ASSISTANCE FOR ELABORATION OF MUNICIPAL  Assist and facilitating the process of formation of PROGRAMS FOR PROTECTION OF THE municipal working groups under MPPE; ENVIRONMENT FOR THE MUNICIPALITIES OF  Proposal and agreeing with the relevant municipal , , , SATOVCHA, group under MPPE on the detailed structure GARMEN, AND BATAK () (content and worked plan) of the strategy and the process of its elaboration;  Supporting the key meetings of the relevant working groups, summarizing the outcomes of the meetings and ensuring their reflection in the drafts of MPPEs;  Review and preparing comments on working documentation, elaborated by the relevant working groups;  Assist with the organization, participation and supporting reflection of the relevant results and comments from the public hearings on the content of the documents developed. Coordinating of the

respective draft documents with the relevant Period of implementation: August 2008 – April 2009 regional government structures (RIEW, local offices Budget: 52 561 EUR of EFA; Municipal Agricultural Offices); Implemented by: Dicon Group Ltd (leading  MPPE development on behalf of the relevant organization) in partnership with the Borrowed Nature municipality; Association. Contracting Authority: UNDP  Determining whether each of the elaborated Client: Rhodope Project MPPEs is an object of ecological assessment and assisting the process if necessary; Objectives:  Preparation of a report describing all processes in The assignment is part of the Rhodope Project, aiming each individual municipality, their positive and at conserving globally significant biodiversity in the negative sides, achievements, the lessons Eastern and Western Rhodopes landscapes through learned, examples of good practices and the attainment of two final objectives: recommendations for improving the process.  Landscape-scale conservation effectively operationalized in the Eastern and Western Rhodopes; Results: Developed 7 Municipal Programs for Protection of  Stakeholders integration of biodiversity into the Environment for the period of five years 2009 – resource management and economic 2013, including evaluation of the relevant municipal development policy and practice. environmental policies, evaluation of formerly elaborated

environmental programs and projects, analysis of the Activities: main goals and results, integration of environmental care  Comprehensive review of the existing legislation into the resource management process and economic (Bulgarian and European) regulating the development policy, elaboration of a biodiversity policy; preparation / implementation of MPPEs; consultation for the elaboration of planning and  Conducting of introductory meetings with relevant environment protection projects based on the prospects municipalities’ representatives and municipal focus for EU financing. groups and discussing the process of MEPP developing, including stakeholder involvement;  Agreeing on the individual steps and deadlines of the MEPP elaboration process, including a timetable for consultations and public hearings with the stakeholders;  Review of all existing strategic documentation (strategies, planes, programs, planned activities, land use and spatial planning, etc.) of the respective municipality;