Project funded by the

Integrated Land-use Management Modelling of Estuaries (ILMM-BSE) is implemented with the financial assistance of the European Union in the framework of the Joint Operational Programme “Black Sea Basin 2007 – 2013”

PRESS RELEASE - 11

Date: 27 January 2014

FIRST WORKSHOP and Project Partners Meeting in ()

The first workshop of the project Integrated Land-use Management Modelling of Black Sea Estuaries (ILMM-BSE) was held in Burgas on 20th January 2014. The main aim of the workshop was to discuss the joint research programme, which will create the required platform for researchers to meet each other and focus, discuss and evaluate working programme strategies and methodologies, in order to ensure that project targets are achieved, within the required timeframe. After completing the review and evaluation of existing research and literature review, these events will form a platform for discussions for multifunctional approaches and needs for new tools and models for sustainable land-use planning and management, where representatives of work packages will present their views, all results and outputs of the studies will be discussed and analyzed in detail and the shared conclusions will be obtained and disseminated, for the enhancement and development of new tools and models. The workshop was attended by all project partners as well as by representatives of all related institutions – municipalities of and Burgas, Burgas District Administration, Regional Inspectorate of Environment, NGO Greener Burgas Foundation. The workshop reviewed the tender for the database system and reviewed the existing knowledge, system ecology approach, existing models, land-use planning, legislation and impact assessment applications, enhanced models, enhanced tools for sustainability impact assessment, models for forecast, effectiveness and land-use planning, case study application results of enhanced models, tools for impact assessment, models for land-use planning, policy and making decision in the four partner countries – Bulgaria, , Georgia and Ukraine. The group discussed also the estimation of the carrying capacity which is extremely important for sustainable land-use without adversely affecting future yields and the integrity of ecosystems of these semi-enclosed coastal areas. The second meeting of project partners was held on 20-21 January 2014. Project reporting and financial issues were discussed among project managers and financial managers of the project. Review of the implementation of each group of project activities was done. Future activities were planned for March 2014 – second training course in each of the partner countries and the second congress and partners meeting in Ukraine at the end of May 2014. In order to be able to implement the research activities a visit to some of the project sights in Burgas Region was organised by Bourgas Regional Tourism Association. The most south-eastern part of Bulgarian Black Sea coast was presented at the mouth of River. Project partners met the Mayor of Tzarevo Municipality – Mr. Lapchev, the General Secretary of the municipality, the Mayor of , Head of Departments in the municipality. The most southeastern part of Bulgaria is in the territory of Nature Park . With a territory of 1161 sq km, is the largest protected area in the Bulgaria. It covers a huge chunk of Strandzha Mountain in

Project funded by the EUROPEAN UNION

Southeastern Bulgaria and thanks to its proximity to the Black Sea Coast, it is extremely well visited. This place has managed to preserve the biggest variety of in and also the most impressive deciduous forests on the continent. It also keeps many rare and ancient Bulgarian customs and traditions alive. The most important protected areas on the territory of the park are the mouth of Veleka River and the wild Beach. In the afternoon project partners visited one of the wetlands in the area – lake and the Salt Museum in Pomorie. Balneo therapy and spa services were presented in Balneohotel Pomorie as an example of how the mud from the lake is used in medicine and tourism. The project Integrated Land-use Management Modelling of Black Sea Estuaries (ILMM-BSE) is financed by the Second call of the Joint Operational Programme “Black Sea Basin 2007 – 2013” http://www.blacksea-cbc.net. It started on 25 May 2013 and involves partners from four countries: Bulgaria, Ukraine, Georgia and Turkey. The duration of the project is 24 months. The overall objective of the project is to develop, enhance and evaluate impact assessment and management tools for the sustainable land use of the watershed areas of coastal deltas.

Project funded by the EUROPEAN UNION

****** This document is prepared with the financial assistance of the European Union. The responsibility for its content is only of Bourgas Regional Tourism Association and it in no way represents the official position of the European Union.