IUFRO Presentation - Networking
IUFRO is a non-profit, non-governmental international network of forest scientists, which promotes global cooperation in forest-related research and enhances the understanding of the ecological, economic and social aspects of forests and trees.
We will get a short presentation about IFSA’s collaboration with IUFRO, the IFSA-IUFRO Joint Position, and facilitate a workshop on the future of forestry. The workshop will give all participants the opportunity to share their ideas and dreams for the future and to tell the group about the things that they find most exciting and fascinating in forestry. The result will be a collection of inspirational themes compiled in a 60 second video to share with our IFSA friends around the world. Get ready to tell us what you’re passionate about!
We will get a short presentation covering the topic of how different countries within geographical Europe protect & use their forests. We will be shown data about the forests in Europe and mainly - amount of wood, workers, financing, etc. This will show us the dynamics of forest management in Europe. What are the similarities and where do the approaches differ? Forest Europe aims to enhance the cooperation on forest policies between European countries. Food for thought: ‘Do we want a communal European forest strategy to manage and protect the European forests?’
FOREST EUROPE is the pan-European voluntary high-level political process for dialogue and cooperation on forest policies in Europe. It develops common strategies for its 47 signatories (46 European countries and the European Union) on how to protect and sustainably manage their forests.
Forest Europe - Forestry management
Forest Orienteering
Another sport we decided to throw our participants into during SERM 2017, is River Rafting on the river Struma. Rafting BG organizes trips on Struma River every day on the longest river track – about 12km, which has numerous rapids, with different profile and difficulty, and takes about 1,5 – 2 hours. We will be given the full equipment, needed for the rafting trip – neoprene suit, neoprene shoes, helmet, jacket, life jacket. No previous experience is needed, so dont worry.
Prepare to get a little excited and very wet... or was it the oposite... anyway, bring a towel.
River Rafting is an activity which uses an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other body of water. This is often done on whitewater or different degrees of rough water, and generally represents a new and challenging environment for participants. Dealing with risk and the need for teamwork is often a part of the experience.
Rafting on Struma river
IFSA Preselection - RRs and SERM 2018
The International Forestry Students' Association is a non political, non religious and not for profit organization that brings together forestry students from all over the world in a wide spectrum of activities. Working for global cooperation among students of forest sciences in order to broaden knowledge and understanding.
During every South European Regional Meeting, the new Regional Representatives get preselected for the upcoming year to help coordinate the IFSA events for the region and also the next hosts for SERM 2018 will be nominated and elected. Another thing to look forward to is the report by our current Regional Representatives, for the past year. During their one year position, they have communicated between all the LCs and participants part of the Southern-European region, so a report of how everyone in the region is doing is given by them, before their term ends and the new ones a preselected. Prepare your presentations everyone, and think back on the year!
WORKSHOPS
During SERM 2017, we decided to organize a little sport event for our participants and help them understand how to navigate in a forest environment using just a compass and map. The region we will have the event held in, is called Training and Experimental Forest Range - Yundola. It is located at an altitude of 1400m, populated by dense and thriving conifer forests - pine, spruce and fir. Also, the region is located in the Rhodope mountains, which are a good start for hiking towards our other big mountains - Rila and Pirin. So prepare for your feet for some running and getting lost around these magic forests!
Orienteering is a sport that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they use to find control points.
