Bio-diversity

Justification The relationship between the themes of sustainable development, Rio conventions, protected areas, biodiversity conservation and climate change, and changing attitudes regarding the environment, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals are the main challenges of the education for sustainable development set in during the world meeting in Montreal, Canada in April this year. This is of utmost importance for Bulgaria, where in recent years the topic was neglected and almost forgotten by educational institutions. In 2007 REC for CEE published its new educational program for environment for children - Green Pack Junior. It was brought to the attention of the Ministers of the Environment, UN officials and trainers during the Conference "Environment for Europe" held in Belgrade the same year. In response to the interest of the toolkit it created a common strategy for its implementation in Central and Eastern Europe. Although the toolkit, available only in English language and developed by a Bulgarian team of educational specialists, it is not yet available in Bulgarian language and adapted to the educational system in the country. REC studies of secondary schools in several regions of the country and the results of the consultations from the conducted in May, 2009 Round Table Education for Natura 2000 , demonstrated the need for tools for teachers at the primary schools (1-4 grade) to introduce the topics related with the environment. According to data of Ministry of Education, Youth and Science - Center for Information Security of Education in Bulgaria there are 2 066 schools, 260 545 students, 15 204 teachers and 13 334 classes, which offer an initial stage of primary education level. In the medium term (3 years) this is the target group of this initiative. By implementing the project the Bulgarian branch of the REC can offer teachers and schools in Bulgaria, a comprehensive package of materials introducing the principles of the education for sustainable development in Bulgarian language and adapted to new realities and priorities of the educational system. These are extra curricula tools, manuals, student materials, etc. Interpreting topics mostly related to climate change and biodiversity. With the adadaptation of Green Pack Junior the materials offered by REC will now cover all the educational levels (obligatory) of the Bulgarian school. REC for CEE - Bulgaria Branch has gained enough experience and capacity to implement projects for the development of teaching materials and toolkits. The Centre is well recognizable among the Bulgarian schools as the main protagonist and a leader in the programs and initiatives to implement pilot educational programs in the field of sustainable development and environmental protection. The organization experience and contacts with the educational institutions is a guarantee for success in the realization of this project. The proposed approach of comprehending the whole educational system and offering concrete practical models (for energy efficiency and conservation of the species) will have a much larger cumulative effect and therefore a guarantee for achieving the objectives. Location The part of the project which will be financed from the Small Grants Program of the Global Environment Fund is the adaptation and approbation of the handbook "Green Pack Junior" and the practical activities associated with implementation and demonstration of energy efficiency measures and conservation of biological diversify will be implemented in Municipality of Kyustendil and Kyustendil District. The promotional part will cover all secondary education schools (SES) and primary schools (PS) in the country. The territorial range of the other 2 projects, which provide the co-financing covers the Municipalities of Kyustendil, Nevestino, Boboshevo, Blagoevgrad, Simitli, Kresna, Strumyani and Petrich for Osogovo, Ograjden and Belasitsa for kids and Provadia, Kavarna, Svishtov, Belene, Berkovitsa and Belogradchik for Education for Natura 2000 . Project Target Groups - Students from primary and secondary schools (average age between 7 and 18 years); - Primary teachers and teachers in science working with students from grade 1 to 12; - Experts from the Regional Inspectorates of the Ministry of Education and Science working in the field of environmental education in primary schools. Goal and expected impacts Integrate education for sustainable development at all levels of the Bulgarian school. It is expected that the implementation of the project will achieve a significant coverage of the topics related to climate and biodiversity as well as programs for extracurricular training (PIU and EPA) and in the mandatory school programs. Objectives and expected results Increased opportunities for teachers and students` knowledge on topics related to climate change and biodiversity conservation and the relationship between them. - Implementation of demonstration, training modules and practical methods for energy efficiency and conservation of significant biodiversity at the local level. - Building local capacity for long-term integration of energy efficiency and conservation of biodiversity in some of the target regions of the project. - Promotion of practical approaches, resources and experiences related to education for sustainable development in Bulgarian schools. Major activities Preparation, publishing and implementation at a primary stage of the educational process of educationa

Bulgaria