Environmental Monitoring of Dragovishtitsa River

Project facts

Project promoter:
Bulgaria Economic Forum
Project Number:
BG03-0005
Target groups
Young adults,
Students
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€26,728
Final project cost:
€25,498
From EEA Grants:
€ 19,506
The project is carried out in:
Кюстендил / Kyustendil

Description

Overall objective: to increase awareness of and education in biodiversity and ecosystem services, including awareness of and education in the link between biodiversity and climate change, economic valuation of ecosystems. Specific objective: to train volunteers in collecting environmental data and entering it via the public part of the redesigned National biodiversity information system. Dragovishtitsa River flows through East Serbia and West Bulgaria and is a feeder of Struma River. Dragovishtitsa River is 70 km long (25 km in Bulgaria and 45 km in Serbia). Environmental monitoring of the common water resourse and biodiversity will be executed: the water parameters of the river will be measured throughout a period of 1 year. The strong environmental impact of the project is due to its focus on good management of the common water well-beings of the area. Control of the water condition of the River is important for overall view on the environment along the river bed on both sides of the border.

Summary of project results

The project addressed the need of raising awareness of youth about education in biodiversity and ecosystem services, including awareness of and education in the link between biodiversity and climate change, economic valuation of ecosystems. The aim of the project was to obtain information about the influence of the feeding streams on the pollution of the Dragovishtitsa River. A study was performed along the length of the river in Bulgaria and Serbia. 30 points in Serbia and 50 points in Bulgaria were measured. The environmental monitoring was conducted 4 times through the project – for each season. Databases with 47 indicators of the river were collected and updated. According to the monitoring of the parameters of the environmental components of the ecosystem of Dragovishtitsa River in the summer period of 2015, the environmental condition of the river can be characterized as “good”, biotic index 4. Regarding the autumn, winter and spring measurements, the condition of the ecosystem can be characterized as “very good”, biotic index 5. A brochure "Environmental Monitoring of Dragovishtitsa River" including general data about the river, characteristics, methods, results of the monitoring, maps and pictures, was published. The results of the project were presented during a 2-day seminar, organized in Bosilegrad in which 32 participants took part. Numerous information materials were published in electronic media, including on the website of the Beneficiary and its Facebook page, aiming to promote the project itself and its results. The total number of volunteers trained in collecting environmental data is 114. An additional contribution to the project is the participation of trained volunteers in different international contests.

Summary of bilateral results