Field Testing of CLIMANATRES Data Collection Tools in Pleven Region (24–26 August 2025)

Field Testing of CLIMANATRES Data Collection Tools in Pleven Region (24–26 August 2025)

Between 24–26 August 2025, the CLIMANATRES team carried out a field event in the Pleven region, Bulgaria. The activity was led by Imelda Somodi (Hun-REB, leading partner) together with Prof. Rossen Tsonev, Irina Gerasimova, and Georgi Kunev. Main aims of this fieldwork was testing the new digital field form with automatic and obligatory fields for data collection, practicing the delineation and drawing of polygons and comparing the EUNIS Level 3 and Level 4 habitat classification systems in practice.

During the first day we visited Carbonate cliffs at the dam of the Tuchenitsa River (habitat type 8210), and adjacent thermophilous forests with Carpinus orientalis. The other day we organize Marsh at the Vit River, loess steppes at Bivolare, alluvial forests along the Iskar River, and additional loess steppes at the Nikopol Plateau. On the last day we implemented site mapping of Tilia tomentosa steppe forests and Quercus cerris dominated stands.

This fieldwork provided valuable insights into the practical use of the updated habitat mapping tools and the applicability of the EUNIS habitat classification at different levels.