On 5–6 June, the national round of the 15th edition of the international competition YPEF – Young People in European Forests – took place at the CZU Forests chateau in Kostelec nad Černými Lesy. This long-standing competition promotes environmental education among young people and fosters their connection to forests and nature.
This year, 12 three-member teams from across the Czech Republic took part. The programme included a written test and a presentation in English, assessing participants’ knowledge of forestry and ecological topics in an international context. The practical part, organised by the expert departments of the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences at CZU, took place in the adjacent FLD Arboretum and tested participants’ skills in dendrology, wildlife management, forest protection, silviculture, and other disciplines.
The winner of the national round was the team from Gymnázium Tanvald, consisting of Filip Šimon, Václav Týl, and Adam Šalša. This team will represent the Czech Republic at the international finals. Congratulations!
Our thanks go not only to all participants and their teachers, but also to everyone involved in preparing and ensuring the smooth running of the event. Special thanks go to the competition partners, who have long supported the development of forestry education and young talent.
