On Sunday, April 10, you can check what you have learned about the forest in an online test that will be published on the official and Facebook pages of the IAG. 
You already know that forests, in addition to having many trees in one place, also contain other plant species with which the trees interact. In addition, forests are home to many species of animals, birds, and insects. 
In some forests, however, we can see the most intact nature. The one that has developed on its own, without foreign interference. Forests, with imposed restrictions or completely prohibited actions by people, are PROTECTED, and the territories on which they are located are called protected areas. However, in addition to forests, protected areas can include land and water areas. The need to have protected areas in forests arises from the fact that in certain places there are very valuable plant and/or animal species that are not often found in nature.It is important to preserve the natural process of development in nature of such rare forests, lands and water areas, thus preserving biological diversity and/or genetic resources.
There are six categories of protected areas in Bulgaria:Did you know that...?TOPIC 9: WHAT IS GAME AND HOW DO WE CARE FOR IT?
The forest and the field are home to many animals – insects, birds, reptiles, mammals – herbivores, omnivores and predators. A small part of the wild birds and mammals in Bulgaria are the object of hunting and are therefore called game. In the field, farmers sow many crops and the visit of game is not desirable because it causes a lot of damage to the sown fields. In addition, in the field, game is exposed to many dangers: from the machinery that cultivates the fields; the machinery that harvests the crop; the fertilizers and preparations with which the crops are grown; and last but not least from poaching. That is why we, the foresters (game keepers) take care not only of the forest, but also of all its inhabitants.
What difficulties do wild animals face in their survival and how do gamekeepers take care of them?
For game to thrive, three conditions must be present: WATER, FOOD and PEACE. Some of the most important activities that every good gamekeeper must perform are:
Creation and maintenance of “game” fields – these fields are created in open areas of the forest and are sown with various grasses, alfalfa, wheat and other agricultural crops to provide green food for game. No production is obtained from these fields, i.e. the entire harvest is eaten by game.
Construction of feeders - these are facilities that are built in the forest and during the winter, feed is periodically placed in these places so that the game can have food and survive during the harsh winter months.
Construction and maintenance of salt pans – as with all ruminants, it is important for deer, roe deer, and fallow deer to have a place to get the salt they need. That is why gamekeepers build special salt pans and make sure that there is always rock salt there.
Construction and maintenance of water sources – in some areas, during dry summers, game access to water is limited. Here again, game managers must take care of the supply of water.
Construction and maintenance of mudflats. Red deer and wild boar are the animals that love to "mud" the most. This way they cool down and somewhat protect themselves from external parasites.
Forage production for feeding – in order to have enough forage (hay, corn, alfalfa, apples, beets, vetch and other crops) for the cold months, it must be produced and harvested or purchased. This is again the responsibility of the gamekeeper.
Activities that take place in the forest are planned so that there are places for game to hide.
Game finds food in the forest after logging - initially it feeds on fresh leaves and buds of trees that were felled during logging, and when new shoots grow on deciduous tree species, they are also good food for all herbivorous forest animals.
Game keepers and foresters also care about the health of game herds.
And last but not least, the gamekeeper and the forester are the people who protect wild animals from poachers.
TOPIC 8: WHY DO WE NEED TO TREAT FORESTS?
Foresters care for the forest and the trees in it throughout their lives and strive to keep them healthy. Just like us, trees sometimes get sick. The spread of insect pests and diseases can have devastating effects on our forests and kill huge numbers of trees. A healthy forest is able to recover itself from stressful situations, and maintaining it in such a state is the result of many activities based on in-depth knowledge and many years of experience on the part of foresters.
Foresters and specialists from forest protection stations monitor trees to detect early signs of disease or damage. Annually, observations are made in Bulgarian forests on the number of insect pests and control measures are implemented when pests become excessively numerous. Action is taken against all problems that are detected to limit the damage. Sometimes this means that we have to remove some affected trees to protect others and keep them healthy. In order to improve the health of the plantations and prevent the risk of a strong reproduction of a particular pest, foresters can cut down some of the diseased trees. In order to cure individual trees, it is sometimes necessary to manually cut out plant parts damaged by fungi, bacteria or collect and destroy insect pests (in different phases of their development). Sprayers are often used to spray trees with various liquid preparations. In case of severe attacks on very large areas, aerial spraying is carried out with special helicopters.
Did you know that...?
Insectivorous birds, such as starlings, tits, and woodpeckers, are very useful to foresters. That's why we take care of them by placing artificial nesting boxes, replacing feeders and waterers, and preserving their natural nesting sites (hollow trees and dense bushes).
TOPIC 8: WHY DO WE CELEBRATE FOREST WEEK?
Just as every person has their own day of the year in which they celebrate their holiday, just as every profession in the world celebrates its day annually, so too we foresters have not a day, but a week in which we celebrate our dedication, motivation and love for the forest! But let me take you back in time to see where our story begins:
As early as 1911, the idea of a Forest Holiday was motivated in the newspaper of the Society of Bulgarian Foresters "Forest Review". At that time, the law established two holidays during the year - one in the fall and the other in the spring, during which every Bulgarian citizen over the age of 15 was to plant at least 5 trees in places designated by the forestry departments.
The idea took concrete form in 1925, with the main task of its celebration being voluntary work throughout Bulgaria, which at that time urgently needed afforestation of the bare mountain slopes and landscaping of the cities and villages.
The first Afforestation Festival is on April 12, the feast of the Annunciation of the same year, and its celebration begins solemnly with a prayer service in front of the St. Alexander Nevsky Church, with 420,000 forest saplings and 20 kg of forest seeds being planted.
Over the years, the holiday grew and gained popularity. With the enthusiasm of foresters and the support of the population, the Afforestation Holiday became Forest Week in 1934. The idea was for foresters from all regions of the country to take on an explanatory activity about the importance of forests and afforestation, and for the students' work week to become afforestation week. Thus, from April 12 to 22, 1934, the first Forest Week was held in Bulgaria.
With this brief review of the past, we can summarize that throughout all these years, the days of the holiday have been dedicated to mass afforestation, in which, in addition to foresters, thousands of people from all over the country have participated. Today, 97 years later, this first week of April, called "Forest Week", is followed by many diverse initiatives and events - from mass afforestation to interactive talks and games, which continue to involve people of all age groups, eager to create, enrich and preserve the Bulgarian forest. One of the main local highlights is the successful national initiative "Forester for a Day". In it, forest officials demonstrate activities for the protection and care of nature. Children are given the opportunity, through interactive games and entertaining talks with foresters, to learn more about the forestry profession, forest ecosystems and the processes that occur in them.
And today, the most important task of foresters and the entire society is to protect and improve the condition of the forests, so that with pride and dignity we can pass on to future generations a Majestic Bulgarian Forest.
TOPIC 7:HOW CAN WE PROTECT FORESTS FROM FIRES?
Nowadays, there is no one who does not know how dangerous fires can be, perhaps except for little people, such as you children, and for this - let us introduce you to them. A fire is a process in which fire quickly and uncontrollably burns everything in its path, creating a danger to the life and health of people, animals, plants and destroying the places where it spreads. Or, to put it simply - fires destroy grasses, bushes, trees, animals and their habitats, their food, pollute springs and streams, and their consequences have an impact for a long period of time. In addition to the direct impact on plants and animals, large forest fires affect the climate by releasing a large amount of harmful gases, dust and increasing temperatures. In this way, they also affect people, who lose part of these forests and all the benefits they bring us. The occurrence of any forest fire is a great challenge for us – foresters and firefighters, as extinguishing it is a very dangerous and difficult task for a number of reasons. Sometimes, if the fire has occurred in inaccessible mountainous terrain or in coniferous forests, it can last for days or weeks and, accordingly, the losses can be truly enormous. In order to avoid or reduce the likelihood of a forest fire, foresters take special care of the forests. Areas in the form of strips are maintained around the most vulnerable forests (coniferous ones, for example), cleaned of dry grass and other materials that can easily catch fire. These strips help limit the spread of fires in these forests. We also carry out special afforestation with deciduous tree species that are more resistant to fires, between coniferous forests and open areas such as pastures, meadows, fields, where fires often occur, and thus they play the role of a shield in which the fire can be controlled more easily. We build so-called fire observation towers and other notification systems for early localization of fires. Precisely defined, safe places are built in the forests where visitors can light a fire, etc.
You too can protect forests from fires by:
• do not throw away glass bottles, glasses or other glass objects into nature, which can act as a magnifying glass and cause a fire (in general, waste should not be thrown into the forest);
• when you go for a walk in the forest with your parents and decide to light a fire – do it in the designated places, do not leave the fire unattended, and when you leave, make sure it is well extinguished;
• do not play with matches, lighters, magnifying glasses and other things that can cause fire;
• do not light a fire without an adult present with you;
• insist that adults who smoke do not throw away their cigarette butts, especially unextinguished ones, in nature;
Of course, all of these recommendations apply not only to your Sunday walk in the forest, but to any place you are, including your own home.
And what can you do if you notice a fire: if it is near you, move to a safe distance (away from it) and then call 112 to report the fire or call an adult to do it for you. And under no circumstances should you try to put it out, because you could get hurt.
TOPIC 6: CAN EVERYONE CUT TREES IN THE FOREST?
You already know why forests are important, when and why they are cut down, BUT is it allowed in Bulgaria for anyone to cut down trees in the forest? Of course not! In order to preserve the good condition of forests and prevent their destruction, various RULES have been created. They are summarized and collected in laws and regulations, and citizens are obliged to comply with them. First of all, each forest has a plan or program that determines the activities allowed in it and how much can be cut down without harming the condition. Before the start of felling, the forest must be marked and have an issued a special document called a Logging Permit. Marking is carried out by trained specialists – foresters, and includes identifying and marking trees for felling. Foresters are the people who carefully consider which trees should be removed from the forest to make it even healthier and more beautiful. Trees are marked at a height of 130 cm from the ground with a visible sign that does not damage their bark or stem, for example a red dot. In addition, trees with a diameter of more than 18 cm must be marked with a Forest control mark at the base of the trunk. For state-managed forests, it is hexagonal in shape, and for municipal forests, it is round. It is forbidden to cut down trees that do not have such a mark, except in some more specific situations, which we will not discuss in this topic. Most often, the mark resembles a hammer or a small hatchet.
!!! Felling a tree is a complex and dangerous job, so trees are felled (or as we foresters say, “felled”) by forest workers – “loggers”. They are familiar with all the rules for safe work in the forests and are dressed in special clothing to protect them. Today you learned that not everyone can cut trees in the forest. Knowledge and experience are needed. In order for foresters and loggers to have the right to carry out these activities, they undergo specialized training and take exams.
Did you know that...?
The control forest mark is placed at the base of the stem on the underside of the slope or on some of the surface roots so that after the tree is cut down, the mark remains and is visible.
TOPIC 5: WHEN AND WHY DO WE CUT FORESTS?
Without the air we breathe, life as we know it would not exist. Did you know that two mature trees can provide enough oxygen for a family of four for an entire year? Therefore, we humans could not survive without trees. So why do we cut down trees? In fact, when done responsibly and properly, cutting down trees can be beneficial to both the development of the forest and its health. Here's how:
– By removing diseased, weak and broken trees, as well as those that hinder the natural renewal of the forest, favorable conditions are created for improving the growth of the remaining trees, the development of their crowns and increasing their ability to bear seeds and fruit. This ensures continuous renewal of the forest.
– Properly conducted felling! increases the resilience of plantations! against strong winds, heavy rains and heavy snows. Healthy and vigorous trees are more resistant to diseases and pests. Damage from a storm or disease can lead to the fragility of the tree, the loss of branches or the possibility of it falling completely. All trees damaged for one reason or another and posing a risk to people should be removed. This is especially important if they are near tourist routes, power lines or roads.
– Trees, like all living things, grow and increase in size as they age. Trees are some of the longest-lived organisms on Earth. There are tree species that can reach an age of 500 to 1,000 years and more. However, as they age, trees begin to slow down their growth, fruiting decreases, and the quality of seeds and wood deteriorates. Dry branches and hollows begin to appear, they become susceptible to diseases, and eventually die.
That's why, before the trees in the forest get too old and lose their wood quality, foresters start cutting them down. When cutting forests properly, they can provide a steady supply of wood for a variety of purposes. The wood from the smaller trees that are cut down is used for things like fence posts, pallets, sawdust, or firewood. The remaining trees that are of good wood quality are used in industry. We all use things made from wood every day. From the books we read and the paper we write and draw on, to the furniture we use.
– When carrying out activities in the forests, forest managers strive to preserve some dead trees in the forest in order to provide a living environment for various species of mammals, fungi, insects, and microorganisms that find places to feed, reproduce, or live in these trees.
TOPIC 4: WHY AND HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF FORESTS?
Once the mature forest has regenerated and created a young generation of forest, we foresters have the important task of raise, by imitating the natural fall of trees in nature during cultivation. Cultivation of young forests occurs through felling, which is called regeneration felling.
There are different cultivation cuttings, which are carried out according to certain rules, methods and periods related to the age of the forests. We foresters comply with the rules of cultivation before undertaking any intervention, because for the development of forests, the correct conduct of cultivation felling is of fundamental importance.
Why do we grow forests?
To regulate species composition.
To increase the resilience and health of forests.
To improve the growth and quality of wood.
How do we grow forests?
By choosing to remove those trees that are damaged, dry, with crooked stems, with an irregular crown, etc. We remove some of the trees that grow very close to each other and interfere with each other, thus providing better conditions for growth - more water, nutrients, light. This way the trees develop faster, healthier and more resilient.
We strive to keep in the forest the most suitable tree species for the place they grow in. We prefer to leave those trees that are of natural origin from seeds because they are more resistant to external factors, even fires.
We select the best quality trees that will produce seeds. The selection of trees according to certain criteria necessary for the production of quality seeds is called selection.
Did you know that...?
When performing maintenance fellings, foresters do not allow the felling of single and valuable tree species in order to maintain and protect biological diversity in the forests.
TOPIC3: HOW DOES THE FOREST REGENERATE?
Trees are living organisms that live for several hundred years. Like humans, they have ages – germination, young plants, mature individuals. When they reach maturity, trees begin to bear fruit. seeds, from which young individuals arise. The possibilities for seed production are very large. A tree can produce hundreds of thousands of seeds in a year. This depends on the tree species and the conditions in which it lives. The conditions of the environment in which trees grow determine the size, shape, ripening period and many other characteristics of the seeds. The most important characteristic of a seed is the way it is dispersed. If the seeds simply fall to the ground under the mother plant, they may not get enough sun, water or nutrients from the soil. Since plants cannot move and carry their seeds to other places, they have developed other methods of dispersing their seedsThe most common methods are through the wind, the water, the animals. For example, light seeds have winged insects, allowing them to be picked up by the wind and carried miles away from the mother tree. Such are most conifers, as well as linden, maple, hornbeam. The heavy seeds in turn, they are rich in reserve nutrients, which allows them to form a strong root in the first year and be able to survive drought. Such are the oaks, beech etc. In many trees, seeds are spread by animals. There is another way for trees to regenerate and it is called vegetatively or through cuttings. In this method, shoots develop from so-called "dormant" buds on tree roots or from the stumps of felled trees, which grow as separate trees that use the large and deep roots of the old (mother) tree. This is the reason for their much faster growth compared to those that grow from seeds.
When the forest cannot regenerate on its own, human intervention is necessary..
Foresters produce small trees in special nurseries – saplings, which are used to afforest bare areas where the forest cannot regenerate on its own. Afforestation can also be done by sowing seeds. Once afforested, young forests need care for several years (three to five). Small saplings should be weeded, the soil around them should be loosened, and where unwanted species settle, care should be taken to remove them in a timely manner so that they do not suppress the growth of the planted saplings. Each tree species has specific needs for environmental conditions. Some species need more light, while others tolerate shade; some species need more moisture, while others can tolerate drought. According to these characteristics, the species are mixed so that they compete the least for light and nutrients and reproduce most successfully in a given place.
Did you know that...?
The light-loving trees occupy the upper, strongly illuminated part of the forest, and below them are those that prefer more shade. Mushrooms are the underground network that entwines all the roots of the trees and ensures their connection with the nutrients from the soil. The world of microorganisms decomposes organic waste in the forest and maintains the cycle of substances and the existence of life.
TOPIC 2: WHY ARE FORESTS IMPORTANT?
Today we will tell you about the benefits of forests – these strange and complex ecosystems.
In addition to being home to numerous plants and animals, forests provide great benefits for humans too. People from prehistoric times to the present day have used forests to provide food, harvest wood, mushrooms, herbs and berries (walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts, etc.), etc. In addition to firewood, wood is used as a building material, for the production of furniture, paper, musical instruments, etc. But, forests also provide numerous INtangible benefits. They are a great place to tourism, recreation and leisureIn the summer they bring coolness, and in the winter they are a blessing. The air is cleaner. Thanks to the phytoncides (special substances) that trees emit, the air in the forest contains about 10 times fewer bacteria than in open areas.
Forest soil holds water like a sponge, filters it, then it flows into rivers and dams and reaches us with better drinking qualities. In the forest we are surrounded by birdsong and the breeze, and the noises from the city remain inaudible. Forests also help fight climate change, they absorb dust and harmful gases that cause climate warming. Forests are a place that provides grazing for domestic animals, which is carried out under the control of forest officials. Beekeeping is unthinkable without trees. Through the juices that are released from the surface of the leaves, bees can feed during the periods when flowering has passed. Forests are part of human history and protect historical sites and cultural monuments where important historical events have occurred in the past.
Forests protect dams from silting up. In agricultural areas, they improve microclimatic conditions and help increase agricultural yields. They protect roads from blizzards and snowdrifts in winter.
Forests protect us from natural disasters!
They protect against avalanches, holding unstable snow on steep slopes. They slow down the speed of water flowing on the surface and thus protect the soil from washing away, and roads and settlements - from landslides and floods.
Did you know that...?
Forests in Bulgaria maintain the quantity and quality of more than 3/4 of the country's clean drinking water.
TOPIC 1: WHAT IS A FOREST?
We all love walks in the Forest, but what do we really know about it?
We most often define the Forest as "an area where there are many trees growing over a large area". But is this enough? In fact, it is not that simple! According to the science of Silviculture, in order to form a forest, such an amount of trees is needed in a given area, at which they begin to influence each other and change the environment in which they live (the soil and atmosphere they occupy). Forests also include soil and water and provide a habitat for all living creatures in them - other plants, animals, birds and insects. Therefore, the FOREST is a complex natural ecosystem, composed of living and non-living nature, in which the main element is trees. Forests can be divided in different ways and characteristics:
According to the type of leaves of trees, they are deciduous, coniferous and mixed.
According to the method of their renewal, they are divided into seed - young saplings sprout from the seeds of nearby trees, and suckers - new trees are growths from the roots or stumps of trees.
According to their origin, they are natural – arising without human intervention, and artificial – afforested by humans, or the so-called "forest plantations".
And here are the constituent plant parts of the forest and what we, foresters, call them:
1. Tree stand – these are all the trees in the forest.
2. Understory trees – these are trees that are located below the canopy of the tree stand. They grow slower than others and manage to thrive in less light, but they compete with trees from higher levels, thus “pushing” them to grow taller and stronger.
3. Undergrowth – a collection of shrubs and those tree species that, for various reasons (biological, climatic) cannot reach the height of large trees. These trees are small by nature and would never grow larger.
4. Undergrowth – young saplings over 1 year old, which are the next generation of the forest. Or we can say it like this – if the adults are the trees, then the undergrowth are the children in the forest. And the trees that are up to one year old are called ponies.
5. Living ground cover – includes the grasses, mosses, lichens, subshrubs, small shrubs, and flowers that cover the forest soil.
6. Extra-storey vegetation is the plants growing in the different floors of the forest, such as ivy, willow, various lianas, mistletoe, etc.
Today, March 21, on the International Day of Forests, it is important to remember that the forest is one of the main ecosystems on Earth, which maintains the biological balance of the planet. The forest ecosystem encompasses the entire set of forest organisms (trees, shrubs, grasses, fungi, bacteria, animals, including humans), together with their natural environment (air, water, soils, organic matter and rocks), which interact with each other in a certain territory. It provides a home and shelter for animal species, regulates winds and precipitation, protects soils from erosion, and purifies the air.
Did you know that...?
Forests cover 30% of the earth's land area, and the Taiga, which covers much of Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia, and Russia, is considered the largest forest in the world.