Bio-diversity

The project Ecotourism development as a main tool to preserve the biodiversity of the Western Border Mountains of the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation will be developed in the region of the Western Border Mountains locked between Ograzhden and Osogovo and comprising the western section of the watershed of Middle Struma River flow. In terms of its biodiversity, this is undoubtedly one of the most interesting and in the same time vulnerable parts of the country. The accents of the region are the Mediterranean and Sub-Mediterranean habitats occurring here due to the strong influence penetrating along the Struma River Valley and the complex of faunal species of exceptional importance crowned by the presence of otter species of global conservation concern, present here with additional 21 species listed in the IUCN s registers of threatened species in the world. The rich biodiversity of the region is currently threatened by the increased pressure on the nature resources provoked by the general changes and shifts in the local economy due to the changes in the last two decades. The population of the region now a day has little earning alternatives but forestry both logging and use of non-timber resources and is often tempted by poaching and illegal tree-felling. Intensive forestry is among the most serious disturbance factors when Mediterranean ecosystems are concerned, often even the regulated felling results in a slow and frustrated restoration and with the climate changes registered recently, the process falls behind erosion leading to desertification. The only economic activity which seems to prosper is the rafting along the Kresna Gorge. Ironically this is also viewed as a threat as the rapid and currently unregulated visits in the region (increased 2 times for some four years, being some 1,500 people a year in 2007) as it poses disturbance to one of the healthy otter populations in he country. The current proposal aims to mitigate these threats by developing the region s resources to open it up for ecotourism. Trails for hiking (2), biking (1) and rafting (3) will be planned and marked, as to both reveal the natural beauties of the region and avoid disturbance to the most valuable resources and species. Special attention will be given to keeping the increasing number of rafters out of the most sensitive otter locations along the Kresna Gorge. 90 local people will be trained in ecotourism principles and practices, including a specific module on energy efficiency and use of RES for which the region is especially well positioned with so many days of sunshine. Model of energy efficiency will be introduced in the Strumyani Information Centre, where part of the training will take place. One of the local Municipalities Kresna, shall be supplied with equipment for rafting and 2 local people shall be especially trained to start operating one of the rafting trails. The project shall implement and expand the model for establishing public-private partnership, developed by BikeArea Society in its GEF SGP project in the Rhodopes by establishing and making operational a Fund for preserving the Western Border Mountains Nature. Besides this fund, the active participation of all municipalities concerned is believed to guarantee sustainability of the project results. The project will also be implemented in partnership with the GEF SGP project of BFB-Petrich, implement in Belasitsa, from which the positive experiences of work with local people will be transferred.

Bulgaria