The necessity of biodiversity conservation in Eminska Mountain as a region with high conservation value is the reason behind this project. In recent years the alarming situation with species decline around the Black Sea coast has become more serious than ever before. Resort construction and turning agriculture land into golf courses and tourist facilities has led to deterioration and fragmentation of the costal habitats. The project aimed to change the attitude and the awareness of the main target group – local communities with regards to sustainable land use through introducing economic stimuli and appropriate decisions which will lead to the preservation of the protected zone “Emine – Irakly.”
Immediate and adequate actions need to be taken in order to stop the drastic decline of one of the most endangered species – tortoises.
The overall aim of the project is conservation and management of the biological diversity in Eminska Mountain through conservation activities, ecological education and popularization of sustainable tourist practices.
Specific goals:
- Revitalization, maintenance and monitoring of the tortoise populations;
- Creating local conditions for education on nature conservation and sustainable tourist development
- Consulting, partnerships and development of an NGO network for nature conservation centers management.
Activities:
- Developing programmes for information and education services in the visitor centre and strategy for local ecotourism development
- Promotion of the project and the region as a tourist destination
- Measures for revitalization and maintenance of the tortoise populations in Eminska Mountain
- Conducting training green school for presenting the biodiversity of Eminska Mountain
- Organising an ecological forum for popularization of the region and sustainable practices applicable by local communities.
- Conducting a consultative meeting with NGO managing nature conservation centers.
Activity 1:
A list of biodiversity elements was prepared including 13 plant and 25 animal species and their specific habitats which were promoted through tourist products prepared in the course of the project.
Promotion of the field work with tortoises among the visitors of the centre.
“Recommendations for sustainable management of natural resources in Eminska Mountains” and “Strategy for ecotourism development in Eminska Mountains” were developed and disseminated.
An educational programme for young and teenage children – “Summer green school in Banya village” was developed.
A digital map and data base of the tortoise population of 67ha was prepared.
Presentations for tour agencies about the potential of the ecotourism in the region were organized.
Activity 2:
A promotion campaign was carried out, including media publications, posters distribution, tourist guide book about Eminska Mountain as an eco destination, merchandise distribution with the project logo, informal meetings with regional tourist agencies, presentation materials about local biodiversity and the possibilities for a new tourist approach, achieving integrity of the offered tourist products. An internet site www.geachelonia.org/proekt_ngofund.html was also launched.
Activity 3:
73 specimens were hatched in the Centre under the ongoing hatch starting programme and data was gathered on the success rate of hatchlings safe hibernation and enclosures for outdoor maintenance until reaching release size.
Activity 4:
A 7-day green school with 28 participants was carried out, including lectures on herpetology, ornithology, botanic, protected areas and habitats, field techniques related to biodiversity and tortoise monitoring in particular.
Activity 5:
A 3-day eco forum with 48 participants was held with 6 presentations, 3 workshops, 1-day hike from the centre along the eco trail in the “Irakly” protected area to the village of Emona with an expert presentation of different aspects of local biodiversity.
Activity 6:
Consultative meeting with organizations managing nature conservation centres with 27 participants was organized, which included methodology exchange about visitor services in the centres.
A mailing list server and an information data base were launched, as well as an internet portal and forum of nature conservation centres in the country. Volunteers exchange between NGOs was carried out. A map of 32 centers and data base about main ecotourism infrastructure was created.
A media campaign covered all aspects of the activities.
Contact information
Ivo Ivanchev
10 Shipka Str., Banya village 8239, Nesebar Municipallity, Bulgaria
Cell Phone: ++359 886 913 916
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