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Members from programme countries

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU)

BOKU, the only Austrian university in the area of Natural Resources Management and Life Sciences, with some 13.000 students (21% of which are international) has vast experience in coordinating research and educational EU projects and managing student+staff exchanges in various scholarship programmes. At European level BOKU is actively engaged in networks, focusing on relevant topics in education and research, like ICA and its subgroups SILVA, IROICA, ISEKI, AGRINATURA and CASEE; or regional networks in the geographic target regions of BOKU’s internationalisation strategy, e.g., ASEA-Uninet (for South East Asia) + EURASIA – Pacific – Uninet (for Central Asia).

In the last 4 years, BOKU developed its first three joint degree master programmes, 8 double/multiple degree master programs, two doctoral schools. In 2016, in the QS World University Ranking by Subject (agriculture and forestry), BOKU is ranked 39th; and in the subject “environmental sciences”, rank 101-150. BOKU is also listed in the Green metric world university ranking: rank 6, rank 1 in continental Europe, 2nd in the education worldwide.

Team: Prof.Dr. Johannes Hübl; Dr. Roland Kaitna, Associated Professor; Dr. Alfred Strauss, Associated Professor;

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Team Members / BOKU

  • Prof.Dr. Johannes Hübl
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  • Prof.Dr. Johannes Hübl

Professor, Vice-Head of Department of Civil Engineering and Natural Hazards, Head of Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering, Development of and Person in charge for the Master programme “Alpine Natural Hazards/Torrent and avalanche control”, Member of Study Commission forestry and natural hazards, member of Study Commission “Continuing learning” Expertise and skills: Debris flow studies; torrent and erosion control; afforestation in subalpine areas, early warning systems…

Recent publications:

  • Ding, MT; Heiser, M; Hubl, J; Fuchs, S. (2016): Regional vulnerability assessment for debris flows in China-a CWS approach LANDSLIDES. 2016; 13(3): 537-550
  • Karagiorgos, K; Heiser, M; Thaler, T; Hubl, J; Fuchs, S. (2016): Micro-sized enterprises: vulnerability to flash floods, Natural Hazards. 2016; 84(2): 1091-1107.
  • Heiser, M; Scheidl, C; Eisl, J; Spangl, B; Hubl, J. (2015): Process type identification in torrential catchments in the eastern Alps, GEOMORPHOLOGY. 2015; 232: 239-247
    Schimmel, A; Hubl, J. (2016): Automatic detection of debris flows and debris floods based on a combination of infrasound and seismic signals, LANDSLIDES. 2016; 13(5): 1181-1196.
  • Hübl, J; Tscharner, S. (2015): Eigenvorsorge und technischer Gebäudeschutz im Naturgefahrenmanagement – Wegweiser Naturgefahren: Eine Anleitung zum naturgefahrenangepassten Bauen Österreichische Ingenieur- und Architekten-Zeitschrift (ÖIAZ), Heft 1-12/ 2015, 137-141; ISSN 0721-9415
  • Dr. Roland Kaitna
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  • Dr. Roland Kaitna

Assoc.Professor, Vice-Head of Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering, Member of Study Commission forestry and natural hazards, theperson in charge of the Master programme “Water Management and Environmental Engineering”. Expertise and skills: Risk Analysis, Fluid mechanics, Risk Modelling, Modelling and Simulation, Natural Hazards; Risk management; Geomorphology; Dynamics of mass wasting processes.

Recent publications:

  • Kaitna, R; Palucis, MC; Yohannes, B; Hill, KM; Dietrich, WE. (2016): Effects of coarse grain size distribution and fine particle content on pore fluid pressure and shear behavior in experimental debris flows, Journal of GEOPHYS RES-EARTH. 2016; 121(2): 415-441.
    Canovas, JAB; Stoffel, M; Corona, C; Schraml, K; Gobiet, A; Tani, S; Sinabell, F; Fuchs, S;
  • Kaitna, R. (2016): Debris-flow risk analysis in a managed torrent based on a stochastic life-cycle performance
    SCI TOTAL ENVIRON. 2016; 557: 142-153
  • Schraml, K; Thomschitz, B; McArdell, BW; Graf, C; Kaitna, R. (2015): Modeling debris-flow run out patterns on two alpine fans with different dynamic simulation models, NAT HAZARD EARTH SYS. 2015; 15(7): 1483-1492.
  • Kaitna, R; Stoffel, M; Gobiet, A; Sinabell, F. (2015): Klimawandel und Muren- Das Projekt Deucalion Wildbach- und Lawinenverbau, 178, 240-241
  • Kaitna, R; Dietrich, WE; Hsu, L. (2014): Surface slopes, velocity profiles and fluid pressure in coarse-grained debris flow saturated with water and mud, J FLUID MECH. 2014; 741: 377-403.
  • Dr. Alfred Strauss
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  • Dr. Alfred Strauss

Assoc.Professor, Vice-Head of Institute of Structural Engineering, Member of Study Commission Civil Engineering and Water Management, Member of Study Commission for doctoral studies. Expertise and skills: Statistics and Probability in Mechanical Engineering; Computational methods in applied science and engineering; Structural Safety & Reliability; Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent
Infrastructure.

Recent publications:

  • Biondini, F; Strauss, A. (2016): Life-cycle performance of civil infrastructure systems, Structure and Infrastructure Engineering. 2016; 12(7): 801-801.
  • Paratscha, R.; Strauss, A.; Smutny, R.; Von der Thannen, M.; Hörbinger, S.; Rauch, H.P.(2016): Development of a methodology for environmental life cycle assessment of alpine protective structures, In: Bakker, J.; Frangopol, D.M.; Van Breugel, K. (Eds.), Life-Cycle of Engineering Systems: Emphasis on Sustainable Civil Infrastructure; ISBN: 978-1-138-02847-0
  • Kalny, G.; Rauch, H.P.; Rados, K.; Strauss-Siebert, A.; Loaiskandl, W.; Strauss, A.: (2016): Lifecycle performances of conventional and soil bioengineering construction materials, In: Bakker, J.; Frangopol, D.M.; Van Breugel, K. (Eds.):, Life-Cycle of Engineering Systems: Emphasis on Sustainable Civil Infrastructure; ISBN: 978-1-138-02847-0
  • Urban, S; Strauss, A; Schutz, R; Bergmeister, K; Dehlinger, C. (2014): Dynamically loaded concrete structures – monitoring-based assessment of the real degree of fatigue deterioration, Structur Concrete. 2014; 15(4): 530-542.
  • Krawtschuk, A; Zimmermann, T; Strauss, A. (2013): Materials and Structures Innovative Approaches Beton- Stahlbetonbau. 2013;

University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria(UNIRC)

The University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria (UNIRC acronym) was founded in 1968. It combines a commitment to research and teaching in the six departments: Architecture–dArTe; Heritage-Architecture- Urbanism; Agriculture; Law and Economics; Civil, Energy, Environmental and Material Engineering; Information Engineering, Infrastructures, and Sustainable Energy. The different disciplines and the many teaching and research activities are related to the surrounding territory, with the creation of an “Environmental Polytechnic” with a strong emphasis on the themes of architecture, landscape, urban planning and infrastructure related to the green economy.

The Department of Agriculture (in short AGRARIA) is a multi-disciplinary group including various expertises and is subdivided in different sections including agricultural engineering, soil microbiology, botany, agronomy, silviculture, chemistry, socio-economics, food sciences. One of the main groups belonging to the section of agriculture engineering, namely Hydraulics sub-section (HYDR), deal with soil erosion and torrent control. It must be noted in fact that soil conservation problems in Calabria are representative of those in the Southern Europe and Mediterranean area, although more acute than elsewhere, and the consequences reverberate well outside Calabria boundaries.
HYDR has achieved over the last years significant progress and growth in terms of infrastructure, research cooperation and international reputation. Much research work has been conducted to develop physically based, deterministic and empirical models to investigate soil erosion at different scales. During the last 20 years, particular emphasis has been placed on developing the potential for using environmental radionuclides, such as Cs-137, Be-7 and excess Pb-210, as sediment tracers and as a means of estimating rates of soil redistribution by erosion processes.

Team: Prof.Dr. Paolo Porto; Prof.Dr. Antonina Capra; Demetrio Antonio Zema, Researcher; Giuseppe Bombino, Researcher

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Team members / UNIRC

  • Prof.Dr. Paolo Porto
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  • Prof.Dr. Paolo Porto

Paolo Porto is currently Professor in Agricultural Hydraulics and Torrent control, at the University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria (Italy). He obtained the National Scientific Qualification of FULL PROFESSOR of Agricultural, Forest, and Biosystems Engineering in January 2014.
He completed his PhD at the University of Bari (southern Italy) in 1994 where he worked in the area of catchment hydrology and torrent control. While there Paolo Porto was awarded a NRC International fellowship by which he spent 6 months in 1996 at the Dept of Civil Engineering of the Colorado State University (USA) working with Prof. Johannes Gessler as a Research Fellow in the area of sediment transport and torrent control. In 1999 Paolo Porto was awarded a second NRC International fellowship by which he spent 8 months in 2000 at the Dept of Geography of the University of Exeter (UK) working with Prof. Des Walling as a Research Fellow in the area of soil erosion and radionuclides.
While in Exeter Paolo Porto was awarded a 2-year European Marie Curie fellowship by which he continued his research activity in Exeter in the field of soil erosion and radionuclide tracers supervised by Prof. Walling.
During his activity in Reggio Calabria, Paolo Porto was nominated Erasmus Coordinator of the Agricultural Faculty promoting new teaching and research links with other European countries including Czech Republic, England, Spain, Netherland, Poland and Portugal.
In 2007 and 2008 Paolo Porto was awarded two NRC short Mobility fellowships by which he spent 1 month at the Dept of Geography of the University of Exeter and 1 month as a visiting researcher at the University of Western Australia in Perth.
Since 2015 to date, Paolo Porto is the Coordinator of the Bachelor Degree in Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria.
His research activity (H-index=22) in soil erosion, radionuclides, hydrology, torrent control is well documented in many papers in international and national journals (for the ISI papers see https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?origin=resultslist&authorId=7003774123&zone=).
He has served as a Referee and Associated editor for many international journals and he is member of the editorial board of Pedosphere (Elsevier).
Paolo Porto has been involved with the activities of the International Commission on Continental Erosion (ICCE) since 2004 and was elected Secretary for the terms 2011-2015 and 2015-2019.

Recent relevant publications:

  • PORTO P., WALLING D.E., CALLEGARI, G. (2018). Using repeated 137Cs and 210Pbex measurements to establish sediment budgets for different time windows and explore the effect of connectivity on soil erosion rates in a small experimental catchment in Southern Italy. Land Degrad. Dev. 29,1819–1832.
  • FERRO V., PORTO P. (2018). Applying hypothesis of self-similarity for flow-resistance law in Calabrian gravel-bed rivers. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering 144(2), DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001385.
  • PORTO P., WALLING D.E., COGLIANDRO V., CALLEGARI, G. (2016). Validating a mass balance accounting approach to using 7Be measurements to estimate event-based erosion rates over an extended period at the catchment scale. Water Resources Research, 52, 5285-5300.
  • PORTO P. (2016). Exploring the effect of different time resolutions to calculate the rainfall erosivity factor R in Calabria, southern Italy. Hydrological Processes 30, 1551–1562.
  • PORTO P., WALLING D.E., LA SPADA C., CALLEGARI, G. (2016). Validating the use of 137Cs measurements to derive the slope component of the sediment budget of a small catchment in southern Italy. Land Degradation & Development 27: 798–810.
  • Prof.Dr. Antonina Capra
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  • Prof.Dr. Antonina Capra

Antonina Capra received her degree in Agricultural Science (summa cum laude) from the University of Catania in 1978. She is associate professor at the University of Reggio Calabria where she teaches Agricultural hydraulics and Irrigation system design and management. Her main research work concerns soil erosion and conservation, optimal design and management of irrigation systems, deficit irrigation and climate change. She is the author of more 100 scientific and technical papers.
His research activity (H-index=13) in soil erosion, irrigation, climate change is well documented in many papers in international and national journals (for the ISI papers see https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?origin=AuthorProfile&authorId=7005799732&zone=).

Recent relevant publications:

  • Capra A., La Spada C., Porto P. (2017). Long-term variation of rainfall erosivity in Calabria (Southern Italy). Theoretical and applied climatology 128, 141-158, ISSN: 0177-798X.
  • Ollobarren P., Capra A., Gelsomino A., La Spada C. (2016). Effects of ephemeral gully erosion on soil degradation in a cultivated area in Sicily (Italy). Catena 145, 334-345, ISSN: 0341-8162.
  • Capra A., La Spada C. (2015).Medium-term evolution of some ephemeral gullies in Sicily (Italy). Soil & tillage research154, 34-43, ISSN: 0167-1987.
    – Pavanelli D., Capra A. (2014). Climate change and human impacts on hydroclimatic variability in the Reno River Catchment, Northern Italy. Clean 42, 535-545, ISSN: 1863-0669.
  • Capra A, Consoli S., Scicolone B. (2013). Long-term climatic variability in Calabria and effects on drought and agrometeorological parameters. Water resources management 27, 601-617, ISSN: 0920-4741.
  • BSc. Demetrio Antonio Zema
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  • BSc. Demetrio Antonio Zema

Demetrio Antonio Zema graduated cum laude in Civil Engineering at the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Italy in 1994.Ph.D. in Agro-forest and Environmental Engineering at the University of Catania, Italy in 1999.M.Sc. post lauream in Environmental Engineering at the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria in 2007. Researcher and Assistant Professor in the sector Agricultural Engineering and Soil Conservation at the Department AGRARIA of the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria (since 2010). Qualification as Associate Professor (since 2017).Reviewer of many international scientific journals. Member of the editorial board of the journal Agricultural Science (Today Science Ed.), edited by Science and Education Centre of North America (SECNA). Member of the following scientific associations: AIIA (Italian Association of Agricultural Engineers), EGU (European Geosciences Union) and IIT (Italian Association of Hydrotecnics). Collaboration and co-writing of scientific papers with foreign research institutions.
His research activity (H-index=11) in sustainable management systems of agro-industrial wastewater and by products, irrigation with wastewater, soil conservation, hydrological modelling, analysis and design of river control works, river geomorphology; collective irrigation is well documented in many papers in international and national journals. (for the ISI papers see
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?origin=AuthorProfile&authorId=18439077500&zone=)

Recent relevant publications:

  • Zema D., Lucas-borja M. E., Carrà B. G., Denisi P., Rodrigues V. A., Ranzini M., Soriano F. C., De Cicco V., Zimbone S. M. (2018). Simulating the hydrological response of a small tropical forest watershed (Mata Atlantica, Brazil) by the AnnAGNPS model. Science of the total environment 636, 737-750, ISSN: 0048-9697.
  • Lucas-borja M. E., Zema D., Hinojosa Guzman M. D., Yang Y., Cruz Hernández A., Xiangzhou X., Carrà B. G., Nichols M., Cerdá A. (2018). Exploring the influence of vegetation cover, sediment storage capacity and channel dimensions on stone check dam conditions and effectiveness in a large regulated river in México. Ecological engineering122, 39-47, ISSN: 0925-8574.
  • Zema D., Labate A., Martino D., Zimbone S. M. (2017). Comparing different infiltration methods of the HEC-HMS model. Land degradation & development 28, 294-308, ISSN: 1099-145X.
  • Zema D., Denisi P., Taguas Ruiz E. V., Gomez J. A., Bombino G., Fortugno D. (2016). Evaluation of surface runoff prediction by AnnAGNPS model in a large Mediterranean watershed covered by olive groves. Land degradation & development27, 811-822, ISSN: 1085-3278.
  • Zema D., Bingner R. L., Govers G., Licciardello F., Denisi P., Zimbone S. M. (2012). Evaluation of runoff, peak flow and sediment yield for events simulated by the AnnAGNPS model in a Belgian agricultural watershed. Land degradation & development23, 205-215, ISSN: 1085-3278.
  • BSc. Giuseppe Bombino
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  • BSc. Giuseppe Bombino

Giuseppe Bombino graduated cum laude in Forest Sciences at the University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria in 1997. Ph.D. in Hydrology and Torrent Control at the University of Palermo, Italy in 2001. Researcher and Assistant Professor in the sector Agricultural Engineering and Soil Conservation at the Department AGRARIA of the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria. Qualification as Associate Professor (since 2017).
His research activity (H-index=9) in sustainable management systems of agro-industrial wastewater and by products, irrigation with wastewater, soil conservation, hydrological modelling, analysis and design of river control works, river geomorphology; collective irrigation is well documented in many papers in international and national journals. (for the ISI papers see
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?origin=AuthorProfile&authorId=14619065400&zone=)

Recent relevant publications:

  • Zema D., Bombino G., Denisi P., Lucas-borja M. E., Zimbone S. M. (2018). Evaluating the effects of check dams on channel geometry, bed sediment size and riparian vegetation in Mediterranean mountain torrents. Science of the total environment642, 327-340, ISSN: 0048-9697.
  • Bombino G., Fortugno D., Zema D. A., Boix-fayos C., Tamburino V., Quiñonero Rubio J. M. (2017). Adjustments in channel morphology due to land-use changes and check-dam installation in mountain torrents of Calabria (Southern Italy). Earth surface processes and landforms42(14), 2469-2483ISSN: 1096-9837.
  • Bombino G., Boix-fayos C., Gurnell A. M., Tamburino V., Zema D. A., Zimbone S. M. (2014).Check dam influence on vegetation species diversity in mountain torrents of the Mediterranean environment.Ecohydrology 7, 678-691, ISSN: 1936-0584.
  • Bombino G., Zema D. A., Boix-fayos C., Tamburino V., Zimbone S. M., Fortugno D. (2014).Evaluation and modeling of scouring and sedimentation around check dams in a Mediterranean torrent (Calabria, Southern Italy). Journal of soil and water conservation69(4), 316-329, ISSN: 0022-4561.
  • Bombino G., Gurnell A. M, Tamburino V., Zema D. A., Zimbone S. M. (2009).Adjustments in channel shape, sediment calibre and vegetation around check dams in the headwater reaches of mountain torrents, Calabria, Italy. Earth surface processes and landforms34, 1011-1021, ISSN: 0197-9337.

Forest Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (FRI-BAS)

Forest Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (FRI-BAS) was established in 1928 to answer the requirements of the society of scientific information on the management of forests in Bulgaria. The Department of Forest Ecology performs scientific studies on forests and soil system, soil erosion control, ecosystem functioning, the ecology of forests in natural and urban environments and ecosystem services assessment and mapping. FRI-BAS has strong experience in implementing national and international projects focused on research, a partnership with SMEs, demonstration activities and training courses for students and early career investigators in the fields of forestry and conservation of natural resources.

FRI-BAS actively participates in the education of PhD-students. Scientific products of FRI-BAS contribute the optimization of forestry, assessment of erosion risk and prevention of erosion and torrents control through the elaboration of innovative approaches and methods. Ecosystem services assessment and mapping in urban ecosystems is performed by FRI-BAS in relation to the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 implementation and the erosion control as a regulating service was studied at a national scale. FRI-BAS research topics cover a wide aspect of forestry, ecology, and bioeconomy directed toward mitigation climatic changes, improvement of life quality and minimization of natural risks.
FRI-BAS publishes two high ranked scientific journals “Forest Science” and “Silva Balcanica”, monographs, books, brochures etc. The available infrastructure and long-term experimental stations for erosion control are a guarantee for provisioning of high quality data for further analyses and models. The quality of analytical work will be evaluated by standard procedures for the control in laboratories. FRI-BAS staff is well equipped for field work activities.
To achieve the objective and to ensure interdisciplinary cooperation in the continuing flow of ideas, the team of scientists includes experts in specific scientific fields.

Team: Prof. Dr. Ivan Ts. Marinov; Rositsa Yaneva; MSc. Eli Pavlova-Traikova.

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Team Members / FRI-BAS

  • Prof.Dr. Ivan Ts. Marinov
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  • Prof.Dr. Ivan Ts. Marinov

Scientific and applied investigations on soil erosion and flood risk assessment and control; soil degradation; forest ecology, hydrology and climatology; climate change assessment.

Recent publications related to the project:

  • Marinov, I. Ts. 2014. Actual erosion and flood risk in the Struma watershed basin. In: Proceedings of scientific publications of Forest Research Institute. 63-74. ISBN 978-954-91423-8-9.(in Bulgarian)
  • Marinov, I. Ts. 2014. Methodology for assessing of the ecological conditions in forest ecosystems under climate changes. Forestry ideas, Vol. 20, No. 2 (48): 197-210.
  • Marinov, I., E. Velizarova, I. Niagolov, K. Nikolova, I. Ilcheva, Ts. Zlatanov, P. Mirchev, V. Zaharieva, A. Yordanova, I. Nikolov, E. Pavlova, S. Miteva. 2012. Climatic changes and their influence on the forest ecosystems and water resources in the Struma river basin. Published house BON, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, 160 pp (in Bulgarian) ISBN: 978-954-395-081-2 (in Bulgarian)
  • Lubenov, T., I. Ts. Marinov. 2010. Risky Segments during Floods in Varbitsa River Watershed. In: M. Zlatic (editor), Global Change – Challengers for Soil Management, Catena Verlag GMBH, Advances in GeoEcology 41, ISBN 987-3-923381-57-9, pp. 46-55.
  • Blinkov, I., S. Kostadinov, I. Ts. Marinov. 2013. Comparison of erosion and erosion control works in Macedonia, Serbia and Bulgaria. International Soil and Water Conservation Research (ISWCR), Vol.1, No. 3, 15-28. doi:10.1016/S2095-6339(15)30027-7
  • Rositsa Yaneva
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  • Rositsa Yaneva

Investigations in the field of soil science and forest ecology, soil degradation (erosion, erodibility, compaction), monitoring of forests, soil biodiversity.

Recent publications related to the project:

  • Velizarova, E., Rousseva, S. 2016. Soil erodibility in fire influenced forest ecosystems in Sredna gora mountain, Bulgaria. The 8th International Conference ‘Soils – Our Common Future’ Cluj-Napoca (Romania), 15-18 June 2016
  • Velizarova, E., I. Ts. Marinov, T. Lubenov. 2010. Assessment of Soil Erodibility of Different Land-Use Types in a Small Mountain Watershed. In:M. Zlatic (editor), Global Change – Challengers for Soil Management, Catena Verlag GMBH, Advances in GeoEcology 41, ISBN 987-3-923381-57-9, pp. 108-118.
  • Velizarova, E., I. Ts. Marinov, T. Lubenov. 2010. Changes of some soil characteristics in result of degradation processes in Maleshevska mountain, Bulgaria. In: M. Morell, C. Popovska, O. Morell, V. Stojov (Editors). Proceeding of the 4th Conference on water observation and information system for decision support. 25 – 29 May 2010, Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia. On-line access:http://balwois.com/balwois/ info_sys/publication 2010.php
  • Lubenov, T., I. Marinov, E. Velizarova. 2009. Risk of flooding – Activities, parameters and regional peculiarities (Case study: Varbitsa Watershed Basin – Bulgaria). Bulletin of the Serbian Geographical Society, doi:10.2298/GSGD0904075L Vol. 89, No 4, 75-83.
  • MSc. Eli Pavlova-Traikova
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  • MSc. Eli Pavlova-Traikova

Investigations on risk processes, soil erosion and erosion control.

Recent publications related to the project:

  • Pavlova-Traykova, E., I. Marinov, P. Dimov. 2016. Evaluation of water erosion risk of Badinska river catchment, Southwest Bulgaria. Third conference of world association for soil and water conservation “Sustainable management of soil and water resources-issues for natural disasters prevention” 22nd – 26th of August 2016. Belgrade, Serbia http://3rdwaswacconference.sfb.bg.ac.rs/

Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UNSCM)

The Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje is the first state University in the Republic of Macedonia, founded in 1949, initially with three faculties. At the moment, the University represents a functional community of 23 faculties, 5 research institutes, 4 public scientific institutions – associate members, 1 associate member – other higher education institution and 7 associate members – other organizations. Its activities are stipulated by the Law on Higher Education and the Statute of the University.

The Ss. Cyril and Methodius University develop study programmes in all scientific fields – natural sciences and mathematics, technical and technological sciences, medical sciences and health, biotechnical sciences, social sciences, humanities and arts. Except for the faculties, the research work also is carried out in the independent research institutes as an integral part of the University.
Nowadays, the illustration of UKIM through figures is as follows: over 60.000 enrolled students from theRepublic of Macedonia in the first and second cycle of studies, as well as over 700 foreign students. The third cycle – doctoral studies is realized within the School of Doctoral Studies, with a total of 655 students. Over 3.100 teaching, research, associate, as well as administrative staff participate in the realization of the teaching and scientific process at the faculties and institutes.
The University has produced around 150.000 graduated high-professional staff (with obtained Bachelor degree); 10.000 candidates obtained Master’s and Specialist’s degree and around 4.000 candidates obtained the doctoral degree in all teaching and scientific fields.
The overall activities of the University also include sport, artistic, informative, recreational and other activities organized by many associations, clubs etc.
The Faculty of Forestry in Skopje at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje was founded back in 1947 as a department of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry in Skopje. In the following period, the Faculty passes through more organizational reforms and developmental stages (1954, 1964, 1975, 1977, 1990, 1998, 2004 and 2011, 2013). Today, the Faculty of Forestry has 3 undergraduate academic programs, 2 graduated academic programmes (former 10 postgraduate academic programs were merged in 2 with aim to be in accordance with previous 2 study programmes on the I cycle) In accordance with our commitments and accreditation, the main mission of the Faculty is education and the establishment of a highly educated and scientific staff in the field of forestry, landscape design, eco-engineering and eco-management. Historically, there is no doubt that the UKiM Faculty of Forestry in Skopje, from the foundation date until today accomplished its mission at different times with respectable levels of success.
Course Erosion and Torrent Control was part of the curricula of the first study programme in the beginning of the faculty (1947). Later in 1981 this course was divided into 2 courses – Erosion Control and Torrent control. With the latest changes material has been developed the following courses – Basics of Soil and Water Conservation, Erosion Control, Torrent Control, Land, Water and Risk/hazard management. Several other courses are directly related to up mined. MSc study programme/module related to Erosion and torrent Control has been existing since 1965.

Team: Prof.Dr. Ivan Blinkov; Prof.Dr. Aleksandar Trendafilov; Dr. Ivan Mincev, Assistant Professor.

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Team Members / UNSCM

  • Prof.Dr. Ivan Blinkov
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  • Prof.Dr. Ivan Blinkov

BSc education in forest engineering, MSc and Ph.D. studies in Soil erosion and torrent control. Almost 30 years of educative scientific and applicative work in the field “Land and water” – soil erosion, geospatial hydrology and torrent control. Hydrological hazard/risk management.
Participated in 70 projects mainly financed by foreign institutions, Fluent in WFD principles (author of “Manual for preparation river basin management plan”).
Member of the Scientific council of Centre for Environment and materials, within Macedonian Academy of Science and Art (MANU) – 2014 – on-going
Member of the Expert’s council of the Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Macedonia 1999-2001, 2008-2012
Member of scientific committee on 11 international scientific conferences, Member of editorial board and reviewer of few journal, Reviewer of scientific projects, textbooks, Mentor of 3 Ph.D., 4 MSc and 52 BSc candidates, Member of commissions for Ph.D. defence in other institutions in Skopje and Serbia, Member of various working groups,
Author/co-author of 4 textbooks, 6 internal scripts, chapters in 4 monographs.

The most important recent papers:

  • Blinkov I., Trendafilov A. (2007) – Soil erosion in Macedonia (chapter I.24), – Soil erosion in Europe, monograph; Editors: John Boardman University of Oxford, UK; Jean Poesen, Katolieke University Leuven, Belgium; Wiley&Sons,
  • Blinkov I., Kostadinov S., Marinov I.,Comparison of Erosion and Erosion Control Works in Macedonia, Serbia and Bulgaria, Journal ISWCR – International Soil and Water Conservation Research, vol.1, Nro.3 – December 2013, pp 15-28, Beijing, China, 2013
  • Blinkov I., An approach for conversion of erosion data produced by EPM method in weight measure, Advances in GEOECOLOGY 43 – Challenges: Sustainable Land Management – Climate Change, M. Zlatic and S. Kostadinov (Editors), ISBN 978-3-510-65381-2, CATENA VERLAG GMBH Armelgasse 11, D-35447 Reiskirchen, Germany, pgs. 109-119, 2014
  • Blinkov I.: Review and comparison of water erosion intensity in the Western Balkan and EU countries, Journal Contributions Section of Mathematical and technical Sciences, Macedonian Academy of Science and Art (MASA), 36(1), 2015, pgs.27-42, 2015
  • Blinkov I.: The Balkans, the most erosive part of Europe, Journal Bulletin of the Faculty of Forestry 110, University of Belgrade ‐ Faculty of Forestry, Belgrade, (09‐20), DOI:10.2298/GSF1511009B, 2015,
  • Blinkov I., Rapid diagnostic of the catastrophic event happened on 3rd august 2015 in the Polog region, The third world conference of World Association of Soil and Water Conservation – New challenges and strategies of soil and water conservation in the changing world sustainable management of soil and water resources, August 22-26, 2016, Belgrade/ Serbia
  • Prof.Dr. Aleksandar Trendafilov
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  • Prof.Dr. Aleksandar Trendafilov

BSc education in forestry, MSc and Ph.D. studies in Soil erosion and torrent control. Almost 35 years of educative scientific and applicative work in the field “Land and water” – soil erosion, geospatial hydrology and torrent control. Hydrological hazard/risk management.
Participated in more than 90 projects in the field of torrent control and soil erosion in the country and abroad
Participate in more then 100 projects (scientific projects, main design, plans) mostly national financed. Author of 2 textbooks and 2 internal scripts

The most important recent papers:

  • Trendafilov A., Mincev I. (2016) Defining erosion potential in the catchment of the reservoir “SHPILJE” in the function of sustainability of the hydro power plant. The 3rd World conference of World association of soil and water conservation (WASWAC), August 22-26, 2016, Belgrade/ Serbia.
  • Blinkov I., Trendafilov A., Mincev I., (2016)An overview of the catastrophic flood disaster happened on 6th August 2016 in the Skopje region. The third world conference of world association of soil and water conservation (WASWAC), August 22-26, 2016, Belgrade/ Serbia.
  • Spalevic, V., Blinkov, I., Trendafilov, A., Mukaetov, D., Djekovic, V., Djurovic, N., (2015), Soil erosion assessment using the EPM method: A case study of the Ramcina River Basin, Montenegro. International Conference on Soil, Tirana, Albania; 4-7 may, 2015.
  • Irotova-LazarevaD., BlinkovI.,Kojcevska T., Trendafilov, A. (2010), An overview to natural disaster happen on December 4th, 2008 in the municipality of Radovis, First Serbian Forestry Congress (Future With Forests), 11-13 November 2010, Belgrade, Serbia.
  • Trpenoska-Simonovik L., Blinkov I.,Trpcevska-Angelkovik, Trendafilov A., (2010) Multi-hazard Mapping For Better Planning, First Serbian Forestry Congress (Future With Forests), 11-13 November 2010, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Dr. Ivan Mincev
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  • Dr. Ivan Mincev

BSc education in forestry, MSc in Environmental management (GIS, RS, EIA) and Ph.D. studies in Soil erosion and torrent control. More than 5years of educative scientific and applicative work in the field of GIS applications in the field of soil erosion, geospatial hydrology, torrent control and environment.
Extensive knowledge of GIS and spatial data management. Diploma thesis: “Use of GIS and GPS in forestry”. More than 10 years of experience with GIS in more than 25 projects through local and international working teams. Extensive knowledge in Remote Sensing: photointerpretation, semiautomatic pixel-based and object-based classification of imagery and further analyses. Master thesis: “Land cover mapping using object based classification of medium-high and high resolution imagery”;
Participate in more then 25 projects

The most important recent papers:

  • Mincev I., (2016), Measuring v.s modeling sediment, case study: Kalimanci reservoir,The third world conference of world association of soil and water conservation (WASWAC), August 22-26, 2016, Belgrade/ Serbia.
  • Blinkov I., Trendafilov A., Mincev I., (2016)An overview of the catastrophic flood disaster happened on 6th August 2016 in the Skopje region. The third world conference of world association of soil and water conservation (WASWAC), August 22-26, 2016, Belgrade/ Serbia.
  • Mincev I., (2016), Measuring deposed sediment in small reservoirs, case study: “Gradče” reservoir, Agriculture & Forestry, Vol. 61, Issue 2: 215-223, 2015, Podgorica
  • Blinkov I., Mincev I. -Multyhazard mapping as a tool for effective risk management, Advances in GEOECOLOGY 41 – Global Change – Challenges fro Soil Management, M. Zlatic (Editor), ISBN 978-3-923381-57-9, CATENA VERLAG GMBH Armelgasse 11, D-35447 Reiskirchen, Germany, pgs 120-135, 2010