Research division
Biodiversity, Bioresources and Ecology
Institutes and Academic Specialized Units
Ina Aneva
Scientific secretary of division 5. Biodiversity, bioresources and ecology
ina.aneva@abv.bg
Forest Research Institute
Bulgaria is among the European countries with the richest biodiversity. The fauna of vertebrates and invertebrates and the diversity of plant species are extremely rich in comparison to the relatively small area of the country.
The study of biodiversity is essential for the implementation of a national policy based on knowledge in the field of nature conservation and the development of the country’s green strategy. The diversity of our flora and fauna has significant value as a biological resource important for the livelihood of the population and the country’s economy. Their sustainable management is important for the development and improvement of public welfare.
The Natura 2000 program is of great importance for the preservation of Bulgaria’s biodiversity, the long-term conservation of specific plant and animal species and the places they live in. Preserved nature means preserved soil, water, air and natural resources. It is capital for the development of successful business – ecotourism, organic farming, sustainable forestry.
News
Scientists from IBER help restoring one of Bulgaria’s rarest mammals
Nine Romanian hamsters, also known as Dobrudzhan or black-breasted hamsters, were successfully released back into their natural habitat during the first reintroduction campaign for the species in 2026. The initiative was carried out by scientists [...]
Ninth palaeontological expedition of the National Museum of Natural History at BAS
The ninth palaeontological expedition to the Tran dinosaur site, discovered in 2017, has begun. The scientific team is led by Assoc. Prof. Dr Latinka Hristova from the National Museum of Natural History at BAS (NMNHS-BAS), [...]
The National Museum of Natural History visits the Sofia Central Market Hall
Dr. Svetlozara Kazandzhieva from the National Museum of Natural History at BAS shared some little-known facts about animals that support Darwin’s theory of evolution in the first of a series of popular science lectures [...]
Eurasian conference on grassland ecosystems brings together leading scientists in Sofia
The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is hosting the 21st Eurasian Grassland Conference which is taking place in Sofia from 19 to 23 July 2026. The conference, organised [...]
Dr. Greg Graffin at the National Museum of Natural History
Dr. Greg Graffin visited the National Museum of Natural History on July 10 at the invitation of Assoc. Prof. Tihomir Stefanov, the museum’s deputy director. Dr. Graffin holds a PhD in zoology from Cornell University [...]
The National Museum of Natural History – BAS organizes the largest lepidopterological field expedition in Europe
The largest field expedition in the field of lepidopterology, which brought together 57 experts from 17 European countries, took place between June 15 and 19, 2026, near the village of Vlahi, above the Kresna Gorge [...]
IBER hosts an international training on the analysis and management of palaeoecological data
The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research of BAS (IBER–BAS) hosted the specialized training course “Quantitative Numerical Analyses and Data Stewardship Training” which took place from June 15 to 19. The event was organized as [...]
“Green Initiative” at Scientific Complex 1 of BAS
Scientists from institutes of BAS participated in an initiative to reforest the campus of Scientific Complex 1. Red oaks, birches, and pines were planted during the month marking Forest Week and Earth Day. The initiative [...]
New fossil fills gap in human evolution: Oldest human ancestor appears to be from the Balkans
A new fossil femur, or thigh bone from Bulgaria could re-write the story of human origins. This is the conclusion of an international team of researchers from the National Museum of Natural History at the [...]
Bulgaria participates in the 37th session of the International Co-ordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme
The 37th session of the International Co-ordinating Council (MAB-ICC) of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme was held in Hangzhou, China, from 26 to 28 September 2025. Bulgaria, which is a full member of this [...]
Max Planck Institute for Anthropology in Leipzig funds NMNHS-BAS research
The excavations of the palaeontological team of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNHS-BAS) in the Late Miocene Azmaka trove (Chirpan region), led by Prof. Nikolai Spassov, have aroused particular international interest in connection [...]
The expedition of the National Museum of Natural History near Tran successfully completed
Part of the expedition team (from left to right): Assoc. Prof. Docho Dochev, Asst. Prof. Vladimir Nikolov, Prof. Marlena Yaneva and Georgi Sevov. Photo: Latinka Hristova The eighth palaeontological expedition of the [...]
Four medals for Bulgaria at the International Biology Olympiad
The Bulgarian students have won four medals - two silver and two bronze from the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). The Olympiad was held from 20 to 27 July in the Philippines. The silver medals [...]
Bulgarian DNA Barcoding Unit organizes the first training on nanopore barcoding and genome analysis in Bulgaria
At the Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics of BAS, the first of its kind for Bulgaria Practical Training Course on Nanopore Barcoding and Genome Analysis was held. The training took place in the period [...]
Prof. Valya Vassileva – among the eight selected participants from over 860 applications in Malmö Residency 2025
Prof. Dr. Valya Vassileva, Director of the Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics at BAS, is among the eight scientists and innovators from around the world selected to participate in the prestigious international Malmö Residency [...]
Earth Day was celebrated at BAS
The International Earth Day was celebrated today by scientists from the Geological Institute of BAS with a conference which was held in the "Prof. Marin Drinov" Hall of the Academy. The director of the institute, [...]
Conference of the International Association for Danube Research (IAD) gathers over 100 participants from 15 countries
The 45th Conference of the International Association for Danube Research (IAD) was officially opened today and brought together representatives of the scientific community, institutions, NGOs and partner projects from the Danube region. The Forum, which [...]
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ina Aneva introduces the students from the 4th Primary School “Prof. John Atanasoff” with moments from the work of scientists
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ina Aneva, Scientific Secretary of the Biodiversity, Bioresources and Ecology Division of BAS visited the "Prof. John Atanasov" 4th Primary School on February 4 and introduced the 4th grade students to the [...]
“Bats of Vietnam” Exhibition
The exhibition "Bats of Vietnam" opened on January 7, 2025 at the Earth and Man National Museum. The exhibition reflects the research carried out within the framework of the agreement on bilateral scientific cooperation between [...]
The Amazing Vietnam – official opening of an exhibition at the National Museum of Natural History at BAS
A temporary exhibition "The Amazing Vietnam" dedicated to the joint Bulgarian-Vietnamese research on the biodiversity of Vietnam, which had began in 1975, was opened by the Deputy Director of the Museum Prof. Stoyan Beshkov on [...]
A new study used DNA-metabarcoding to elucidate the dietary spectrum of the grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola) on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast
Grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola) A team of young scientists and postdoctoral fellows at the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, has published results of the first study in [...]
National workshop under the CASRI project
A national workshop on the CASRI project (Collaborative Action coordinating and enhancing systemic, actionable and transversal Sustainability Research and Innovation) was held at the Botanical Garden of the BAS. The project is funded by the [...]
The largest nursing colony of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat and the Geoffroy’s Bat in the world is in the Eastern Rhodopes
A new publication in the European Journal of Wildlife Research reports the discovery of the largest nursing colony of the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) and the Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus) worldwide. It is located [...]
New paper demonstrates high microplastic pollution in marine sediments associated with urbanised areas along the SW Bulgarian Black Sea coast
Fig 1 Graphical Abstract A new article by the staff members of the Laboratory of Marine Laboratory in Sozopol (unit of IBER-BAS) Nikola Bobchev (PhD student), Dr Dimitar Berov, Dr Stefania Klein [...]