News - Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation

Nov. 30, 2012

First Round Table in the frame of the Project REEFS

On 29-30 November 2012, First Round Table in the frame of the Project Research and Restoration of the Essential Filter of the Sea – REEFS under the “Black Sea Basin 2007-2013” (Black Sea Basin Programme) which is an EU funded Programme financed by the ENPI and IPA instruments, is taking place in Odessa, Republic of Ukraine.
The aim of this round table is to review the legislative and institutional framework together with the administrative procedures related to reefs conservation and restoration in Black Sea in the partnering countries Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine.

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Riccardo Oggioni, Young Capra Ibrex jumping across the creek during snowfall

Nov. 27, 2012

The winners in the photocontest Nature 2000 are already known

Bulgarian photographers won the public awards for both categories

The contest organised by CEEWeb, BBF and partners to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Habitats Directive has been ended. It's time for awards! We, the BBF team are extremely happy by the fact that Bulgarians won the online voting in both categories. Atanas Grozdanov with his photo Good Morning Madjarovo and Jordan Hristov with his photo Ecosystem doctor won the sympathy of the public. Atanas Grozdanov won in Natura 2000 species and habitats – our natural heritage to guard Category and Jordan Hristov won in Ecosystem services from the Natura 2000 network are the key for our survival Category.

The jury also announced their favourites after long and continuous arguments. Category winner of Natura 2000 species and habitats – our natural heritage to guard is Riccardo Oggioni with his photo Young Capra Ibrex jumping across the creek during snowfall.

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Nov. 25, 2012

The public voting in the BBF's and CEEWeb's contest has been ended

The public voting for the contest organised by CEEWeb, BBF and partners to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Habitats Directive has been ended – the winners of the public voting will be announced on 27 November!

On the same date along with public winners will be annouced the favourites of the jury also. Attila Kovacs from Hungarian News Agency MTI, Istvan Lang - professional nature photographer from Foto Natura, Bogdan Boev, Bulgarian wild nature photographer, Stefan Avramov, Protected areas and species Coordinator from BBF, Agnes Zolyomi from CEEWeb for Biodiversity and Jaro Sibl, BROZ will choose the winners in both categories, who will win - three full-day-stay in the breath-taking Bulgarian Western Rhodope or a day in the famous – UNESCO world Heritage Site – Hortobágy National Park. Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation wishes to thank to all who voted and participated in our contest!

Nov. 20, 2012

Voting for public awards for Natura 2000 contest goes on

The submission of BBF's, CEEweb’s and their partners’ photo contest to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Habitats Directive came to an end last week. We received more than hundreds of photos from all over Europe inspired by the breath-taking beauty of Natura 2000 species and habitats. We selected the best of the best, which will compete for public and jury awards. While the competent jury votes who will be the winners in both categories, we can choose our favourites for the public awars by voting to the following address: http://www.ceeweb.org/news-events/photo-gallery/ Deadline for voting - 25th of November!
We, the BBF team are extremely happy that almost half of the selected photos are Bulgarian and show the beauty of Bulgaria! We wish good luck to all the participants!

Apr. 16, 2012

To prepare for the Zelenika Festival 2012

After one year of interruption we are unpationed to join the 9th Zelenika Festival. This year there will be a bonus - 3 days from 25 to 27 of may. More detailes could be read from the Programme!

Mar 21, 2012

BBF project competes in an International online competition of the European Outdoor Conservation Association and National Geographic

Project of the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation for Chamois conservation in National Park Rila and Central Balkan National Park competes for the votes of the readers of the Internet websites of European Outdoor Conservation Association http://www.outdoorconservation.eu/project-voting-category.cfm?catid=3 and the German edition of National Geographic http://www.nationalgeographic.de/die-welt-von-ng/die-sechs-eoca-projekte-2012 .

We ask you to support us by voting on one of these two websites! You can vote only once from your computer!

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Feb. 21, 2012

Chamois Isidor survived the big snows, there is no sign from Divna

http://www.dnevnik.bg/zelen/2012/02/21/1770941_diviiat_kozel_isidor_prejivia_golemite_studove_niama/

Feb. 02, 2012

World Wetlands Day for Tourism

The World Wetlands Day theme for 2012 is Wetlands and Tourism and is linked to the theme for the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties, COP11: Wetlands, Tourism and Recreation, which will take place in July 2012, in Bucharest, Romania.
Wetland tourism has benefits both locally and nationally for people and wildlife – benefits such as stronger economies, sustainable livelihoods, healthy people and thriving ecosystems. At least 35% of Ramsar Sites around the world record some level of tourism activity and this percentage is consistent throughout all regions. Of course it is important to consider tourism in all wetlands – not just those designated as Ramsar Sites – since the Contracting Parties to the Convention are committed to managing all wetlands.

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Feb. 01, 2012

New BBF office in Sofia

From today - February 1, 2012 BBF has a new address in Sofia - 41 Veslets Str., floor 4th.

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Jan. 05, 2012

2012 - the Year of the Butterflies

If you want to support our activities for the Buterflies in 2012 - make a donation to BBF or order our new beautiful calendar with 14 pages for protected bulgarian species.

May 22, 2011

In 2011 - biodiversity and forests in global, boreal forests and Capercaillie - nationwide!

Today is International Biodiversity Day, which this year focuses on forests as it has declared 2011 International Year of Forests (http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/). In this regard, BBF, together with the Biosphere Association announced in 2011 as the Year of the Capercaillie in Bulgaria issued a special calendar dedicated to this bird and its friends living in boreal forests (Lynx, Chamois, Owl, etc.).

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May 12, 2011

Trans boundary Forum for Osogovo in the Green Belt

On 16-17 May 2011 in the monastery Joakim Osogovski in Kriva Palanka, Macedonia will be held Trans-boundary stakeholder forum - Osogovo in the Green Belt. Representatives of the Ministries of Environment of Bulgaria and Macedonia, representatives of UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), representative of District Administration Kyustendil, mayors of municipalities in the region of Osogovo and Kyustendil City Council, representatives of RIEW Pernik, and leading organizations and partners.

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Apr. 16, 2011

Eco-event on St.Lazarus' Day

An action for cleaning clean of the Veleka River Mouth Protected Area will be held on Saturday, 04/16/2011, with the participation of about 50 children from Tsarevo, students at the Nikola Vaptsarov School. The Veleka Mouth is one of the most beautiful and emblematic places on the Southern Black Sea coast, among the few remaining undeveloped oases of wilderness. With gloves and bags the children will clean the sandy “hair” (beach) to the mouth, and thus be included in the national campaign To clean up Bulgaria. The action is organized by the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation in partnership with the Municipality of Tsarevo and the Strandja Nature Park Directorate and the Mayorship of Sinemorets will care about the collected garbage.

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Apr. 12, 2011

Meeting of NGO and EC reresentatives

Representatives of the Directorate General Environment of the European Commission met in Sofia with NGOs to discuss progress on a number of criminal infringements on protected areas under NATURA 2000 in Bulgaria. The meeting was attended by Jean-Francois Brakeland from the legal department at DG Environment, Stefan Leiner Department of Natura 2000 and other experts. Non-government sector was represented by members of the Coalition For the Nature in Bulgaria, including the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, Green Balkans, Citizens for Rila, BSPB and "Save Irakli”. Procedures for criminal violations in protected areas such as Irakli, Emine, Rila, Pirin, Strandja and others were discussed. During the meeting were discussed further the problems with waste management in Sofia and Bulgaria, Belene, the lack of an effective strategy for renewable energy.

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Apr. 04, 2011

Our Petko has a baby girl already

The Acting Executive Director at the time - Petko Tsvetkov got a third child. Lovely Kalina was born on March 27, 2011 and is in perfect measures, such as her mother Julia.

To the little Princess we wish good health and luck, and to the happy dad - to have more time for his family and less care for the protection of the Pirin and the Bulgarian nature.

Mar 21, 2011

Training on how to make soap and chocolates in Strandja

The practical training organised by the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation (BBF) in Malko Tarnovo during the weekend was met with exceptional interest. The main presenter was Mr. Born Arne Naess from the Directorate for Nature Management in Norway, who is personally experienced in the making of soap, candies and other products.

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Mar 20, 2011

Belasitsa Nature Park presented in the Natural History Museum in Sofia

National Museum of Natural History (NMNH-BAS) and the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation (BBF) devote the month of April at the newest Nature Park - Belasitsa. In NMNHS will be organized series of events - presenting an exhibition introducing the thematic trail "Life of chestnut”, presentation of books about the mountain, lectures. The official opening of the exhibition "Belasitsa - the newest Nature Park in Bulgaria” will be held on March 25, 2011 from 17:00 in the lobby of the museum. Author of all the photographs featured in the exhibition is the photographer Pjotr Rzerzycha. The event will be accompanied by presentation of photographic field guide "Interesting plants of Belasitsa”.

Mar 18, 2011

The idea for Biosphere park supported by the Burgas Governor

UNESCO representatives visited the Burgas Governor, Mr. Konstantin Grebenarov, to familiarize him with the results from the International workshop held in Tsarevo during the last days. More than 60 persons became involved in the workshop and learned about biosphere parks in Europe and whether Strandja is a suitable region for designation of such a park. The experience of Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Turkey and Greece shared during the seminar showed us that this concept is aimed mainly toward man and man’s harmonious coexistence with surrounding nature. And while protected areas conserve mainly biodiversity, biosphere parks and reserves are focused mainly on humans and on the promotion of their own potential for sustainable development.

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Mar 11, 2011

UNESCO International workshop for Strandja in Tzarevo

An international workshop BEST PRACTICES FOR SUSTAINABLE USE AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN PROTECTED AREAS IN REGARDS OF THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE CONCEPT will take place on 14-16 March 2011 in the town of Tsarevo. The workshop is organised by the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation (BBF) with the support of the UNESCO Venice Office and the Bulgarian National MAB Committee.

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Feb. 04, 2011

LIFE+ Information Session 2011

The European Commission will publish the fifth Call for Proposals under the LIFE+ Programme in February 2011, with up to €265.360 million available across the EU for co-financing projects under three headings: nature and biodiversity; environment policy and governance; and information and communication.

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