State and prospects of the Castanea sativa population in Belasitsa mountain: climate change adaptation; maintenance of biodiversity and sustainable ecosystem management

The purpose of the Project is to conduct a thorough study of the species Castanea sativa (European Chestnut-tree) and elaborate and implement good management practices of the conservation of the Castanea sativa population, with the overall objective of maintaining the biodiversity of Castanea sativa forests in the Bulgarian part of Belasitsa Mountain. Reference is made to the application dated 23 April 2008, and to any subsequent correspondence with the Focal Point. The completed Project shall include the following activities and results: 1: Establishment of the knowledge base on Castanea sativa population (field data collection and assessment of parameters such as structure, growth, regeneration potential, origin, health condition and biodiversity); 2: Development of conservation tools of the Castanea sativa forests (conservation measures and management plans); 3: Implementation of good management practices in the field of maintaining the biodiversity in forest management (including training courses and project outputs integrated in the Bulgarian agroecological scheme); and 4: Project management and publicity activities The Project Promoter is the Forest Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Subject to national law, the Project shall be implemented in partnership with the Icelandic Forest Research, Iceland. The Focal Point shall ensure that the Bulgarian state budget provides at least 15 percent of the estimated eligible project cost.