Description
The project addresses the need for greater NGO involvement in decision-making about the environment. The project aims at encouraging greater involvement through advocacy work. First, the civil representation in Bulgaria will be studied and analyzed and recommendations will be made to improve it. Second, legislative amendments to improve the NGO representation will be prepared. Third, NGOs and CSOs will be encouraged to be involved in policy-making at all levels through working meetings and trainings organized as well as counselling. Finally, the capacity of To Sustain Nature in Bulgaria Coalition will be developed by creating a digital archive bringing in a single database the information and documentary resources of the coalition members. The project will benefit NGOs, informal civil groups, decision-makers local communities, young people and volunteers. The partners will help mobilize the local communities and facilitate communication.
Summary of project results
The joint efforts of experts and citizens in Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria Coalition, an informal network of NGOs and initiative groups that joined their effort to conserve the protected areas and Natura 2000 areas, reinforced the feeling that nature protection, sustainable development and law enforcement are possible only with active citizen participation. The project aimed at supporting citizens and their structures by systematizing the experience of the environmental community and providing direct assistance to NGOs and informal groups to solve urgent environmental issues through advocacy and expert support. Steps were made for specific amendments to the rules on direct and indirect civic participation in the legislation on environment protection. The following project outputs were prepared: (1) a report with an analysis of NGO representation and (2) a digital archive with an updated description and documents from 17 long-standing civil society campaigns and a description of 10 cases supported under the project. Direct assistance was also provided to NGOs and informal groups for policy-setting and the solution of more than 20 specific environmental problems through advocacy activities and expert support. 13 proposals were submitted to the executive and/or legislative power for legislative amendments and half of them were adopted. Guides for the solution of the following most urgent and common problems were prepared: sustainable management of forests, sustainable management of domestic waste, holding referenda. Various local groups from the country were introduced to one another which helped for permanent networking, setting communication channels and organization of first joint campaigns which will continue after the project as well. Capacity building was supported through the organization of more than 10 workshops for activists and regular involvement of trainees and volunteers in the practical project activities and project management. For more information and access to all project deliverables, please, visit:
http://forthenature.org/uchastie-za-prirodata
Summary of bilateral results