Issue 05 Financing for Pro-biodiversity For the Balkans and the people The project was presented at the October 2013 businesses Plum Festival in Monthly bulletin for the activities of “Linking nature conservation and rural development” Project In this issue:

Page 1 Briefly for the activities in the issue ANNUAL BIODIVERSITY AWARDS Page 2 Briefly for the activities in the issue During the Annual biodiversity awards Page 3 Annual Biodiversity Awards ceremony, conducted on the Saturday afternoon Student camp For the Balkans Page 4 Farmers from the project region visiting Swiss farms of the 12 of October Her Excellency Mrs. Regina Financing for pro-biodiversity businesses Escher – the ambassador of the Swiss Стр.5 Festival of the local breeds in Kalofer Confederation to handed the traditional Стр.6 Training for PES PMB and visit of Bulgarka Park BBF awards to the winners from the 8 award Forthcoming events categories. Beside the symbolic bell medal the awarded persons received a check for 500 leva

as well as presents from the Swiss embassy in The forthcoming signing of the contract for provision of In 2013 the Project For the Balkana and the people Bulgaria. The Annual biodiversity awards were funding for the approved project applications for the participated in the Festival, which took part on organized in the frame of the project “For the Program for support of pro-biodiversity business is September 27-29. The team presented to the Balkan and the people” funded by the Bulgarian scheduled for the beginning of November. “The citizens and guests of Troyan farmers products from Swiss Cooperation program. The event was Association of the parks” chose three projects during Dobrodan and villages and Kalofer. Cow implemented with the kind support of the the second stage of the implementation of the and buffalo milk, dew and herb honey were part of municipality of procedure. the products which make the visitors excited.

More details on page 3 More details on page 4 http://festivalnaslivata.com/

125 ANNIVERSARY OF SOFIA

UNIVERSITY Student camp For the Balkans FARMERS FROM THE PROJECT REGION

VISITING SWISS FARMS Festival of the local breeds in Kalofer Продължава на стр.2

Traditional Bulgarian and bio-products from 14 Bulgarian A student camp, organized by BBF took place in the producers were exhibited during the cocktail for the 125 In order to gain knowledge on good practices in the field surroundings of Ambaritza hut between the 1th and anniversary of the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski At the end of September, 2013 a festival for local breeds – of the direct farm sales Bulgarian farmers from the the 5th of August 2013. The camp was organized in that was feted on 26.09.2013. The “For the Balkan and part of the project “for the Balkan and the people” was held project region paid a visit to selected Swiss farms – the cooperation with the DNP “Central Balkan”. the people” project was presented by the project leader in Kalofer. 19 stock breeders took part in the festival and 150 visit was organized by Bioselena and BSPB with the active PhD. Stoilko Apostolov. Bio-honey, juice and jams from More details on page 3 animals from 20 breeds were shown during the event. participation of REDD and is part of the implementation plums and aronia were presented on the stalls. of the project’s component B activities. More details on page 5 Representatives of 70 Bulgarian and 3 0foreign universities were invited to the event. More details on page 4 стр.2

ANNUAL BIODIVERSITY AWARDS BSPB and Bioselena organized study visit for the farmers in Switzerland The jury consisting of Kalin Terzijski, Katya Leshtanska, Krasimira Velitchkova and

Martina Bozsilova chose the winners in the following categories:

I. The best campaign (action/activity), related to biodiversity conservation - Campaign and civic disobedience from Orlov bridge against the harmful amendments of the Forestry law .

- Campaign of the initiative group from the village of Dabovitza from the The ceremony was opened with air dance of agains the construction of dykes along the Luda Kamchia river. Benita Primo

II. The best journalist material, related to the protection of the Bulgarian wild nature

- The web site https://bivol.bg/ - Bosilena Miteva from Dnevnik newspaper Eight farmers from the project area were included in a study visit to Switzerland from 5th to 12th of October 2013. The III. Volunteer for the nature objective of the trip was the participants to be acquainted with the best practices in small family farms where animals are kept, the so popular Swiss cheese is made and it is sold directly to the customers. Our Swiss partners from REDD (network for - The volunteers for putting out the fire in the Bistrisko branishte reserve, Mountain exchange and sustainable development) had provided an interesting program for the farmers and the accompanying team of - Svilen Ovcharov, Veselin Paskalev and Aleksander Dountchev broadcasting “Brazdi“ from BNT. IV. Politician with the strongest engagement with the Bulgarian nature issues Her Exelancy Mrs. Regina Escher awarded Toma The group visited farms which produce cheese, sheep’s milk cheese, goat’s cheese and buffalo cheese and was involved in the - No award was handed in for this category Belev V. Award for probiodiversity businesses production circle of some specific cheeses like Gruyere and Mozzarella, Yogurt and more. The guests were able to discuss and

- “Globul“ for the campaign „The day of the Nature parks” in cooperation debate not only with the Swiss farmers but also with the Bulgarian representatives Bioselena and BSPB which aim to help at with WWF least 30 farmers in their efforts to grow animals and sell goods in areas with preserved nature as Central Balkan and Western VI. Donation/donor in the biodiversity field Balkan through the project "For the Balkan and the people". Remarkable was also the visit of farmers' markets and the historic - Ralitza Hes from Switzerland part of the town of Bern. The group met with the Ambassador of Bulgaria in Switzerland – H.E. Meglena Plugchieva. The most VII. Institution/organization with contribution to the biodiversity conservationс important moments from the visit will be shown in a series of 6 broadcastings "Brazdi" from BNT. The broadcasting starts

принос в опазването на биоразнообразието every Saturday at 12.30 hours on BNT. - Bulgarian society for protection of birds VIII. Award for overall contribution for protection of the Bulgarian nature Financing for the pro-biodiversity businesses Wikeda for the public - Toma Belev At the second stage of the procedure Association of Parks in Bulgaria (APB) chose three projects: During the holiday part of the nominated presented the campaigns with photos, inf ormational materials and even two big models of vouchers. Degustation of farm • Project № 1: Ponor Mountains – a destination for nature acquaintance and ornithology tourism. The project aims to produces from the Central Balkan region showed the link between the protected develop tourist packages that are all about nature acquaintance and ornithology tourism by building a special shelter for nature and the local sustainable development. observation and photographing of wolves, wildcats, foxes and golden eagles. The project will be implemented by "Spatia The Ceremony finished with concerts of the groups Merudia and Wikeda. Wildlife" Ltd.

• Project № 2: Creating a microenterprise for processing of fresh berries into a jam by a traditional recipe development and application of methods for sustainable collection of berries and herbs in the West Balkan area, implemented by

“Sinevka" Ltd. The project aims to create a microenterprise for production of jams from berries with a methodology for sustainable collection of fruits, adapting of the methodology for education of students and children, including a visit to the Entusiastic young people participated in the Student camp For the Balkans, In which beside mountain. studying the nature of the Central Balkan through field trips for acquainting the rare and protected species the participants manage to do some work favoring the visitors of the mountain. The trail leading to the hut that is used mainly during rescue • Project № 3: Creating a green sustainable business, protection of highland hay meadows and promotion of beech actions of the Mountain rescue services and by the freight horses was cleaned. Each evening discussions for the most ecosystems in the protected area. This project will aim to develop highland sheep breeding and maintain habitat 6520 interesting issues during the day – what happened, what species have been observed for the first time and what have been the Highland hay meadows will promote 9110 Beech forest type Luzulo-Fagetum Luzulo-Fagetum beech forests, 9130 Beech

experiences of the participants were held around the camp fire. forest type Asperulo-Fagetum Asperulo-Fagetum beech forest. Contractor for the project is "Arenariya BM" ltd. The financing of the project proposals are from Vrachanski Balkan and Bulgarka Nature parks, as „We learned a lot for the bats, calculated our ecological footprint and learned how we can reduce it if we follow several simple Funding of the project proposals by Program to support biodiversity businesses includes key natural recourses in or well as Natura zones BG0001040 „Western Stara Planina and PredBalkan”. advices. We also learned how to provide first aid and how to rescue not only animals but people as well. The park ranger bordering Vrachanski Balkan and Bulgarka Nature Parks and also BG0001040 zone Western Balkan Mountain and Fore- presented to us the interesting story of the hut and the surroundings“ – said one of the camp participants. Balkan from the European Natura 2000 network. стр.4

която бе много интересна.“ - споделя една от участничките в лагера.

FESTIVAL OF THE LOCAL BREEDS IN KALOFER MEETING OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD IN

KALOFER AND VISIT OF On 27th of September 2013 in the "Panitsite" area near the town Kalofer the first Festival of the local breeds in Bulgaria took place. The organizers were the NATURE PAKR BULGARKA Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF) and the Executive Agency on Selection WITH SWISS EXPERT and Reproduction in Animal Breeding (EASRAB). The festival was part of the "Linking Nature Protection and Sustainable Rural Development" Project. It was TRAINING FOR ECOSYSTEM PES A meeting of the Board of the "Linking Nature opened by the Executive Director of the EASRAB Prof. Vasil Nikolov and the Protection and Sustainable Rural Development" th project coordinator Dr. Stoilko Apostolov from Bioselena. th Project was held on 25 of September in Kalofer. On 8 of August 2013 was held training on payments for ecosystem services (PES). After the event on 26th and 27th of September, Special guest speaker at the event was Dr Julio Tresierra – Coordinator of the 15 local and 2 commercial breeds of sheep and two local breeds of goats were representatives of WWF - Bulgaria working on Global program of payments of hydrological ecosystem services, whose shown at the event in the in built with electric shepherd cages on the vast the project, along with the Swiss expert Bertrand headquarter is located in WWF Netherlands. Dr Tresierra works on the Program meadows among the hills of the majestic mountain. Sansonnens visited Bulgarka Nature Park. During for more than 10 years in Latin America, Asia and Africa, where the application of the visit, they discussed the PES schemes which Presented sheep breeds were: Sheep, Replian Sheep, Dabenska this tool is much more advanced than in Europe. During the training a review of will be implemented in the park with the park Sheep, Middle-Balkan mountain Sheep, Karakachan sheep, Copper-Red the different stages of a PES process – development, implementation and staff and how they can solve some of the specific Sheep, Sheep, West Balkan mountain sheep, Sofia () Sheep, monitoring was made as the main focus was the evaluation of the ecosystem problems of the Nature Park Bulgarka. Middle Rhodopean Sheep, Marishka Sheep, Sheep, services. The aim of the course was to increase the capacity of key experts of Tzygay, Ile de France Sheep and Awassi Sheep. There were also the typical of the Bulgarian institutions which are responsible and involved in the execution of the Bertrand Sansonnens went to Uzana also, where region local goat breeds: Kalofer long-haired goat and local screw-horn long- National environmental legislation in relation to the management of the will be built Children Nature Academy and had a haired goat. In the landscape of meadows perfectly fit also a herd of gray cows ecosystems. meeting with the BBF team. Short before that he with their calves and grazing herd of Karakachan Horses. Karakachan breed dogs had a meeting in the Swiss Embassy too. were shown to the curious public too – the faithful companion of the man and a guard of the herds. The festival exhibited 19 shepherds, farmers, 150 animals from 20 breeds overall. FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

The event attracted citizens, students from two primary schools and Meetings of the PMB And Strategic Platform For 2014 kindergartens from Kalofer, breeders from the region, students of the Agricultural University – , representatives of farming organizations and Forthcoming meetings of the PMB - January 8th, March 26th, June 25th and etc. Everyone had a chance to get acquainted with the nature and specific September 30th 2014. Along with the meeting of the Project Management exterior and economic characteristics of each breed. Board in January 2014 is scheduled the First meeting of the Strategic Platform (SP), which will ensure the consistency of the project through involvement of Regardless of the gloomy and rainy weather, Prof. Vasil Nikolov managed representatives of different levels and institutions, who will discuss specific skillfully to draw the attention of the children from kindergarten to the animals. issues raised by the project. This will be a tool to support policy dialogue and One of the most appealing attractions of the festival was the ecological bringing the project results to higher management levels. SP will ensure that competition between the students from the two primary schools to explore the lessons learned will be used and adequately integrated in the proper local breeds. In order to recognize better the breeds the students were given legislative and policy framework. SP will include the following members: books with the special characteristics of the farm animals. The winners received souvenir prizes. 1. Representative of the Swiss Intermediate Body 2. Representative of the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food All the participants had the opportunity to taste high-quality dairy products with 3. Representative of the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water ecological value, obtained from the local breeds. With this initiative was created 4. Representative of each of the following target groups of the project: a small version of Children Natural Science Green Academy. - Nature and National parks Departments; - Farmers; - Local businesses

- Local authorities P ROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT 5. Representative of the Swiss NGO partners FOUNDATION FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE BIOSELENA 6. Representative of the Bulgarian NGOs (on rotation and on the basis of SOFIA 1000, CHRISTO BOTEV BLVD. 48,FLOOR 4, Bonka Cholakova, Director of Management of the genetic resources and the participation in the implementation of each of the three project components) ROOM 410 WWW.BIOSELENA.COM reproductive process Department at EASRAB FOR CONTACTS AND INFORMATION: RADOSTINA TZENOVA – COMMUNICATION OFFICER [email protected]

6