News - Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation

Oct. 31, 2013

Bulgarian government announced new marine protected areas, but again missed Low Rila protected area

Coalition of NGOs and civic groups “Let the NATURE remain in Bulgaria” welcomes the widening of the Natura 2000 network in its aquatic part, approved yesterday by the Council of Ministers. The announcement of the marine protected areas is part of the obligation of each EU member state on the Habitats Directive and a chance to preserve a number of aquatic species in the Black Sea, where protected areas are fully missing.

However, the delay of the announcement of the “Lower Rila” protected area continues, although the term for it expired at the end of this September.

Details

Oct. 23, 2013

New construction in Yailata, although the European Commission sues Bulgaria for Kaliakra

The coalition of NGOs and civic groups “Let the NATURE remain in Bulgaria” express it strong disagreement with the project for upgrade of the medieval fortress in the Yailata protected area.

The latter belongs to the protected area of Kaliakra, part of the European ecological network Natura 2000. Currently Bulgaria is facing a trial in the Court of Justice of the European Union because of the excessive construction of wind farms near Kaliakra.

Details

Oct. 22, 2013

Mayors urge the government to breach European Directives, in Order to Build Ski Resorts and Golf Courses

The coalition of NGOs and civil groups "Let the Nature Remain in Bulgaria" received a copy of a letter, signed by the mayors of several municipalities in South-Western Bulgaria. It requests from the Parliament and the Government to breach a number of European directives, related to the protection of the environment. Their objective is to ensure an opportunity for bypassing the rules, in order to build without any control ski-runs, golf courses and spa centres in their municipalities. The letter is dated 12th September 2013, but it is still not clear if it has actually been sent to the chairman of the parliament – member of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the Prime Minister and several other ministers. It has been signed by the mayors of Samokov, Dolna Banya, Kyustendil, Sapareva Banya, Rila, Kocherinovo, Boboshevo, Dupnitsa, Bankso, Razlog etc.

Details

Oct. 02, 2013

STUDENT EXCHANGE BELASITSA – AN INSIGHT TO NATURE PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

The final term for participation registration for the International Student Exchange– AN INSIGHT TO NATURE PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM is approaching.

Are you ready to discover Belasitsa/Belles Mountain travelling in three different countries?

Take part in the Student Exchange and you will learn about the Mountain the culture and the history of the region. The four day exchange will take place in Bulgaria, Greece and FYR Macedonia offering the participants a chance to experience and explore Belasitsa in all of them. The students will get acquainted with the nature values of the area and get an insight into the administration responsibilities of Belasitsa Nature Park and Lake Kerkini National Park. Presentations on biodiversity protection, nature protected areas management, and tourism opportunities in the region will contribute to the experience.

The time is running out! The final term for participation registration is October 15th 2013.

Details

Sep. 02, 2013

THE INCREDIBLE BELASITSA PHOTO CONTEST

The Incredible Belastisa Photo Contest starts on 1st September 2013. The main goal of the Contest is to select photos presenting the beauty of the region of Belasitsa/Belles Mountain situated in three countries (Bulgaria, Greece and FYR Macedonia).
Everyone is welcome to take part does not matter if you are a professional photographer or just a nature lover with a camera. The only requirement is to have pictures from Belasitsa Mountain or its surrounding.
The 45 best photos selected from the contest will be used for elaboration of a traveling exhibition promoting Belasitsa as an eco-tourism destination and will be published on the web portal www.belasitsa.com.
Photographs will be accepted under three major categories: Nature, People and Culture via email in an electronic format. Submission e-mail address: vladimir.milushev@biodiversity.bg.

Details

Aug. 14, 2013

Mountain Adventures for young people on the territory of Belasitsa Nature Park in Bulgaria

The final term for participation registration for the International Youth Camp Belasitsa Nature Park – a refuge for biodiversity and nature lovers is approaching

Are you ready for mountain adventures in one the most beautiful and least known mountains in Bulgaria?
If it is so take part in the International Youth Camp Belasitsa Nature Park – a refuge for biodiversity and nature lovers.

The time is running out! The final term for participation registration is September 10th 2013.

Details

Aug. 02, 2013

SALT OF LIFE FESTIVAL AT ATANASOVSKO LAKE

The first edition of the Festival in 2013 is dedicated to the main product of the lagoon – salt and its different usage as food, for health, entertainment, in cosmetics and even for art. What is salt and why it is so important to continue its extraction from the lake, how salt is connected with birds- this will understand the participants in the Festival.

Follow the detailed information about the Festival in the web site of Salt of Life Project, LIFE+ www.saltoflife.biodiversity.bg

Details

Jul 20, 2013

Threatened African Grey Parrots returned to the wild after three-year intercontinental odyssey

Seventeen African Grey Parrots were returned to the wild this week, ending their harrowing three‐year journey in the international illegal wildlife trade.
Noted conservation leader Dr.Jane Goodall enthusiastically liberated the group into a forested island in Lake Victoria, which is a protected chimpanzee sanctuary. Following their confiscation in 2010 in Bulgaria, repatriation in March of this year, and months of Rehabilitation in Uganda, these threatened parrots are now free, marking the first time that parrots confiscated in the EU have been returned to the wild in Africa.

Details

Jul 15, 2013

BELASITSA NATURE PARK – A REFUGE FOR BIODIVERSITY AND NATURE LOVERS

It’s time for mountain adventures!
We would like to announce the first International Youth Camp in the frame of the project “Belasitsa Beyond Borders – Transboundary Cooperation along the Balkan Green Belt”.
The camp will gather young people from Bulgaria, Greece and FYR Macedonia on the territory of the newest Nature Park in Bulgaria – Belasitsa Nature Park.

Details

Jun 26, 2013

Training in applying the Adaptive Management method 'Open Standards'

From June 25 – 27 the workshop to learn about and get hands-on Experience in applying the Adaptive Management method 'Open Standards' (OS), developed by the Conservation Measures Partnership (CMP). The workshop will be a mix of presentations, group exercises, peer review and reflection.
During the week, we will work on a real case, namely component C1 of the
Program 'Linking Nature Protection and Sustainable Rural Development'.
Mr. Vladimir Milushev from the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation (BBF)
will offer a short introduction to the program, component C1 and the project site on the first day of the workshop.

Jun 22, 2013

Prezentation for Adaptive management in Sofia

You are welcome on June 24th at 18.30 in the Biology Faculty of Sofiisky University "St.Kliment Ohridski"at the presentation for Adaptive management and Open standards in the nature conservation. Lectorer will be Albertien Perdok from the Foundation of Success, Europe.

Jun 07, 2013

Nature academy in Uzana

Municipality Gabrovo became a partner of Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation to build children's nature education center within the project "Linking nature conservation with sustainable rural development".

Details

Jun 06, 2013

Catalog for Strandja Trademark

It is already uploaded to the website of BBF in section NATURE and BUSINESS, the Catalog of the certified objects with the Strandja Regional Brand. The catalog was published in 2012 in the framework of the Project "Cooperation for biodiversity conservation and sustainable local development in Strandja Mountain" implemented by BBF with the financial support of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein through the EEA Financial Mechanism.

It is available for download both in English and Bulgarian.

http://www.bbf.biodiversity.bg/indexdetail.php?id=20&lang=EN

http://www.bbf.biodiversity.bg/indexdetail.php?id=20

First dig to clean the bypass channel of the Atanasovsko lake, BBF Burgas

Mar 14, 2013

First dig to clean the bypass channel of the Atanasovsko lake (video)

See the event here: www.youtube.com/watch

Dec. 06, 2012

A Bulgarian-Swiss Project Promotes Linking of Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development in Rural Areas

Entitled "Linking Nature Protection and Sustainable Rural Development", the four-year project was officialy launched on December 6th. It will be jointly implemented by four Swiss and seven Bulgarian partners including the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in nine Natura 2000 zones in the Western and Central Balkan Range.

Details

Nov. 30, 2012

First Round Table in the frame of the Project REEFS

On 29-30 November 2012, First Round Table in the frame of the Project Research and Restoration of the Essential Filter of the Sea – REEFS under the “Black Sea Basin 2007-2013” (Black Sea Basin Programme) which is an EU funded Programme financed by the ENPI and IPA instruments, is taking place in Odessa, Republic of Ukraine.
The aim of this round table is to review the legislative and institutional framework together with the administrative procedures related to reefs conservation and restoration in Black Sea in the partnering countries Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine.

Details

Riccardo Oggioni, Young Capra Ibrex jumping across the creek during snowfall

Nov. 27, 2012

The winners in the photocontest Nature 2000 are already known

Bulgarian photographers won the public awards for both categories

The contest organised by CEEWeb, BBF and partners to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Habitats Directive has been ended. It's time for awards! We, the BBF team are extremely happy by the fact that Bulgarians won the online voting in both categories. Atanas Grozdanov with his photo Good Morning Madjarovo and Jordan Hristov with his photo Ecosystem doctor won the sympathy of the public. Atanas Grozdanov won in Natura 2000 species and habitats – our natural heritage to guard Category and Jordan Hristov won in Ecosystem services from the Natura 2000 network are the key for our survival Category.

The jury also announced their favourites after long and continuous arguments. Category winner of Natura 2000 species and habitats – our natural heritage to guard is Riccardo Oggioni with his photo Young Capra Ibrex jumping across the creek during snowfall.

Details

Nov. 25, 2012

The public voting in the BBF's and CEEWeb's contest has been ended

The public voting for the contest organised by CEEWeb, BBF and partners to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Habitats Directive has been ended – the winners of the public voting will be announced on 27 November!

On the same date along with public winners will be annouced the favourites of the jury also. Attila Kovacs from Hungarian News Agency MTI, Istvan Lang - professional nature photographer from Foto Natura, Bogdan Boev, Bulgarian wild nature photographer, Stefan Avramov, Protected areas and species Coordinator from BBF, Agnes Zolyomi from CEEWeb for Biodiversity and Jaro Sibl, BROZ will choose the winners in both categories, who will win - three full-day-stay in the breath-taking Bulgarian Western Rhodope or a day in the famous – UNESCO world Heritage Site – Hortobágy National Park. Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation wishes to thank to all who voted and participated in our contest!

Nov. 20, 2012

Voting for public awards for Natura 2000 contest goes on

The submission of BBF's, CEEweb’s and their partners’ photo contest to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Habitats Directive came to an end last week. We received more than hundreds of photos from all over Europe inspired by the breath-taking beauty of Natura 2000 species and habitats. We selected the best of the best, which will compete for public and jury awards. While the competent jury votes who will be the winners in both categories, we can choose our favourites for the public awars by voting to the following address: http://www.ceeweb.org/news-events/photo-gallery/ Deadline for voting - 25th of November!
We, the BBF team are extremely happy that almost half of the selected photos are Bulgarian and show the beauty of Bulgaria! We wish good luck to all the participants!

Apr. 16, 2012

To prepare for the Zelenika Festival 2012

After one year of interruption we are unpationed to join the 9th Zelenika Festival. This year there will be a bonus - 3 days from 25 to 27 of may. More detailes could be read from the Programme!