Description
The project addresses the adverse impact of practicing popular extreme sports (caving, paragliding, rock climbing) on wildlife and biodiversity. The project aims at raising public awareness and ensuring more sustainable use of natural resources. First, Bulgarian rock climbing areas will be studied. Second, data will be gathered from other European countries. Third, the data will be analyzed and a database and a map of rock climbing areas will be created. Fourth, 6 trainings for cavers, paraglider pilots and rock climbers and 3 awareness-raising round tables for the stakeholders will be carried out. Fifth, online and offline information will be disseminated. Finally, steps will be taken to change the layout of 20 climbing routes, ensure greater safety and improve the surrounding areas. The project will benefit the target groups of young people practicing extreme sports, public administration officials, environmentalist NGOs, the business and the media.
Summary of project results
Many animals whose natural and only environment for existence, reproduction and development are sheer rocks have been negatively affected by extreme sports. Unfortunately Bulgaria has not considered so far the presence of rare animal species (most often birds) in the planning and development of rock climbing routes. At the same time, people practising extreme sports did not have any information about it so far. Even though they in general care about nature, they have not been aware of the fact that their hobby might be harmful for some animals. Thus the project achieved its goal to mitigate negative impact of rock climbing on biodiversity, draw public sympathy to the problem, have control exercised by the state authorities, make available online expert information and set the practice of re-equipment, securing and improving climbing routes for the purpose of environment protection. Rock climbers can get information now about the seasons when their climbing will not be harmful for the protected species. Based on the database about the current condition of climbing sites in Bulgaria and the presence of protected and rare species, recommendations were made to mitigate the conflict between climbers, control authorities and rock-climbing wild animals. Specific steps were also made to mitigate the negative impact on protected species. The Ministry of Environment and Water (MEW) expressed its willingness to regulate better climbing in future. For that purpose the database was submitted to the Ministry staff to help them make decisions. As the issue is important, the experts from Balkani Wildlife Society continue to work on mitigation of the negative impact on rock-climbing species and the conflict even though the project has not finished yet. Rock climbers can use the information and recommendations made under the project. As a result of the project activities 45 sport climbing routes were equipped and re-equipped, 5 sites were secured, 6 access routes were improved, the paths and the access to the sites was cleaned, information boards were placed to refer climbers to the areas where they will not interfere with rare animal species. 20 climbing routes near Veliko Tarnovo and 7 routes in Provadia were removed as they had negative impact on the protected species.
Summary of bilateral results