1.2. Improving the capacity for nature protection, sustainable use and management of common natural resources through cooperation initiatives in the cross-border area

The overall objective of the project is improving the protection of the forest ecosystems under the conditions of climate problems and their impact on forest ecosystems in Strandja/Yildiz Mountain.

Within the project a press conference "Protection of sustainable forest ecosystems in Strandja/Yildiz Mountain under climate changes conditions – FORECAST” will be organized in Demirkoy (Turkey).

A seminar "Forest management in climate change conditions” will be held in Sozopol (Bulgaria), three-days seminars “Sustainable use of the common nature resources in the cross-border area” will be organized in Igneada (Turkey). During the two seminars the representatives of the local authorities from Bulgaria and Turkey, scientists and forester experts will identify the most important strengths and weaknesses for both countries in terms of forest management in Stramdja/Yildiz mountatin, the impact of natural disasters in the cross border region and forecast for future damage in terms of climate changes.

The project implementation will  improve the technical capabilities of  both partners, improve the human capacity and exchange of good practices for sustainable use and management of the common natural resources through cooperation initiatives in the cross-border area.  The project will increase the awareness of the general population of the target municipalities about the protection of forest ecosystems.

Project status: Finished

The project partners have implemented the activities according to the schedule.

The development of the cross-border project is a joint work of the two partners. The main objective of the project is to improve the protection of forest ecosystems in the Strandzha/Yildiz Mountain in the conditions of climate change, by building a network of mobile meteorological stations and creating a database on climate change and its impact on the forest.

Climate-related issues and topics about measurement of climatic components are becoming more and more relevant due to global warming. More and more people are beginning to think about climate and measures to be taken in order to protect forest ecosystems and biodiversity. The project aims to focus on concrete actions related to protection of the environment.

Cross-border impact of the project includes the border area of the Rezovo village to the village of Belevren in Bulgaria and the area of Directorate of Demirkoy Forest Management in Turkey. One of the transboundary impacts of the project is monitoring the catchment area of the Veleka and Rezovska rivers. Basic activities that were implemented during the project are conferences, seminars and field visits in the Strandja / Yildiz Mountain in Turkey and Bulgaria, as well as meetings of the project teams. They discussed the strengths and weaknesses of forest management in Strandja (Yildiz) mountain, the impact of natural disasters on the region and forecast of future damage from climate change. The purpose of these events was to familiarize the public with the project objectives and results of the implementation of activities, leading forestry practices in forest regions, affected by biotic and abiotic factors, analysis of the status of forest ecosystems and impact of climate change, as well as preparation of future guidelines for successful management of forest areas.

Project results and benefits: During the project implementation a network of mobile meteorological stations was set up to study the climate and raise awareness of the importance of climate change and its impact on the flora of the Strandja / Yildiz Mountains. Data from meteorological stations will be the basis for preventive activities to mitigate the negative consequences of disasters and develop an early warning and management system for disasters in the cross-border area. After data analysis, solutions will be sought to create forest ecosystems that are resistant to new climate change. The project contributed a lot to the training of specialists and to the creation of a database necessary for a long-term study of the forest ecosystems in Strandja / Yildiz Mountain. The database is web-based and can be used by the target groups: representatives of the Regional Forest Directorates, Forest Management Departments, State Forest Companies, Regional Administrations and Municipalities, Forest Owners, Non-Governmental Organizations, Researchers from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, in the forest - Sofia, as well as the local population.

Materials from the project:

The promotional materials (banner, information board, notebook, folder and sticker) are available HERE.

The Project leaflet is available HERE.

Project products:

The presentations from the Seminar "Forest management in climate change conditions" held in Sozopol during 18-20 October 2017 are available HERE.

The Presentation from the final press conference held in Tsarevo, Bulgaria during 31 May and 01 June 2018, is available HERE.

The data taken from the mobile weather stations (in the villages of Zvezdets and Kosti, Bulgaria) is available on the website www.stringmeteo.com at the following links: https://www.stringmeteo.com/stations/zvezdets/PWS%20Zvezdets.htm and https://www.stringmeteo.com/stations/kosti/index.html.    

Тhe project aims to raise the awareness and to build capacity in school students and teachers from the cross-border are in the field of ecosystems protection and restoration.

Within the project appropriate tools will be developed and set for young people to get involved in environmental issues through cooperation, such as development of Balkan Youth Environment Observatory platform, study of best marketing practices for popularization of nature protection measures among young people and of innovative methods for sustainable use of common natural resources.

The project envisages also development and implementation of environmental course for students and conduction of social media campaign for popularization of nature protection measures among young people.

The implementation of the project will contribute to increasing the environmental protection in the cross-border region through popularization of nature protection measures among young people.

Project status: Finished

The project partners have implemented the activities according to the schedule.

The project used innovative marketing and communication methods to attract the attention of the young people to the contemporary ways of sustainable use of natural resources and their protection: a Study on available methods for sustainable use of common natural resources and methods was developed in 3 languages, an environmental course in 4 modules was developed, covering topics on chemistry, biology, physics and ecosystems; a Study of best marketing practices for popularization of nature protection measures among young people was developed in 3 languages.

There were made the first steps in the Bolyarovo and Kofcaz municipalities to advance the concept of raising environmental awareness and capacity building of youth using interactive through web-based tools that are closer to the life-style of young people. The innovative tools for sustainable use of common natural resources that were created are available on the developed platform: the Balkan Youth Environment Observation platform, where also data gathered by young environmentalists regarding the characteristics and state of the nature can be filled in by the students, displayed and analysed.

The project strove to the best of our abilities to learn “Young ecologists" to protect the environment where we live together with plants and animals, as well as re-balance the ecosystem balance which has been degraded.

Through the courses developed we taught our children, whom we entrust our future, how they can maintain a more habitable world. We also summarized the important tasks in order to protect our world, nature, and maintain the environmental cycle. With our energy and environmentally sensitive approach, we made the next steps forward to protect our world.

An on-line social media campaign has been active throughout the whole duration of the project, which contributed to popularization of nature protection measures among young people, to put in practise some of the measures defined by the marketing study and test them, to popularize the environment protection concept among young people and stimulate them to protect the nature around them.

Social media accounts of the project:

f/ https://www.facebook.com/genccevreciler/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Genccevreciler

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genccevreciler/  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuqnqfGv-uD7SeMzxaibpWg/videos?disable_polymer=1

Materials from the project:

The Project brochure is available HERE.

Project products:

Study on innovative methods for sustainable use of common natural resources (English version) is available HERE.

Study on innovative methods for sustainable use of common natural resources (Bulgarian version) is available HERE.

Study on innovative methods for sustainable use of common natural resources (Turkish version) is available HERE.

Study with best marketing practices for popularization of nature protection (English version) is available HERE.

Study with best marketing practices for popularization of nature protection (Turkish version) is available HERE.

The Environmental course modules for school students (Bulgarian version) are available HERE.

The Environmental course modules for school students (Turkish version) are available HERE.

Balkan Youth Environment Observatory platform developed under the project is available in English, Bulgarian and Turkish on the following web address: http://youth-observatory.com.

5 Videos and teasers for popularization of nature protection measures among young people are available HERE.