The project “The European Beech Forest – Our Common Heritage! Second European Youth Gathering” is a multilateral Youth Gathering of young people (15 – 17 years) from different regions in the vicinity of component parts of the transnational serial UNESCO World Heritage site “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe”. The youth gathering will be held in the area of the Central Balkan National Park, where all 9 Bulgarian components of the World Heritage site are located. The UNESCO World Heritage site of the European Beech forests includes 93 component parts in 18 European countries and is thus an excellent example for the need of cooperation and understanding as well as the need for active engagement of the civil society for effective conservation of these natural treasures. UNESCO also requests education for youth in regard to the World Heritage recognition and the project partners of the Youth Gathering would like to contribute to that demand and at the same time involve their regional youth into this special topic and activity. The Youth Gathering wants to achieve enhanced empowerment of young participants to actively engage in societal processes as well as increase understanding of the importance of international cooperation in nature conservation as a contribution to human wellbeing. The project brings together young representatives of European regions close to World Heritage Beech Forest component parts for getting to know each other, exchange and intercultural learning. 49 young participants (15 – 17 years old) from 7 European countries will participate and shape together the programme of the Youth Gathering. They are all in a similar situation having a World Heritage Beech Forest component part close to their place of living, being all rural and partly very remote areas. At the same time the situation in all countries is very different regarding the Beech forests, but also regarding living conditions, culture, etc. The exchange wants to bring together different people and cultures connected through the World Heritage site and fill with life the UNESCO-aim of creating a peaceful environment. Further the gathering is aimed to raise self-consciousness of young people of the rural areas that they have a treasure at their doorsteps and motivate them to engage actively in society and manage their live. The Youth Gathering also aims at enhancing skills of the participants in terms of (intercultural) communication skills, cooperation in mixed groups, language skills, skills of democratic life, reflection and feedback skills, critical thinking, analysis and interpretation skills. One aim of the Youth Gathering is that participants get to know the Beech forest from different perspectives (knowledge, awareness, observation, emotional connection) and have the possibility to connect to nature and people and also engage for their nature at home and sustainability in their life. The activities have a non-formal education character composed by outdoor activities, workshops, awareness exercises, feedback and sharing learning sessions as well as open formats for the participants to actively develop parts of the programme themselves. Active engagement, participation and involvement in decision making processes are key social elements of the activity. Not only the programme, but also the daily group cooperation, intercultural dialogue and all topics that can be relevant for the participants will have space to be talked in a democratic dialogue. The involved group leaders and facilitators are all experienced in guiding groups as well as in environmental education – they will all engage actively and provide a diverse pool of methods and skills that during the activity will also be able to learn from each other. The activity can be a basis for a long-term cooperation between facilitators and group leaders. In summary, the four project´s objectives can be formulated: 1) Empowered and encouraged youth prepared with skills for active participation in social and societal processes. 2) Enhanced understanding and emotional connection to nature (including ecosystem services) 3) Enhanced international understanding and cooperation for sustainable development 4) Enhanced skills and personal experience of the contribution of nature to health and wellbeing The project partners specifically want to develop this offer as open activity for participants between 15 – 17 years old from different countries. Access is open to participants with fewer opportunities and for participants with lower English skills as language mediation is planned for ensuring access to all. The partners envision to, on the long-term, implement the youth gathering regularly in different countries.