The Transhumance has been implemented for centuries at Balkan Peninsula, but recently it has been almost forgotten in Bulgaria. Now, very few farmers are practicing short-distant pendulous movements of their herds, from mountains to the valleys in winter and back in summer. This kind of vertical movement is similar to the Transhumance, but no long distant horizontal movements are applied. It is believed the Transhumance to be more economically effective and with highest nature conservation importance. As avoid overgrazing in the lowlands and keep the mountain pastures opened. Many species of plants, birds and mammals are threatened of extinction due to habitat loss. This is especially well documented regarding the pastoral habitats in mountains and lowlands. Species like Imperial Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, European Souslik ? all listed as Vulnerable in IUCN Red list, are highly dependent on the existence of open habitats that are well grazed and so the diversity of plants and insects is high. The Saker Falcon, recently listed as Endangered on Global level, is also highly dependent on the presence of open well grazed habitats in the mountains and lowlands.
The traditions of implementing Transhumance have been lost totally during the Communistic period in Bulgaria due to the nationalization of economy including the livestock breeding.
Many people believe that the Transhumance is not applicable in modern world. But the conservationists in Spain and France have shown that the ?first world? countries are now developing projects and restore Transhumance- of course with the help of some new millennium advantages (e.g. cell phone communication, solar panels for electricity, heliportage of animals and medicaments etc.). So, being familiar with the problems of livestock breeding in Bulgaria and the success of restoration of the Transhumance in Spain and France, and the still practiced in the near by Macedonia, FWFF decided to restore it in Bulgaria as well. FWFF possesses 250 sheep in Kotel Mountain, a sheep shelter and is renting 48,79 hectares of mountain pastures and meadows for the need of its livestock compensation program. In the frame of Balkan Vultures Action Plan, FWFF is implementing a project to stop the conflict between farmers and wild predators as compensate the affected farmers with a live animal from its herd. This way it is believed the illegal use of poison will be reduced and this will greatly benefit predators? and vultures? conservation. Using the presence of the herd, consisted mainly of Karakachan Sheep- an ancient breed, FWFF has decided to develop the current project proposal and to increase the impact of its herd. The first step for restoration of long distant Transhumance will be a preparation of an action plan. FWFF team will pass along the old-known road from Stara Mountain to Eastern Rodopi and Sakar Mountain. The exact path will be mapped and the property of the land will be checked. Mainly state property and municipal property lands will be chosen for reestablishment the path. Conversations with local authorities will be provided and their support will be asked. A winter shelter will be renovated in Eastern Rodopi Mountain near the town of Madjarovo. We choose this area because it is of highest conservation importance, the winter is mild and our partner BSPB is active in this area for more than 15 years. First movement of the herd will be done in the autumn by truck. If the action plan and the path for by foot migration are prepared until the spring, and if all documentation required is on hand the herd will be moved in the traditional way- by foot for one-two weeks along the Tunja River to the summer grounds near Kotel. When passing around the villages, a special events and fairs will be organized by FWFF and local people. As this would become a new attraction for eco-tourists. Also tourists, volunteers and journalists will be invited to make this journey together with the herd and the shepherds, so to feel the spirit of this ancient practice and to make it popular. A ?Shepherd school? will be organized by FWFF in Kotel Mountain. Renovation of the shepherds? house of the FWFF?s sheep shelter is planned and purchasing of most of the furniture and equipment needed. Twelve young people will be trained in shepherd skills of two one-month trainings. This practice is planned to continue after the end of the project too, as FWFF will provide free training, accommodation and probably meals for the selected trainees. Those of trainees had shown good results, will receive recommendations to work as shepherds in farms- producing bio-products and/or practicing transhumance.
An exhibition, booklet and video production is planned for promoting the Transhumance and to attract more farmers to co-operate for implementation of the Transhumance in Bulgaria.
The total budget of the project is 126 866,98 BGN, as required from GEF SGP are 48 219,50 BGN (38,01 %). FWFF financial contribution is 31 867,48 BGN. BSPB as a partner will provide financial contribution of 660 BGN. The total in ? kind contribution is 46 120 BGN.