Contents
of this page:
Establishment 
Staff
Achievements
Projects
Expertise
Donors
Contact address
Year
of Establishment:
1993
Current Staff:
| Country Office Director: |
Gerassim Evtimov Gerassimov
|
| Project Managers: |
Vesselin Drobenov
Nelly Papazova
Kristina Strukanska
|
| Project
Staff: |
Desislava Stefanova
|
Major
Achievements:
REC Bulgaria has established excellent cooperation and relations with
governments (national and local), non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
business and other environmental stakeholders geared towards improvement
of the overall status of the environment in the country and the region.
The country office is a focal point for the international
donor community. It is regularly contacted as the best source of information
and knowledge on the state of the environment in Bulgaria and the region.
The country office engages local communities and authorities by offering
services and expertise on topics like EU accession process, environmental
education, public participation, access to information, sustainable tourism
and agricultural practices, and biodiversity protection.
Main
projects in 2006 and 2007
Danube Regional Project, Component 3.4
- Enhancing Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental
Decision Making
The Danube Regional Project is implementing 22 project
components with large number of specific activities. Component 3.4. concerns
public assess to information. The project is being implemented in five
riparian countries: Bosna and Herzegovina, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania
and Serbia. It is funded by UNDP/GEF.
The project is implemented on national level in cooperation
with Ministry of Environment and Water, Basin Directorates, local authorities,
business and non-governmental sector.
The following major results were achieved:
- Assessment and analysis of the current barriers for
providing water-related information on the grounds of “business
and trade confidentiality” and comparison with EU practices; assessment
and analysis of active and passive information provision process;
- National meeting on access to water-related information
was organized with participation of more than 40 stakeholders from local
and national authorities, business, NGOs and media;
- REC supported Danube Region Basin Directorate in establishment
of web site http://www.dunavbd.org/
- trained IT experts, developed manual for maintenance of the web site;
- Basin directorates supported in designing an up-dating
of their web sites and sections for public access to information; Basin
Directorates were proposed to include developed FAQs material on their
web sites;
- Access to water-related information: legislation
and internet sources brochure was designed, printed and disseminated
among the interested parties. The brochure is available on-line on www.rec.bg/brochure;
- Developed recommendations to the MoEW internal manual
“How to provide environmental information”. Recommendations
were accepted to be included in the manual;
- State experts from Ministry of Environment and Water,
Regional Inspections on Environment and Water, National Parks, Nature
Parks were given practical advices for implementation of the Aarhus
Convention and national access to information legislation in two one-day
seminars;
- A demonstration project which aimed at establishment
of a model for public access to information through partnership involving
local institutions, NGOs and the community in Lovech and Troyan municipalities
was successfully implemented.
Danube Regional Project, National Grants, Second
Round
The main point of the national grants is to facilitate
multi-stakeholder cooperation in the reduction of both point and non-point
sources of nutrient and toxic pollution at national level in the Danube
basin. Seven non-governmental organisations were awarded with the total
amount of 40,000 USD for a period of one year.
The implemented projects on national level were:
- Cleaning of Danube River Coastal Line from Industrial,
Agricultural and Household Waste. Forestation with Poplar and Willow
Trees. Intereco-21 Federation
- Reconstruction of Wet Lands Habitats in Oriahovo and
Mizia Municipalities. Euromodel Association
- To Stop Danube River Nutrient Pollution. Community
Union World for All
- Improvement of Danube River Environmental Status.
Regional Initiative Association
- Establishment of Informational and Educational Centre
in the Town of Vidin. Bulagria in Europe Association
- Organizing a Competition for Movies and Documentaries
about Danube Basin Pollution. European Environment Festival Foundation
- More Space for Rivers and Safety for People. Bulgarian
Biodiversity Foundation
Assistance for the Implementation of the New
Waste Management Legislation and National Waste Management Programmes
in Bulgaria Follow-up
This project is a direct follow-up of the previous project
funded by the Japan Special Fund. This follow-up cooperation project assisted
the Ministry of Environment and Water and the municipalities in the implementation
of the National policy on waste management. The project is funded by the
Japan International Cooperation Agency. The following objectives are achieved
during the project implementation:
- Developed, published and disseminated Guidebook for
Waste Management in Municipalities. The guidebook includes chapters
referring to the main principles for waste management development; waste
management in the process of EU integration; Bulgarian waste legislation;
national waste management programme (2003-2007); development of municipal
waste management programme and financial resources for waste management
projects and programmes.
- Organized a series of five explanatory trainings/seminars
for municipalities in Plovdiv, Bourgas, Varna, Vidin and Rousse regions.
During the seminars the manual was presented and the participants could
ask experts about legislation – European and Bulgarian, finding
sources and processes of municipal waste management programmes elaboration.
Transboundary Project West Stara Planina
The aim of the project is to create conditions for cooperation
and partnership in the protection of the shared natural resources and
the sustainable development of West Stara Planina between Bulgaria and
Serbia. The project aims at straightening cooperation at different levels:
government, local authorities, and civil society as a whole. It is implemented
within the framework of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme
for South Eastern Europe (REReP) of the Stability Pact and financed by
the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The project started
in 2002. The outcomes of the project implementation in 2006 are:
- Institutionalization of the transboundary cooperation
through the establishment of Euroregion Stara Planina by 11 border municipalities
under the patronage of the Council of Europe. The Euroregion will lead
transboundary cooperation initiatives in the region in the areas of
tourism, agriculture, culture, environment and infrastructure; REC was
appointed as Secretariat of Euroregion Stara Planina;
- Chiprovtzi municipality was supported to development
tourist programs based on local products and traditions and to present
these programs to the main Tourist Fair in Bulgaria – Vacations
2007;
- Seven trainings were organized in the areas of tourism
business development, craftsmen business development, biosphere reserve
development, marketing in tourism for more than 120 local stakeholders;
- Transboundary working group on agriculture was established
and the Bulgarian members were made a study tour to the Serbian part
of WSP for exchange of best practices;
- The following major publications were produced:
Assessment of natural resources and opportunities for development of
Euroregion Stara Planina – booklet and cd;
Tourist map of WSP with hiking trails and main attractions;
Fundraising brochure of the project;
Five issues of the local newspaper Northwest Balkan;
Three brochures and poster on Nature Park West Balkan;
Calendar for 2007 presenting all municipalities of Euroregion Stara
Planina;
- The following PR events were held: exhibition of
the WSP municipalities during Euroregion establishment ceremony; Exhibition
of local craftsmen in Sofia art gallery; support to participation of
WSP municipalities at Tourist Fair in Sofia.
Project activities in 2007
- Institutional strengthening of Euroregion Stara Planina
- Strategic planning of the Euroregion – structure, mechanisms
of works, funding, national offices
- Implementation of pilot actions selected from the Euroregion action
plan.
- Integration of Euroregion Stara Planina in European
structures and processes
- Becoming member of European Association of Border Regions
- Study tour to operational Euroregions and associations
- Training on the involvement in EU regional policy
- Communication and promotion
- Competition for logo of the Euroregion
- Developing Euoregion website and Euroregion newspaper.
Preparation of Documentation for designation
of Nature Park West Balkan - 2006
The project is financed by the Bulgarian Ministry of
Environment and Water. The main goals of the project are development of
documentation for the designation of “West Balkan” Nature
Park and holding of public hearings. The project is in response to the
willingness and commitment of the local communities to designate a nature
park in West Stara Planina. “West Balkan” nature park covers
160,000 hectares in Bulgaria. According to the biodiversity assessment,
the territory is of extremely important conservation value.
Major achievements of the project are:
- Completed documentation for designation of Nature Park West Balkan,
including complete maps, draft decree for designation and protocol of
official public hearing submitted to the Bulgarian MoEW;
- Awareness raising campaign and public hearings for designation of the
nature park including 8 local municipal meetings with more than 200 participants;
media campaign in local radio and newspapers; and distribution of information
brochures and poster.
Study on Strengthening Environmental Institutions
in West Balkans - 2006
The purpose of the project is to extract the best practices
and lessons from the institutional strengthening processes implemented
in the pre-accession period in the new European Union member states and
the European Union candidate countries and transfer them to the West Balkans.
The project is financed by the World Bank.
The country office was responsible for elaboration of
assessment tools and methods used to improve the environmental capacity
of national institutions within the context of Acquis Communitaire. The
assessment was done by interviews, focus group meetings and social surveys.
The country office concluded the assessment of the institutional capacity
for implementation of the EU environmental legislation in Bulgaria with
analysis of 50 answers to a questionnaire sent to institutions, NGOs and
business. The results were sent to the World Bank for further processing.
As best practice case study was presented the Monitoring of Sofia Municipal
Council during 2004-2005.
Strengthening the capacity of the Bulgarian environmental
authorities and SEA experts in application the SEA in the context of the
biodiversity aspects into SEA procedures - 2006
The purpose of the project is to support and develop
the capacity of Bulgarian EIA and SEA experts and local authorities to
carry out biodiversity assessment in compliance with the SEA Directive
and other international obligations. The project is funded by the International
Association for Impact Assessment. Achievements of the project are:
- Organized Workshop on Integration of Biodiversity and
Nature Conservation Considerations in Strategic Environmental Assessment.
The event was attended by representatives of RIEWs, MoEW, National and
Nature Parks. Topics of the discussion were development of a manual and
the main problems for biodiversity protection in SEA and planning;
- Guidelines for Environmental Authorities and SEA Experts on Integration
of Biodiversity Protection Aspects in the Process of Strategic Environmental
Assessment were developed. The Brochure, the manual and CD with background
documents, SEA guidelines and materials from the workshop held in October
2006 were developed and published with state experts input.
Extending the Partnership for Clean Fuels and
Vehicles to CEE and Turkey - 2006
The project is targeted to assist the development and
implementation of national policies for improvement of vehicle fuel quality
through sharing experience between policy makers and experts from business
sector and other interested parties. The project is funded by UNEP.
Seminar that presented practices and policies implemented worldwide that
can be transferred in Bulgaria: cleaner fuels and vehicles – cars,
buses and trucks; economic instruments and urban transport programmes
was organized in March, 2006. The seminar was attended by state experts,
NGO representatives, academics, automobile associations, companies for
public transport, etc. CDs, representing the results of 16 national questionnaires
on the status of clean flues and vehicles in CEE and Turkey and materials
from a workshop and conference held in Szentendre, were disseminated during
the seminar.
Promotion of Nature Protection Actions and Sustainable
Development across the Border - Technical Assistance for Establishment
of CBC BG-GR Eco-Netwroks
The project is contracted by the Bulgarian Ministry of
Regional Development and Public Works under PHARE CBC. The main project
activities will be implemented within 11 months – from January to
November 2007:
- Identification of four eco-networks in the transboundary
region;
- Proposal for establishment of management bodies;
- Development of Regional Sustainable Development Programme
for the next 10 years;
- Elaboration of Monitoring programme and joint informational
system;
- Development of Communication Strategy and Campaign
for public awareness raising about eco-networks and the concrete benefits
and effects of their future existence.
The project covers territories on both sides of the Bulgarian-Greek
border. The project covers four regions with the following centers on
the Bulgarian side: Haskovo, Smolyan, Blagoevgrad and Kardzhali. On the
territory of Greece the project covers two administrative units on regional
level and seven administrative units on district level: Eastern Macedonian-Thracian
Region with Evros, Kavala, Xanthi, Rodopi and Drama districts and Central
Macedonian Region with Thessaloniki and Seres districts. The following
goals have to be achieved by the project:
- Enhancing the cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece
for biodiversity and landscape protection through establishment of transboundary
eco-networks;
- Implementation of balanced approach in project activities
execution in accordance with the National Sustainable Development Strategy
and with stakeholder interests;
- Establishment of a wide platform for public support
of the project based on the opinions and attitudes of the local community
and management structures through information, dialogue and implementation
of the best European practices.
Tourist trail West Balkan – for the Benefit
of People and Nature - 2007
The project is financed by GEF small grants program
in Bulgaria.
The region of West Stara Planina, in which REC for CEE supported by SDC
is working already for 5 years, is one of the most underdeveloped areas
in Bulgaria. At the same time the territory is of global significance
for the protection of important species and habitats and currently a procedure
is running for its designation as a Nature Park.
In the previous years, a regional tourist route “West
Balkan” was developed passing through 10 small settlements in 5
rural municipalities – Belogradchik, Chuprene, Chiprovtzi, Georgi
Damjanovo and Berkovitza. Along the route are situated some of the most
important habitats for conservation of the globally significant biodiversity
in West Stara Planina. The current project uses the established route
as an instrument for education in the most significant biodiversity of
the mountain and for development of an ecotourism product.
Project target groups are the households in the 10 settlements, the tourist
information centers, municipal administrations, local non-governmental
organizations, forestry departments, and all visitors to the region.
The overall goal of the project is protection and promotion of the globally
significant biodiversity of West Stara Planina and its transformation
to an ecotourist product from which the local communities will benefit.
Objectives:
- Development of interpretative program along the tourist
route West Balkan for the most significant species and habitats
- Developing local capacity for the interpretation
of the biodiversity and organization of the ecotourism product
- Marketing and promotion of the ecotourist product,
the route and the biodiversity of the region.
Expected results:
- Improved protection of 5 important habitats;
- Developed 5 ecotourism products;
- Trained 73 persons in interpreting biodiversity and
organizing tourist products;
- Increased promotion of the West Balkan tourist route
and increased number of tourists.
Major activities
- Interpretation of the biodiversity and development
of a guidebook and 5 interactive modules
- Training of 10 certified mountain guides
- Training oh households in biodiversity interpretation/animation
- Marketing research and organization of tourist programs
- Establishment of community working group on Biodiversity
Management
- PR campaign and development of promotional materials
and website
- Participation in the National tourist fair “Vacation
2008”
Country
Office Expertise:
- Environmental capacity building
- Environmental information dissemination
- NGO support
- Business and environment
- Local initiatives
- Public participation
- Environmental policy
- Climate change
- Environmental law
- Rural development
- Sustainable tourism and agricultural practices
- Strategic planning and sustainable development
- Biodiversity
Project Donors
- JICA
- Japan Special Fund
- Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
- UNDP/GEF
- World Bank
- Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water
- Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works
Contact
address:
Tzar Simeon 42
Entr. A, Ap. 2, Oborishte District
Sofia, 1000 Bulgaria
Phone: (359-2) 983-4817
Fax: (359-2) 983-5217
E-mail: rec-bulgaria@rec.org
Web-site: www.rec.bg |
