Bio-diversity

Justification Recovering the traditional animal husbandry by preserving a local rare indigenous breed Karakachan horse and a traditional shepherd system (mountain pastoralism) in the area of a Sokolna hut, in the National Park Central Balkan Location South Central region, Stara Zagora district, Sokolna hut, Gabarevo village, Pavel banya municipality, National park Central Balkan Project Target Groups Target groups, directly benefiting by the project 1. Tourists, which will visit the region of Sokolna hut, will learn more about the protected animals, will ride horses or will just enjoy them 2. People, directly occupied in the implementation of the project at least 15 Target groups, indirectly benefiting by the project 1. Management of the National park, because of sustainable managing of park s resources 2. Global benefits will be reached out for environment and local population Goal and expected impacts Increasing sustainable managed territories with a worldwide significant biodiversity 1.Number of preserved worldwide significant species - 7 2.Sustainable managed territories with a worldwide significant biodiversity will be 200 ha by the end of 2010 Extending the use of innovative technologies into the fields of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources, sustainable managed lands and waters and avoiding sustainable structural pollutants 1. Number of develop and use innovative technologies - 1 2. Number of people, benefiting of these develop and use innovative technologies at least 150 Increasing the sustainable managed territories Sustainable managed territories 200 ha of pastures are certified as organic on the territory of the National Park Central Balkan and 53 ha are municipality s pastures in Gabarevo village, where the horses will pasture in autumn and winter time. Reducing pollutants emissions in the River Danube, the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea 1. Reducing emissions of nitrogen in international waters 1237.5 kg for the first year of the project 2. Reducing emissions of phosphorus in international waters 517.5 kg for the first year of the project Increasing incomes of people, participating in SGP Number of benefiting households 5 Number of benefiting people 15 The amount of increased incomes for benefiting people is $70 800 Developing collaboration/ cooperation/ understanding between NGO/Public organizations and the Government in the areas of implementation SGP One NGO is participating Two organic farms are participating Objectives and expected results Recovering the traditional animal husbandry by creating a herd with 120 animals and protecting a rare indigenous breed Karakachan horse during the project and traditional shepherd system (mountain pastoralism) in the region of Sokolna hut, in the National Park Central Balkan Major activities Traditional animal husbandry by preserving a rare indigenous breed Karakachan horse and traditional shepherd system (mountain pastoralism) Creating a herd with 120 animals of a rare indigenous breed Karakachan horse during implementation of the nationally approved breeding programme by the end of 2011 Sustainable managing of 200 ha of pastures in the territory of the National Park Central Balkan by the end of 2010 Improving the breed and creating a pure-breed herd As a result, that horses will live in their habitat Breeding activity in accordance with requirements and parameters, based in the Breeding programme Building up a small hydro station by the end of 2010 Partnership with GEF SGP proposals/projects Sustainability Financial stability in the beginning herd will include 30 animals, will increase during the first 3 years and will become a herd with 120 animals. During this time will be singed contracts for: Pure-breeding and getting breed descriptions for the herd and receiving subsidies for breeding Karakachan horses by the National Agriculture and Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 200 euro per animal. Selling pure-breed animals Horse tourism Selling manure to organic farms Integrating in long-term processes Improving the conditions in Sokolna hut and increasing number of visitors incomes from accommodations Building up a small hydro station will limit usage of liquid and solid fuels for hut management. The hut s annual consumption of liquid fuels is 450 liters, mainly for electricity production. After building up the hydro station this would not be necessary Human resources creating a sustainable living and improving a financial status of local human resources (at least 15), participating in implementation of the project With these activities Tourist Association Sokolna will self-financed after project concludes. Project Budget total, from GEF SGP, financial, in-kind - all in Bulgarian leva and percent of total Total budget of the project is BGN 208 760 Amount, financed by SGP is BGN 60 000 or 28, 74 % of the total budget and the rest BGN 148 760 or 71, 26 % will be financial or in-kind from kvi Ltd

Bulgaria