Students' Club for Environmental Protection
at the University of Forestry (SCEP - UF)

Students' Club for Environment Protection at the University of Forestry (UF), Sofia, is one of the oldest ecological organizations in Bulgaria. The club has been established in 1977 by a group of students in the major “Forestry” and in 1994 it has been officially registered as a NGO.

SCEP aims

They are connected to stimulation of activities and initiatives for execution of projects related with conservation of the environment. Assistance for creating a consciousness nature protection and culture in young people as well as a co-operation with NGO, business circles, with state and municipal organs of a local, regional and national level regarding conservation of Nature.

Activities

SCEP achieve its aims by leading researches, educational and social activities. Implements and helps projects and studies and supports social initiatives. One of the most important activities is to organize symposiums, seminars, conferences, expeditions, lectures and other national and international meetings with conservation purposes; Publishes informational, analytical and other materials; Takes part in NGO initiatives in connection with forming of the social opinion on actual ecological problems and sustainable development; Actively takes part in and helps the international co-operation in the sphere of the environmental conservation.

History

At first its work has been connected with leading of expeditions to different natural objects. During this period The Institute of Forestry with the participation of SCEP organizes periodical international ecological seminars. Since 1989 SCEP develops also social activity – participation in different ecological actions, protests, conferences and other.

During the period 1995-2000, SCOPS has most members. After 1996 representatives of the club have been included in the Advisory council of Rila and Pirin National parks and Rusenski Lom Nature Park. Since 2000 it develops and perfects skills for writing and executing ecological projects. As an example can be given the realization of the project on “Popularizing of biodiversity in the regions of the East Rhodopes, Strandzha, Pirin and the damp zones in Bourgas among the students of University of Forestry” as well as individual expeditions in “Shumensko plato” Nature park, “Chuprene” biosphere reserve and the protected territory “Gumurdjiiski snezhnik”.

Today SCEP continues to work hard and in a closely co-operation with the departments of University of Forestry, State Agency of Forest, Bulgarian and international environmental organizations. Each year the club takes part in the organization of series of initiatives for “the Week of the Forest”. Since 2004 the most active period from the club’s international activity has started. Two representatives of SCOPS took part in the Forestry students’ event - South European Regional Meeting in Belgrade at the end of April, 2005 initiatives of IFSA. It also takes part in the winter forest schools, organized by the Forestry faculty in Brasov, Romania in December 2005. The club had the honor to organize the Second South European Regional Meeting of the Forestry students. The meeting managed a great success with the participation of 55 students from 18 countries. Three members of the club took well-deserved forth place in the International Forestry competition in Poland in May, 2006. During the same year in the summer was presented the International Forestry Students’ Symposium in Brazil and Argentina. In 2007 five members of SCEP took part in a number of international conferences, seminars and meetings in Estonia, Germany, France and Romania, and in the summer during the same year, the club was represented by two of its members on the International Forestry Students’ Symposium in South Africa, where our country was present the host of the same forum in 2008.

You can have more possibilities to see and participate in forest conservation in Bulgaria if you have a look in the attached file below: