Annual north european forestry students’ meeting NERM 2017 (II)
Last month happened one of the most important event for forestry students in Europe – Northern European Regional Meeting 2017 (NERM). Regional meetings are very important to discuss regional topics and trends and promote the forestry sector of chosen helding country. And in 2017 those country was Ukraine and Kyiv Forestry Students Association (KFSA) was organizing such an interesting and educational developing event with support of State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine, FSC in Ukraine, Forest world magazine, Stihl, Ukrainian Agroforestry Association.
During NERM 2017 participants could see by their own Ukrainian forestry covering idea of “Multifunctional Use of Forest”, successful forest related enterprises and companies, beautiful landscapes and nature, sustainable use of nature resources, Ukrainian culture and traditions, different traditional clothes, food, beverages, handicrafts etc. all over the country. NERM 2017, which lasted 10 days (from 12 to 21 May 2017) and was held for the first time in Ukraine, leaved vivid memories in the hearts of 39 participants from 12 European countries: Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Finland, Czech Republic and Ukraine.
NERM 2017 started at National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine is one of the leading institutions of education, science and culture in Ukraine. Participants were presented with basic presentations about general features of forestry, word-processing industry and horticulture in Ukraine. Also they visited university Botanic garden, Museum of Forest Animals and Stihl educational training lab and the visit to NULES of Ukraine was finished with colorful folk concert.
On the decorative seedlings nursery “Eva” participants were impressed with list of species which nursery produces. The most vivid cultural part, of course, was International evening, where representatives of each of 12 countries made presentation of own cultures. The exciting event continued at Boyarka Forestry Research Station and with visit to fire monitoring station, biotechnology lab, natural ornithology reserve, 200 years old pine forests etc. Interesting activity provided Stihl Company during their master class, where everyone could try the chainsaws, axes and other tools in action. And of course a lot of discussion and interesting question supported the presentations of participants about forestry of own countries.
Other point on the NERM’s map was Rzhyshchiv State Forest Enterprise with unique erosion control forests on the Dnipro banks, hydrotechnical contractions, agroforestry system, breathtaking view on Dnipro landscapes, archeological museum and Ukrainian traditional hospitality with «bread and salt». Fascinating place was Bucky canyon with granite rocks and Hirs’kyi Tikych river.
Uman National University of Horticulture was the next point and participants will remember nice love stories fromSofiivka National Arboretum and its amazing landscapes with fountains, waterfalls and impressive collection of trees species.
And after visiting Northern part of Ukraine with mainly pine forests, Forest-Steppe zone in central part of the country looks totally different with its impressive oaks and other broadleaved species. Good memories participants has formVinnytsya Regional State Forestry, where foresters showed typical oak forests and experimental plots, had discussion about sustainable forest management, visited typical Forestry Enterprise and felt Ukrainian hospitality when “food never ending”.
Next stop was in the Ukrainian Carpathians with its beautiful spruce forests in the western part of Ukraine and with interesting legends about Carpathians in Ecological forestry educational center in Ivano-Frankivsk region, Carpathian national park, waterfalls “Probii” and “Huk”, Yaremche market, that is called the largest “deposit” of Hutsul souvenirs and the conquest of Hoverla 2061 m peak.
Final stop took place in Lviv, at National Forestry University, where participant got presentation about university, visited botanic garden and wood museum, auction collected more the 700 euros for IFSA developing found and where theNERM 2018 organization committee was chosen. Congratulations to IFSA Slovakia, next year you’ll have great event! And after enjoying Lviv and its delicious food and beer participants got their certificates and backed to Kyiv full of new impressions and we hope good memories about Ukraine and its forestry and culture. See you next year in Slovakia!
