Our two-week Summer program focuses on three main themes: ecology and management of temperate ecosystems, human-wildlife conflict, and the restoration of ecological processes through re-introduction of keystone species and rewilding of native habitats.

Traversing multiple mountain ranges, we will delve into the natural processes that shape ecosystems, the relationships occurring in intricated trophic webs, and how prolonged anthropogenic stressors have disrupted the function of these crucial habitats. Students will also examine how European cultures, past and present, have existed within these diverse lands and see firsthand the causes and consequences of the millennial-old conflict between humans and large predators. Currently, there is a very important ecological restoration movement arising across Europe and Bulgaria is at the forefront. This program will focus on the current efforts of this ambitious initiative to rewild native landscapes and the potential it holds for conservation in the face of a rapidly changing world.

Building upon the themes that constitute the two-week summer program, our six-week Fall 2024 program will dive even deeper into Bulgaria’s current conservation efforts and concerns. Three additional subjects will be introduced: the impact of climate change on bird migration, ethnobotany with a focus on traditional knowledge and culture, and a further look into the field research methods being utilized for current continent-wide rewilding efforts. Through workshops with local cultural groups and a research component that brings together people, places, and wildlife, students will examine the deep connection Bulgarians hold with their flora and fauna, and how they have interacted with their environment over time.

Our time at the Black Sea coincides with a spectacular bird migration which will provide the ideal setting to discuss the role of birds as indicator species. We will examine the challenges they face during migration, review the current migration policies, and delve into the importance of water bodies as wildlife strongholds and carbon sinks, among other things. Our hands-on field studies will be enriched by exchanges with wildlife management experts and conservation community leaders.

Our fall program culminates in a weeklong project where students propose a solution to a key environmental concern based on core topics taught during the program. By immersing ourselves in a variety of opportunities for field studies, students will leave Bulgaria with a deepened understanding of the rich nature, ancient culture and conservation challenges that affect the Balkan region, as well as efforts underway to preserve and restore crucial ecological processes.

Background Information

Bulgaria lies in the far south-eastern corner of Europe and is considered by many one of the continent's best kept secrets. This remoteness has allowed Bulgaria to avoid significant development and hold onto its distinct natural and cultural heritage over the years. Bulgaria is a land of contrasts: to the east, you will find the Black Sea with its rocky capes, sandy beaches, and sheltered bays, along with the Via Pontica, a major bird migration flyway. To the north lies the Danube, fringed by lakes and marshes and bordered by elevated plateaus and broad steppe-like plains where most of the nation’s domestic food supply is sourced. But it is the majestic, constant presence of mountains that shape Bulgaria, forming the physical heartland of the country and forging the Balkan spirit.

Bulgaria is one of the only European countries that can show off not only spectacular scenery but also rare flora and fauna that have long vanished in other parts of the continent. Roughly the size of Tennessee, Bulgaria is immensely diverse for such a small region  -  nearly 110 species of mammals, 400 native bird species, 37 reptile species, and 214 native species of butterflies reside here. Populations of brown bears, wolves, and jackals stand among the highest in all of Europe. Further, Bulgaria hosts an enormous number of endemic plants, 250 species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world: Rila primrose, Balkan violet, Bulgarian blackberry, and Rhodopean tulip among others.

Situated at the edge of Europe and once part of the Silk Road, Bulgaria has long been an essential eastern gateway to the continent. This ongoing meeting of different peoples and cultures over generations left its mark on the country and influenced its development and historical legacy. As one of the oldest countries in Europe, Bulgaria was the cradle of the ancient Thracian civilization and has preserved priceless archaeological and architectural gems, as well as equally rich rural traditions and customs.

The pace of depopulation of villages throughout the last seven decades is among the highest in the world and has brought significant land-use changes. The effects on rural communities and the local flora and fauna are varying and widespread. These kinds of transitions and demographic shifts are happening worldwide and in some places opening the doors for big wildlife to return. Bulgarians are witnessing growing numbers of wolves, bears, bison, and vultures, among other important animals, as the once bustling rural regions become less populated. This trend has sparked an interesting movement for conservation among Bulgarians and the rest of the continent as efforts to rewild and restore natural landscapes get underway. Here is where our adventure begins.

Program Goals and Activities

This program will delve into the way that ecological processes regulate natural systems and explore the anthropogenic impacts on these processes over recent years. We will investigate the relationship between humans and place, paying special attention to keystone species, and efforts underway in the Balkan region to harmonize the existence of apex predators, scavengers, and grazers with extensive cattle ranching and other human activities. Our learning process is centered around observations, field research methods, lectures, discussions, fieldnote taking, and personal reflection. Through this, students will become familiar with Bulgarian flora and fauna, landscapes and culture across the varying environments we visit.

This program also aims to teach fundamental conservation-related critical thinking, skills, and knowledge, that then enable students to design ecological conservation and restoration efforts that intertwine and respect local community’s needs, especially in the face of climate change. We will participate in ecological research initiatives and get a first-hand look at the rewilding approach to conservation currently happening in Bulgaria. 

Summer 2024:

Ecology and Management of Temperate Ecosystems and Landscapes:

Our field studies will take us to diverse temperate ecosystems, from steep mountain cliffs, subalpine forests, rural farms and steppes to riverine habitats. As we immerse ourselves in these different environments, we will learn about the key flora and fauna that distinguish them and hone our skills at identification. Further, we will learn about the ecological states past and present of these habitats and their ecosystem services and observe and monitor the indicator and keystone species that provide useful insight into the current health of that system. We will also analyze how traditional land management practices have shaped these landscapes and the influences of other anthropic activities such as hunting, tourism and food production.

Human-Wildlife Conflict:

This is one of the oldest, most problematic situations regarding biodiversity conservation. Yet, this scenario is becoming more frequent, serious and globally widespread. Why is this happening? Why it is so complicated to find long-lasting, effective solutions? How do national and international policies influence this issue? Using wolves and bears in Bulgaria as our foci, we will examine current local perspectives and the cultural, historical, political, social, and economic factors that must be considered to effectively manage human-wildlife conflict in ways that support both the community's and wildlife's needs.

Rewilding and Ecological Restoration:

Land degradation is the leading cause of ecosystem function loss. Ecological restoration aims to initiate or accelerate the recovery of an ecosystem with respect to its health, integrity, and sustainability. Students will research the possibilities that this field has to offer, how to implement efficient restoration processes, and the social-economic implications of restoration.  Within restoration, we will put special emphasis on rewilding, which aims to restore ecosystems and reverse biodiversity declines by allowing wildlife and natural processes to reclaim areas no longer under human control. Students will learn about the misunderstandings of this practice with respect to local stakeholders, discuss how rewilding can be applied to restore ecosystems at varying scales, and witness how Bulgaria is using it to create nature-based communities.

Fall 2024:

Our six-week 15-quarter credit Fall program will begin with the topics listed above and then delve deeper into field research techniques, conservation concerns, socio-ecological components, and more.

Bird Migration:

Bulgaria is in the heart of the Via Pontica Flyway, the second-largest flyway in Europe for bird migration. Millions of birds use this route to travel between their breeding grounds and wintering quarters across the coastal line of the Black Sea and the Strandzha Mountains. Using a variety of research methods, our team will participate in regional migration monitoring from the massive Danube Delta in Romania to Strandzha Nature Park.

Further, Via Pontica is the name of the ancient Roman road that linked Constantinople with Istros (Romania). Throughout the program, students will have the chance to view architectural and archaeological treasures left by the ancient Thracian civilization and the nations that followed them. Our lens on the past will help us to understand the cultural significance attached to birds and bird migration, and how these cultural value systems associated with wildlife can be leveraged.

Nature and Culture Through Ethnobotany:

The relationship between Bulgarians and their environment is strong. The local people hold a deep sense of place strongly tied to the land. This is especially true for local use of herbs and medicinal plants. Wild-growing medicinal plants are a major resource of Bulgaria, and they represent an important international export product. 770 species of medicinal plants constitute 20% of the Bulgarian flora, of which 200 are currently in the prophylaxis, medicine, cosmetics, and food industry. In Pirin, Rhodopes, and Strandzha we will talk with local communities to understand the connection of Bulgarian culture with medicinal plants and their importance for conservation. These conversations will provide insight into the deep ties this ancient culture has with its environment, and how this may be used to foster environmental stewardship.

Field Research Methods and Naturalist Skills:

During the program, students will be exposed to a wide range of research methods and techniques for different disciplines, from entomology and botany to limnology and ornithology. We will utilize qualitative methods to gather information from different stakeholders that will inform conservation solutions. Students will participate in scientific fieldwork, and learn practical research methods for collecting and identifying species, observing and tracking behavior patterns, and recording and evaluating field data. Prior field research experience is not required, and all field methods will be taught on-site in Bulgaria.

Academic Credit

Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a mature and responsible manner. Wildlands Studies reserves the right to require any student to withdraw from the program if their conduct is detrimental to or incompatible with the interests, safety, or welfare of any course participants. We ask all students to read the Student Program Manual before joining the program on-site.

Summer 2024 Two-week, 5 quarter credit program

Students will receive 5 quarter credits/3.35 semester credits from Western Washington University. Participants will be evaluated on their field journals, the quality of their fieldwork, exams, and participation in seminars/discussions.

Environmental Wildlands Studies (5 quarter credits/3.35 semester credits). 

Fall 2024 Six-week, 15 quarter credit program

Students will receive 15 quarter credits/10 semester credits from Western Washington University. Students will be evaluated on the basis of: 1) active participation in all scheduled class and field activities; 2) examinations and quizzes; 3) field journals; 4) independent research papers/essays; and 5) the design, implementation, and presentation of a mini-group project.

This field studies program gives credit in three courses: 

Environmental Wildlands Studies (5 quarter credits/3.35 semester credits)
Environmental Field Survey (5 quarter credits/3.35 semester credits)
Wildlands Environment and Culture (5 quarter credits/3.35 semester credits)

Team Logistics

For both our Summer and Fall programs, participants will fly into Sofia, Bulgaria, and meet the instructors at Sofia Airport (SOF). Both programs end back in Sofia, Bulgaria. At the conclusion of the program, participants can decide to fly back to the United States or remain in Europe and travel independently. During the program, we will move around the country with rented vehicles.

Hiking in the Balkan Mountains can be strenuous. Multiday backpacking will take place in the Balkan Mountains and in the Rhodope Mountains. The heat at the end of June/early July can be harsh, reaching around 95 degrees. Summer program participants should be prepared for hot dry weather.

During our Fall Bulgaria program, the temperature during the day will be pleasant, although the higher mountain elevation night temperatures could easily reach freezing. Team members should be prepared for mild-cold weather as well as for occasional rains. 

All reasonable efforts will be made to follow the activities outlined above. Participants are required to bring their own camping and backpacking equipment (tent, sleeping bag, backpack, water filter, etc.). A complete, detailed packing list will be provided to all participants.

Accommodations

We will lodge at a variety of sites, from mountain huts and rural lodges to tent camping.

FOOD

Food is handled differently on each of our programs. Participants on this program will be responsible for purchasing and cooking most of their meals.  Occasional meals will be provided by Wildlands Studies as group meals. Participants will also be responsible for purchasing snacks. Detailed information about food management will be provided in the Logistics Packet. If you have dietary questions or concerns, please call our office.

Official Documents/Visa/Insurance

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a current passport that does not expire until 3 months after the end of the program.

Language

This program is taught in English.

Pre-Program Mailings

Detailed information regarding travel/flight information, equipment/gear requirements, food costs, meeting plans, group expenses payment, medical recommendations, and academic preparations will be sent to all team members in a logistics letter emailed about 10-12 weeks before the program initiates. Stay in good shape and get ready for an exciting program.