theintended use. It was important for the surveyed forest holdings to cover asmuch diversity as possible, such as different tree species, gender of therepresentative, managed area, etc. In order to achieve greater diversity of thesurveyed holdings, those that are not members of the Association were alsoallowed. Forests located in the Rhodope Mountains, Stara Planina and theTroyan Balkan were surveyed. When completing the surveys, all forestmanagers were given the opportunity to indicate the main risks and challengesfor their forests and how they see their development over the next 10 years.Attention was paid to the question: is there a practice in Bulgaria for forestowners to receive income from the provision of ecosystem services? Animportant aspect was also whether there is a practice in the country to insureforests.- At the end of July, active work was also carried out on the preparation of twovideos presenting the mission, goals and key activities of the Association. Theywere filmed in the area where the headquarters of the National Forest OwnersAssociation Forest Owner is located. The first video presented the privateforests in the area. The second presented their management.- 10 original photos belonging to the Association were also selected, whichrepresent the organization, its activities and views of the region. A briefdescription of their content was provided with them.- Work was also carried out on activity 3.2.3. - publication of news or a report inthe media at a national or regional level. On this occasion, together with theBulgarian Telegraph Agency, an article was prepared about the presentation ofthe Association at the "first European conference of small forest holdings" heldin Rome from 20 to 22 May 2025 and the common problems affecting all forestowners. The article itself can be found at the following link on the official BTAwebsite.

What is LAURUS NETWORK?

2025-07-30T10:40:05+00:00

1. Expert trainingWebinars and online workshops with practical examples from forest management, including the first webinar on “Voluntary carbon markets and land use projects in Europe”, scheduled for 17 September 2025.Acquisition of practical skills and support in decision-making.2. Innovation and business opportunitiesPresentation of new business and forest management models that optimize profitability and sustainability.Access to approaches such as Closer to Nature Silviculture and opportunities to enter robust systems such as carbon payments (PES) based on the SMURF model3. Network and knowledge exchangeCommunication with practitioners and managers who have already implemented these approaches.Formation of peer groups and interaction with a consortium of public, academic and private organizations Why is it important for small forest holdings?The network addresses key challenges: parcelization of ownership, lack of access to new practices and regulations, limited business models. It also offers tools to power the European value ecosystem, including opportunities in carbon markets. How do you get involved?Registration is done online - free of charge, but access is confirmed by the SMURF consortium based on the information providedAfter approval, you get access to a private portal with exclusive resources. Latest news and eventsThe 1st European Small Forestry Conference took place from 20 to 22 May 2025 in Rome, organised by SMURF with the support of FAO and Cesefor – Laurus was officially launched. SummaryLaurus is a free, vetted network specifically designed to support technical experts from forest owner associations in Europe. Through webinars, innovative solutions and valuable contacts, it answers questions such as:How to make small forest holdings more profitable and sustainable?Where to find help with new forest practices and regulations?What new business opportunities can we offer?If you represent such an organisation and want to stay up to date with key innovations and opportunities, Laurus is the place for you.SMURF project website https://www.smurfproject.eu/.Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture

Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation

2025-07-09T10:50:57+00:00

The National Association of Owners of Non-State Forests "Gorovladeletz" is a non-profit association that carries out its activities in the protection of the interests of forest owners.
To achieve its goals, the Association works together with government agencies and other non-governmental organizations. On this occasion, a MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION was signed between the National Association of Owners of Non-State Forests "Gorovladelets" and the Executive Agency for Forests to promote the bioeconomy in the Republic of Bulgaria.
Considering the need and understanding the importance of using an integrated approach to developing the bioeconomy
and
Using EU policies in this area, including the five objectives defined by the EU Bioeconomy Strategy for: ensuring food and nutrition security; sustainable management of natural resources; mitigating and adapting to climate change; reducing dependence on non-renewable resources; and strengthening European competitiveness and job creation
and
desiring to support the development of the bioeconomy and the preparation of a Roadmap and a National Strategy for the Bioeconomy in Bulgaria, to ensure food security, production of bioenergy from renewable raw materials and specifically energy from biomass, protection of biodiversity and the environment, protection of climate change and adaptation to it, improvement and competitiveness of Bulgaria and in order to address these challenges which require major social, economic, expert and political efforts, this Memorandum has been concluded.
Subject of the Memorandum
The Memorandum of Understanding is being concluded in implementation of the project "Supporting the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in developing strategies and plans for the bioeconomy" (CEE2ACT), as the parties have agreed on the following.
1. To cooperate in promoting the development of the bioeconomy in the Republic of Bulgaria, building knowledge and capacity among stakeholders to develop bioeconomy strategies and action plans.
2. To participate in the formulation of national policy related to the bioeconomy, including participation in the development of a national strategy, action plan, roadmap, etc.
3. This Memorandum outlines the opportunities of the Parties for sharing information and experience in the preparation and implementation of national, sectoral and regional bioeconomy strategies, studying foreign experience and good practices in the field of the bioeconomy.
4. Improving communication and interaction between stakeholders in the field of the bioeconomy, including improving cooperation between the administration, business and the scientific and research sector.
5. Developing the potential of the bioeconomy at the national, sectoral and regional levels.
6. Continuously attracting new stakeholders in the field through meetings, consultations, exchange of experience and creative problem-solving methods.
SMURF project website https://www.smurfproject.eu/.Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefun ding #closetonaturesilviculture

SMURF - the project targeting small forest owners and their representative associations

2025-06-28T13:45:10+00:00

No one knows the number of forest owners and forest holdings in Europe. It may be more than 20 million people, and in many countries there are strong structural barriers to forest management and investment in forests, such as the lack of an up-to-date cadastre or clear ownership documents.
The SMURF project defends the right of the forest owner to decide on the objectives and management systems to be applied in his or her own forests.
The SMURF project aims to create a European network of small forest holdings.
In order to encompass the diversity of forest associations and cooperatives and to use their experience
to support small forest holdings.
Forestry in Europe is striving for multifunctionality, integrating a variety of societal requirements, such as biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, or the production of clean water and cultural services such as recreation or human health. The SMURF – Forest Owners Project will help create value in the forest sector by ensuring sustainable and profitable management and business models, a standardized payment system for ecosystem services, and a support and training structure for small forest holdings. Socio-economic changes in forest ownership in Europe, combined with threats from climate change and other changes such as the process of urbanisation, agricultural intensification and others, are leading to land abandonment, fragmentation of forest holdings, forest decay, increased risk of fires, loss of forest habitats and a reduction in many ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, wood production, recreation and biodiversity conservation. Over the last 60 years, European agricultural holdings have undergone a profound transformation, with clear improvements in structures, new business models and others, clearly guided by the Common Agricultural Policy. European forestry holdings have not yet undergone a similar transformation and there are major differences between public and private forestry holdings. The situation of small forest holdings (SHFs) is particularly precarious, given the lack of forest registers in many European regions. The problem of farm fragmentation has been clearly addressed for decades to overcome the barriers to agricultural modernization, but the serious problem of forest fragmentation and unclear ownership has not been addressed in many countries and is a major obstacle to sustainable forest management. The Forest Owner Association was approved under the SMURF project together with 37 other associations and associations of forest owners from 16 European countries. The SMURF project provides us with a basis for comparing the situation of small forest holdings in Europe. SMURF_CF1_03 Association of small forest land's owners from Umbrías Spain
SMURF_CF1_06 Forest Owners Association: Mountain Boards of Asturias Spain

SMURF_CF1_08 Forest Owners Association VORTANA Romania
SMURF_CF1_09 Forest Owners Association - STEJARUL TOPOLOVENI Romania
SMURF_CF1_10 Romanian Forest Owners Association - Romania
SMURF_CF1_11 Association of Traditional and Environmental
Agricultural Producers Portugal
SMURF_CF1_12 Baixo Vouga Forestry Association Portugal
SMURF_CF1_13 AguiarFloresta Portugal
SMURF_CF1_14 Montnegre-Corredor Forest Owners Association Spain
SMURF_CF1_15 Laye-Lauzon Forest Management Association France
SMURF_CF1_19 Land Association Spring Valleys Italy
SMURF_CF1_22 National Center for Private Forest Ownership France
SMURF_CF1_23 Ocejon community of forest owners Spain
SMURF_CF1_25 Forestry Consortium "Gulf Corkwoods" Italy
SMURF_CF1_26 Ticino river forestry consortium Italy
SMURF_CF1_27 Forestry Consortium of Villa Basilica Italy
SMURF_CF1_28 De Bosgroepen Belgium
SMURF_CF1_30 Departmental federation of forestry groups of Hérault France
SMURF_CF1_31 Fenafloresta - National Federation of Forest Producers' Cooperatives, FCRL
Portugal
SMURF_CF1_33 The non-profit association for commercially sustainable multi-use of forests
Sweden
SMURF_CF1_35 FORESTIERS D'ALSACE France
SMURF_CF1_37 Holzcluster Steiermark GmbH Austria
SMURF_CF1_38 Croatian Union of Private Forest Owners Associations Croatia
SMURF_CF1_39 Irish Wood Producers Ireland
SMURF_CF1_40 Irish Woodland Owners Co-operative Society Ltd Ireland
SMURF_CF1_41 Rural Flanders Belgium
SMURF_CF1_42 Latvian Forest Owners' Association Latvia
SMURF_CF1_43 Model Forest Istria Croatia
SMURF_CF1_45 Pozemkové komposésorátu a Urbariátu Šalková Slovakia
SMURF_CF1_46 Association of private forest owners Lithuania
SMURF_CF1_47 NTF- Rural Landowners of Wallonia Belgium

SMURF_CF1_48 Royal Forestry Society of Belgium Belgium
SMURF_CF1_50 Forest Association Styria Austria
SMURF_CF1_51 Association of Owners of Community and Private Forests of the Banská
Bystrica Regi

Forest fragmentation

2025-06-26T10:43:31+00:00

The problem of fragmentation of ownership in forests is not a recent phenomenon. Excessive fragmentation of forest properties leads to an increase in the number and area of ownerless forests, forests that are abandoned. Left without care, forests become victims of forest fires, insect attacks, winds and snow.Fragmentation is a process in which the number of owners per unit area increases and the size of the property decreases accordingly. As a result of this process, the situation is reached when the property is so small that it is of no interest to the owner himself.The smaller a forest area is, the smaller its economic value falls, and this causes the owners of forests under one or two hectares to abandon them and not take care of their property. In Bulgaria, as well as in Europe, a number of restrictions are applied to forest properties, which have become more severe over the years. This turns forest ownership into one of the most undesirable types of property.The trends of population migration to large cities, far from rural and mountainous areas, should not be underestimated. Forests are abandoned due to the physical impossibility of managing them from a distance, lack of desire on the part of the owners, due to ignorance of this matter, and last but not least, a large part of the owners simply do not know that they have inherited a given forest after the death of a grandmother, grandfather or other relative.In many cases, the value of the forest is many times less than the value of the transaction with such type of property, regardless of whether it is a purchase - sale, donation or other form of transaction. The problem is especially great with forests in joint ownership. Such are all forest cooperatives, associations and districts. The legal practice is for the transaction to be formed in all cadastral units covering the cooperative, and this makes the notarial deed unnecessarily and extremely long and expensive.In the absence of care for a forest, the forest itself and its inhabitants suffer first. Then the owner himself and the entire society lose. The state also loses from unpaid taxes on business activities.When a forest is left without an owner, it is exposed to a much greater risk of fires, in the event of an insect attack there is no one to resist and it can be more easily damaged and destroyed. It often becomes a focus for the development and spread of pests.In agricultural properties, there is an active trend of consolidation - the unification of properties by investors for the purpose of easier and more profitable processing. In forests, this is not the case at all.In conclusion, I can mention that the main problem for good forest management is the effect of fragmentation, and this is a lack of care.In the following graph, I will show how in just over 20 years the number of owners in several forest cooperatives has increased and the area of the property has decreased accordingly. Although the average area owned by a given owner is decreasing, it should be borne in mind that these forests are well managed and are not ownerless. This is not the case at all in private forests within real boundaries, which are mostly abandoned.Area of the 5 cooperatives – 2167 ha.Total number of owners as of 2002 – 4150Total number of owners by the end of 2024 – 5567Average ownership per owner by 2002 – 0.52 ha.and average by the end of 2024 – 0.39 ha.SMURF project website https://www.smurfproject.eu/.Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilvicultureSee translation

Conferense in Rome

2025-06-19T10:34:42+00:00

First European Conference of Small Forest Owners’ AssociationsThe first European Conference on Small Forests, held from 20 to 22 May 2025 at FAO headquarters in Rome, brought together over 200 key stakeholders from across Europe, including public institutions, private organizations, non-governmental organizations and many forest owners’ associations.The three-day programme included presentations, panel discussions, technical sessions, networking opportunities and hands-on training at the Castelporziano estate, an Italian state nature reserve.Topics covered by the conference included the state of small forest holdings in Europe, legal and financial support mechanisms, forest owner engagement, forest value chains and markets for ecosystem services. These topics were addressed through in-depth discussions held in nine sessions, which also addressed key issues such as forest land abandonment, low profitability and fragmentation.The event highlighted the role of forest owner organisations in strengthening local value chains and advancing sustainable forest management across the EU. During the practical visit to Castelporziano, participants had the opportunity to meet representatives of 35 organisations selected in the first call for funding under the SMURF cascade project, to network and enjoy a pleasant exchange in an informal setting.This conference was an important step in building stronger cooperation within the European forestry community and demonstrated the key role that small forest owners play in creating a sustainable and inclusive future for European forests. The SMURF project will continue to work in support of this goal.The National Forest Owners Association of Bulgaria participated in this conference as a representative of private forest owners in Bulgaria and as a beneficiary of the SMURF project. We believe that the participation of a representative of the Association in such a large forum at such a high level is an opportunity to exchange experiences with colleagues from many European countries. To understand what their problems are in managing private forests and what their proposals are for dealing with them. And to share our problems and experiences.The conference was held in a special place at the FAO headquarters in Rome and, in addition to representatives from various forest associations, it was also attended by representatives of the European Commission, representatives of ministries, representatives of the European Forestry Institute and many university professors. This shows the desire of these institutions to solve the challenges in forest management.At the end of the event, conclusions were formulated from the sessions and presentations held in this way, which will soon be published on the SMURF project website https://www.smurfproject.eu/.Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture

Forest All-Around

2025-06-19T10:28:57+00:00

In May 2025, the National Association of Owners of Non-State Forests "Gorovladelets" sponsored the "Forest All-Around" competition. It is held regularly between all schools where future forest specialists are trained. For us, the good preparation of future foresters is of great importance, since after they graduate they will be part of the professionals practicing in our forests.In the period April 28–30, 2025, the PG under the SGST "Nikola Vaptsarov" in the city of Chepelare hosted the National Competition "Forest All-Around" 2025 - an event in which, in an absolutely professional environment, in a sports competition, enviable knowledge of various forestry disciplines, mental resilience and stable physical training are shown. The competition was held in the city of Chepelare, where the headquarters of our Association is also located. This was the 17th edition of the National Competition "Forest All-Around". This was the most significant professional competition for students studying in the "Forestry" vocational field from vocational high schools in Bulgaria! The competition meets the needs of the time and places the participants in an attractive learning environment, transforming them from students into competitive specialists. 11 PGs from the country participated: PGZS "A. Stamboliyski" village Chomakovtsi, PGSS "Geo Milev" town Maglizh, PGGSD "N. Haitov" town Varna, PGSSGS town Kardzhali, LPGG town Berkovitsa, NPGSS "Hr. Botev" town Velingrad, PLTG "N. Vaptsarov" town Bansko, PGGSD "St. Bozhkov" town Batak, PGDS "Tsar Ivan Asen II" town Haskovo, NPGGSD "S. Mladenov" town Teteven and PGSGST "Nikola Y. Vaptsarov" Chepelare.The competition took place in two stages:The first stage of the competition consists of running a route with a length of 2000 m. over rough terrain, including points in the individual disciplines:•Point I: Recognition of coniferous and deciduous species, wood, footsteps, traces of game, diseases and pests;•Point II: Sport fishing;•Point III: Planting saplings;•Point IV: Shooting with an air rifle.The second stage of the competition includes:•Point I: Felling, pruning, cutting and cube cutting of coniferous trees;•Point II: Preparing a gasoline-powered chainsaw for work;•Point III: Combined cutting of discs.After the final, the awards were presented to the best young foresters in the country. Participants, committees, guests and hosts were present.All participants received certificates and prizes from the host school and the Executive Forestry Agency in recognition of their work and ambition.www.smurfproject.eu Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture

"Forest All-Around" competition

2025-06-10T12:56:33+00:00

In May 2025, the National Association of Owners of Non-State Forests "Gorovladeletz" sponsored the "Forest All-Around" competition. It is held regularly between all schools where future forest specialists are trained. For us, the good preparation of future foresters is of great importance, since after they graduate they will be part of the professionals practicing in our forests. In the period April 28–30, 2025, the PG under the SGST "Nikola Vaptsarov" in the city of Chepelare hosted the National Competition "Forest All-Around" 2025 - an event in which, in an absolutely professional environment, in a sports competition, enviable knowledge of various forestry disciplines, mental resilience and stable physical training are shown. The competition was held in the city of Chepelare, where the headquarters of our Association is also located. This was the 17th edition of the National Competition "Forest All-Around". This was the most significant professional competition for students studying in professions from the "Forestry" vocational field from vocational high schools in Bulgaria! The competition meets the needs of the time and places the participants in an attractive learning environment, transforming them from students into competitive specialists. 11 PGs from the country participated: PGZS "A. Stamboliyski" village of Chomakovtsi, PGSS "Geo Milev" town of Maglizh, PGGSD "N. Haitov" town of Varna, PGSSGS town of Kardzhali, LPGG town of Berkovitsa, NPSSGS "Hr. Botev" town of Velingrad, PLTG "N. Vaptsarov" town of Bansko, PGSSGSD "St. Bozhkov" town of Batak, PGDS "Tsar Ivan Asen II" town of Haskovo, NPSSGSD "S. Mladenov" town of Teteven and PGSSGST "Nikola Y. Vaptsarov" town of Chepelare. The competition took place in two stages: The first stage of the competition consists of running a route with a length of 2000 m. over rough terrain, including points in the individual disciplines: •I point: Recognition of coniferous and deciduous species, wood, footprints, game tracks, diseases and pests;•II point: Sport fishing;•III point: Planting saplings;•IV point: Shooting with an air rifle. The second stage of the competition includes:•I point: Felling, pruning, cutting and cube cutting of coniferous trees;•II point: Preparing a gasoline-powered chainsaw for work;•III point: Combined sawing of discs. After the final, awards were presented to the best young foresters in the country. Participants, committees, guests and hosts were present. All participants received certificates and prizes from the host school and the Executive Forestry Agency in recognition of their work and ambition. www.smurfproject.eu Funded by EU #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture

About us

2025-05-16T10:26:37+00:00

The National Association of Private Forest Owners “Gorovladeletz” began its activities in 2002. It was established following the restitution of forests and the reactivation of forest cooperatives and associations after 2001. These entities are the successors of those that existed prior to 1945.According to its founding statute, the main goal of the Association is to protect the interests of forest owners and their representatives. It also aims to collaborate with governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, parliamentary committees, and similar bodies, both nationally and internationally, for the development and implementation of regulations and decisions governing the management and stewardship of private forests.Our Association is a voluntary union of individuals and legal entities. It is a non-profit legal entity established to carry out activities of public benefit.The fundamental principles guiding all our work are:

1. Voluntary membership;

2. Election and term limits for governing bodies;

3. Periodic accountability of governing bodies;

4. Transparency of decisions and all activities of the Association;

5. Political and trade union independence.Our primary members are forest cooperatives and associations that represent tens of thousands of forest owners possessing undivided shares of forest land. We also include individual private forest owners among our members.The Association is primarily used as a platform for exchanging information, experience, and best practices among its members. It cooperates with local authorities and organizations to support initiatives and decisions related to private forests and their use. It participates in national and international programs, councils, projects, and initiatives in the field of private forests and their sustainable development, ecology, integrated nature-based and multifunctional forest management, and fostering ecological awareness among forest owners.The Association maintains contacts with national and international non-governmental organizations focused on forestry and environmental goals. It also takes part in and supports the development and implementation of legislation and decisions concerning the structure, management, use, and sustainable development and protection of private forests at all possible levels.Since its inception, a representative of the Association has regularly participated in the drafting of the Forest Act and its subordinate regulations, as well as in subsequent amendments over the years. The Association has also been actively involved in the National Forest Council under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.www.smurfproject.eu #smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture

www.smurfproject.eu

Funded by the EU, Horizon Europe funding.

#smurfproject #SmallForestHoldings #forestry #forestowners #profitability #smallforestowners #foresteufuture #forestmanagement #sustainability #forestnews #cascadefunding #closetonaturesilviculture