On April 29–30, 2026, the Pro Silva 2026 National Seminar took place in the High Tatras. It was organized as part of the SilvaTech4Trees project, which aims to support biodiversity through close-to-nature forest management.

More than 100 experts and practitioners attended the event.

The first day focused on presenting the goals, tasks, and expectations of the project partners. We were particularly pleased to welcome our Swiss partner, Christian Rosset from the Bern University of Applied Sciences, who delivered an interactive presentation. He actively engaged the participants using the MSC Mobile app for marteloscopes, allowing them to gain hands-on experience in planning forest interventions. This format was very well received and sparked a lively professional discussion.

Presentations by Slavomír Celer and František Pisarčík were also highlights, offering insights into experiences with close-to-nature forest management. Another session was dedicated to the silver fir in the context of science and research; the lectures generated intense interest and prompted discussions among participants that lasted well into the evening.

The second day was devoted to field presentations within the forest stands managed by the Spišská Belá Municipal Forests. Following the opening remarks by Peter Zibura, Mayor of Spišská Belá, participants visited the Fľak site to observe practical demonstrations of close-to-nature forest management in areas affected by windthrow, including the conversion of spruce stands into mixed forests and the use of marteloscope plots.

The seminar concluded with the ceremonial unveiling of a Pro Silva commemorative plaque.

On Saturday, April 11, 2026, the „Clean Forest“ volunteer event took place in Spišská Belá, drawing dozens of participants. Together, we succeeded in clearing litter from the forest, thereby contributing to a better local environment.

We thank all the volunteers for their time, energy, and willingness to help. After a job well done, there were refreshments and a pleasant atmosphere to enjoy.

We look forward to future joint activities!

The kick-off conference for the SilvaTech4TREES project—“Nature-based management approaches and modern technologies to support biodiversity“—took place on 10 February 2026 in Spišská Belá. With this event, the project partners officially launched the project’s implementation.

More than 50 participants attended the conference, including representatives from local government, local communities, and the managing authority. Through a series of presentations, attendees and media representatives were introduced to the project’s key planned activities, which focus on implementing nature-based approaches in forestry and utilizing modern technologies to support biodiversity.

During the conference, the individual project partners delivered presentations outlining their respective roles within the project.

On 19 November 2025, the kick-off conference for projects supported under the BIO02 call of the Biodiversity Programme took place at Hotel Björnson Jasná. The conference provided a platform to present the individual projects, their partners, and the key activities to be implemented in the coming years. The event also featured a moderated discussion focusing on partner cooperation, linking activities with the pre-defined project „Tourists and Nature Together,“ community engagement, and the vision for positive changes in biodiversity conservation.