Cross-border expert meeting in Vratsa, Bulgaria

On the 13^th of November 2025 in Vratza, experts from the Executive Forest Agency, Northwest state enterprise and WWF Bulgaria participated in a Cross-border expert meeting for exchange of experience and recommendations on measures addressing climate challenges in protected areas, within the project "DRP0200359 ForestConnect - Towards climate-smart forest connectivity for large carnivores in the Balkan-Carpathian region.", hosted by the Northwest state enterprise - Vratza.

The meeting was with the representatives from State Enterprise “Serbia-Šume” included eng. Dejan Miletic the head of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Service, eng. Silvia Nikolic and eng. Dejan Dzhordzhev from the Public Enterprise for Forests "Serbia-Šume” and Vanja Jaksic from WWF Adria.

The lead partner WWF Bulgaria presented the major challenges facing forest ecosystems related to climate scenario results for expected climate changes in the country. Mr. Dejan Miletic, head of the Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Service, Sector "Forest Management and Environmental Protection," outlined the main problems in the forests of the Republic of Serbia linked to bark beetle and other pest outbreaks, the impact of climate change (drought), tree species distribution, etc.

A discussion was held on observed changes in forest ecosystems over recent years related to bark beetle outbreaks, drying, effects of climate change on coniferous species, and more. The impact of these changes on game habitats-especially for large carnivores and their distribution was addressed.

At the end of the meeting, opportunities for joint projects with Serbian partners within the transnational Interreg programs were discussed, along with possible cooperation topics related to climate change, forest damage, adaptation measures, game distribution, the impact of climate change on habitats, and others.