Central Balkan National Park was established in 1991 and is managed by the Minister of Environment and Water, through its regional body - the Central Balkan National Park Directorate in pursuance of Management Plan 2001-2010, adopted by the Council of Ministers. Since 2007 the territory has the status of NATURA 2000 protected site for conservation of wild birds and protected site for protection of habitats.

Central Balkan covers 717 km2, including part of the 5 districts and 9 municipalities. Near 368,000 inhabitants live in the settlements around the park according to the data from 2005.

For the Central Balkan draft update of the current Management Plan for the period 2012-2021 is implemented since April 2010 and in the next 2-3 years integrated management plans for the 2 protected sites have to be developed.

Timely information and participation of stakeholders in the preparation and effective implementation of these strategic management documents, ensuring the balance and relationship between applied for the park and in the region and its management policies and plans, including various municipal, county, etc. plans and development programs are essential challenges for the administration of the park. To encourage and ensure participation of key stakeholders from the management of the park key elements of the approach of "joint management" (Collaborative management approach) were implemented - a representative forum of stakeholders (Public Advisory Council to the Park Directorate) and acceptance of the Partnership Agreement (Long-term vision for the park). This approach can successfully be applied in future management of some of the important Natura 2000 sites in Bulgaria.

The main objective of the project is: To introduce a model of management Central Balkan National Park, providing regular communication and effective cooperation and participation of stakeholders in the processes of decision making.

Among the specific objectives of the project are:

• Creating though an open and democratic process of the Public Advisory Council to the Park Directorate.
• Testing the model by developing a long-term vision for the management of the Central Balkan - political basis for subsequent management plans and regional development.
• To achieve the set objectives the following activities were performed:
• Personal meetings with over 100 representatives of key stakeholders for their involvement in the process;
• Nine public information meetings in municipalities around the park and in Sofia - defined interests and resources ready to share, elected representatives for subsequent workshops to stakeholders from each group;
• Workshops for each formed stakeholders group - nomination and election of representatives of relevant stakeholders in the Public Advisory Council / in some cases - elections on the Internet - NGOs, journalists/;
• Three workshops of the Public Advisory Council - adopted the draft Rules of Procedure of the Board and Long term vision for the National Park (2010 - 2050) under the name "Look at our common future";
• Official founding meeting of the Public Advisory Council, held in Sofia.

• Started implementation of a management model of Central Balkan NP, ensuring regular communication, cooperation and effective participation of stakeholders in the processes of decision making;
• Designed in an open and democratic process is a Public Advisory Council to the Central Balkan National Park Directorate, including delegated representatives of major stakeholders;
• Important consents for the purposes of park management have been achieved in the process of developing and adopting the long-term vision’
• Developed approach is proposed for discussion at national level as a management tool for the element of the National Ecological Network;
• Improved communication between the park administration and interested stakeholders from its management.  Achieved is a better awareness and approval of activities and projects of the park administration;

Contact information

Kamen Chipev, Project Coordinator

TIME Foundation

4 Racho Dimchev Str., floor 2, ap. 2, Sofia 1000, Bu;garial

Tel./fax: ++359 2 9541080

[email protected]