Description
The project addresses the increased littering of Central Balkan National Park due to unsustainable use of natural resources. The project aims at raising public awareness by engaging local people, students and tourists in cleaning-up the mountain hut areas from litter. First, a coalition of NGOs and community centres will be set up to join the efforts and resources of the stakeholders. Second, 24 coalition members will be trained to keep clean the mountain. Third, 6 eco camps will be held to clean-up the routes and areas around the huts. Fourth, 3-week events will be held to inform about the negative impact of picking mushrooms, herbs and timber. Next, demo treatment and composting of litter generated from tourists and huts will be held. Finally, legislative amendments will be proposed. The project will benefit the local communities, authorities, NGOs and tourists. The partners will coordinate the actions of the participants, the youth coalition and train the volunteers.
Summary of project results
The project was needed due to the increased pollution by waste of adjacent village areas and the adjacent lands of Central Balkan National Park close to 4 settlements from Karlovo Municipality and to the unsustainable use of the natural resources of the Park for business purposes. The implemented project had undoubted positive impact on the children (Prista Scouting Club, Russe, Hristo G. Danov Primary School, Klisura, Gen. Kartsov Primary School, village of Hristo Danovo) and local communities. The local population has increased its interest and confidence about the possible outcomes of its personal involvement and the civic initiatives promoting the joint efforts of the clubs, groups and associations with Academic Association for Sport, Tourism and Environment Protection (Academic ASTEP), the schools and community centres for practical interaction with the mayors’ offices, the administration of Karlovo Municipality and Central Balkan National Park in order to solve the urgent environmental issues. The project helped the existing clubs and other informal associations strengthen their organizations, boost their experience and capacity to continue the activities after the project end; in addition, the voluntary initiative of Academic ASTEP called CLEAN MOUNTAINS has been under way. The direct project outcomes include the training carried out and the 8 eco-camps held on the premises of Kozya stena Chalet and Echo Chalet (197 participants); an information campaign and a questionnaire (308 respondents). The partners were actively involved in the project. Probuda 1927 Community Centre, the village of Hristo Danovo, coordinated the actions of the clubs, associations and groups from the schools and community centres, the mayor’s office, hunting parties and other stakeholders from the four localities of Karlovo Municipality and hosted the round table held under the project. The student clubs and the experts of Rousse University contributed to the beneficial work of the youth coalition, the training of teams of volunteers, the organization of eco-camps, the drafting and argumentation of the proposals for amendments to the legislative framework regulating Karlovo Municipality and the rules for the use of natural resources of Central Balkan National Park.
Summary of bilateral results