Environmental research

Agroforestry includes all production technologies in which crops, trees and shrubs and domestic animals or game are grown by employing exact spatial arrangement and consecutive time disposition. Agroforestry is based on the positive biologic interaction among the separate components in the progress of their mutual development. Large number of agroforestry systems- alley cropping, shelterbelts, silvopasture, forest farming, riparian buffer strips and so on, have been developed according to their components, location and functions. In the period of intensive agriculture agroforestry has been forgotten despite that in its essence it was the oldest land utilisation form but nowadays has regained some of the interest due to its ecologic advantages. The proposed project aims for solving the problems with the bred game forage basis, grass degradation of natural meadows and pastures and water and soil fertility preservation by applying agroforestry technologies for the first time in the country. The agroforestry technologies which will be applied in this project are closely related and will solve all ecologic problems in GEF SGP guide to global indicators- biodiversity preservation in in situ conditions, desertion limitation, water preservation, microclimatic conditions preservation. As a result of the project realisation several pattern agroforestry fields will be created to serve as a model for popularisation and adoption in all over the country; the staff of game management station Iskar will receive support in their efforts to preserve the beneficial game gene pool: the quality of the drinking water in Sofia will be improved as a result of decreased erosion in the capital s water supply zone; students from all universities in the country with biologic, forestry and agricultural specialization will be trained practically in ecology; a base for ecology, agroforestry and game investigations will be built; the population of Samokov and the other neighbouring villages will have a good model to follow and what is more economic and social benefits.

Bulgaria