Meeting Location

Yundola

The training and experimental forest range is located in the pass between Rila and the Western Rhodopes mountains in the forest land of Yundola, 15 km from the town of Velingrad. The training and experimental forest in Yundola is located at between 1000-1800 m altitude. The forest has been a state property since the ancient times. The total area of the forest fund in the region of the training and experimental forest range amounts to 5190,6 ha, 4853,8 ha – afforested area. The forest stands contain the following tree species: Scots Pine - 1935,3 hа (or 40% of the forest fund); Norway Spruce - 1427,7 ha (30%); Silver Fir - 1267,8 ha (26%); Beech - 166 ha (3%), etc. The average age of the stands is 75 years. The stands are exclusively coniferous, consisting mainly of Scots Pine, Norway Spruce and Silver Fir. The percentage of the broadleaved species is insignificant, mainly Beech and Sessile Oak. The growth conditions are typical of coniferous stands and allow the establishment of various training and demonstration sites and experimental areas. At present, scientific observations are being made on permanent experimental plots by the departments of Forest Management, Silviculture, Dendrology, etc. Interesting studies are being conducted on the established geographic cultures with the purpose of checking the growth and productivity of coniferous species of different origins. A special experimental plot has been designed in the watershed area of Bazenishki Dol where a precipitation measuring stations have been built for measuring the water flow under different natural and working conditions.



 A monitoring station, under a Bulgarian-Swiss Project No.2 has also been built in the area of the forest. G. St. Avramov Training and Experimental Forest Range, run by the University of Forestry, has been established as a centre for practical training and scientific research of both students and teaching staff.