28 November 2025 – University of Forestrty, Sofia, Bulgaria
On the 28 of November the lead partner of our project, the University of Forestry Sofia hosted a scientific visit by Dr. Carlos Rochera from the University of Valencia also project partner of Wetland4Change. The visit started with an open lecture titled “Measuring Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Wetlands to Assess Their Mitigation and Adaptation Potential in the Context of Climate Change.”
The presentation, addressed to students, doctoral candidates, faculty and researchers, provided a comprehensive overview of current methodologies for greenhouse gas monitoring, including static and dynamic chamber techniques, portable gas analysers, partial-pressure measurements, calibration protocols and data quality control.
Dr. Rochera outlined the main types of fluxes (CO₂, CH₄), their dynamics, and the key driving factors (hydrological regime, vegetation, temperature, microbial activity and anthropogenic influence). Drawing on his experience in Mediterranean wetlands, he illustrated seasonal patterns of methane emissions, the role of coastal marshes in carbon storage, and the impacts of restoration measures on wetland emission balance.
The lecture established a clear link between scientific theory and the practical, field-based work planned for the following days.
29 & 30 November 2025 | Field campaign: Choklyovo Marsh and Izvor Reservoir (wetlands within the Bulgarian pilot site Struma River Basin)
Following the lecture, Dr. Rochera and a team from the University of Forestry, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Petar Petrov (project manager) and project coordinator Stanimira Ivanova carried out a two-day field campaign in the project’s Bulgarian pilot area. The work covered two key wetland sites: Choklyovo Marsh and Izvor Reservoir.
The field sessions followed strict methodological procedures: selection of sampling points, installation of chambers, time-series measurements, equipment calibration and preliminary data collection. Participants worked through the full measurement workflow under Dr. Rochera’s guidance, applying in practice the methods discussed during the lecture. Water, sediment and vegetation samplings were collected.
Outcome and relevance
The field workshop provided a structured and practice-oriented environment that enabled participants to work through the complete workflow of greenhouse gas flux measurements. Under the guidance of Dr. Rochera, the team applied standardised field protocols, discussed data interpretation and reviewed factors influencing measurement reliability.
The concluding session summarised key observations and outlined directions for future monitoring within the Bulgarian pilot sites. Overall, the visit strengthened technical capacity within the project and contributed to a consistent methodological approach across Wetland4Change partners.
