The diversity, quantity and quality of the areas make them sites of considerable national and European significance
About 21,000 hectares will be preserved or restored. The preservation of the area will be ensured through placement of specialized facilities (fences, grilles, bridges, tourist spots) on surface totaling 240.6 ha to limit the human pressure (human access and vehicles passing) and through removal of anthropogenic waste from 97.5 ha.
As a result of the restoration activities under the project, the alien species on an area of 76.5 ha will be removed and 80 ha will be restored by planting local trees and shrubs. In addition, approximately 1.4 ha will be restored by planting characteristic plants.
In Bulgaria there is very limited experience in management and restoration of riparian and wetland natural habitat types. The current project is a pilot one and will give an opportunity for creating, demonstrating and promoting good practices on conservation and restoration of such Natura 2000 habitat types in the country. The project will create conditions for passing over the lessons learned and multiplication of the good practice in the rest of the sites managed by the SFA and in the country as a whole.
Another important objective is creating awareness and better understanding of Natura 2000 among specialized audience and broader public, as well as improving expert capacity. This will create better information and awareness among the main stakeholders (institutions, local authorities and communities in the project areas) of Natura 2000 as an instrument for nature conservation.
The ten sites targeted by the project are managed by the State Forestry Agency (SFA) and the activities on conservation and restoration of favourable conservation status of habitats and their characteristic species will continue to be implemented by the staff of SFA after the project completion.
The project budget is 1 236 834 Euros, including 615 199 Euros LIFE + co-financing.
As a result of the restoration activities under the project, the alien species on an area of 76.5 ha will be removed and 80 ha will be restored by planting local trees and shrubs. In addition, approximately 1.4 ha will be restored by planting characteristic plants.
In Bulgaria there is very limited experience in management and restoration of riparian and wetland natural habitat types. The current project is a pilot one and will give an opportunity for creating, demonstrating and promoting good practices on conservation and restoration of such Natura 2000 habitat types in the country. The project will create conditions for passing over the lessons learned and multiplication of the good practice in the rest of the sites managed by the SFA and in the country as a whole.
Another important objective is creating awareness and better understanding of Natura 2000 among specialized audience and broader public, as well as improving expert capacity. This will create better information and awareness among the main stakeholders (institutions, local authorities and communities in the project areas) of Natura 2000 as an instrument for nature conservation.
The ten sites targeted by the project are managed by the State Forestry Agency (SFA) and the activities on conservation and restoration of favourable conservation status of habitats and their characteristic species will continue to be implemented by the staff of SFA after the project completion.
The project budget is 1 236 834 Euros, including 615 199 Euros LIFE + co-financing.
