The Gabrovo district is situated in mountain and semi-mountain regions of Bulgaria, at the north-eastern border of National Park ?Central Balkan?. Relief is variable with altitude of between 189 and 1979 ?. Soils are predominantly gray-forest (~ 72% of the district territory), weak humus layer (20?30 ??), and low organic matter. Climatic, soil and ecological conditions favour development of herb species. Naturally, in recent 3 decades, more than 80 herb species were harvested from their natural habitats in the region. Over-exploitation led to a significant decrease of and for 2006 only 20 species were allowed to be harvested. In parallel, the demand for herb for drying and processing increases every year due to increased export opportunities.
The region suffers another ecological problem, i.e nearly 90% of the land around semi-mountain villages is not cultivated. District administration data shows that abandoned land is ~333919 ??? (49 %) (when natural pastures and orchards are not counted). The main reason is the low land productivity and low agricultural product quality. There are prevailing processes of aforestation, land degradation and erosion.
Therefore, the main goal of the proposed project is to contribute for sustainable use of municipality land and growing medicinal plants (herbs) for improving household income of nine villages in municipalities of Sevlievo and Gabrovo.
The project specific aim minimasing processes of land degradation and erosion by cultivation of herb species that have a status of ?threathened? or ?rare? and using biological farming technologies, which are environmentally-friendly and suitable for the region of the Central Bulgaria.
The concrete activities include: a) selection of land, producers and sites for organizing organic farming of herb species; b) selection of herb species adapted to local ecological conditions, having protected status and marketing opportunities; c) establishing 2 seedling production units on 9 dka of land to produce material for cultivation of ~248 dka of land using organic farming techniques; d) writing and publishing brochures and training manual on cultivation techniques of organic herbs; e) organizing on-site assistance and extension during cultivation and growing of herbs to ~250 producers; f) organizing a number of training courses and seminars for producers to improve their qualifications in harvesting herbs from natural habitats, cultivating herbs on arable land, applying for government subsidies for organic production and undertaking alternative forms of employment such as ecotourism and traditional craftsmanship; g) organizing open days for school students and young people (e.g. university students) aiming to improve their ecological education and introduce them to the concept of conservation of biodiversity by cultivation of biological herbs.
Anticipated effect on sustainability include i) minimizing the risk of land degradadion and erosion and improving soil fertility; ii) decrease the pressure on biodiversity of herb species harvested in the natural habitats and their uncontrolled collection and trade; iii) creating opportunities for alternative employment and additional income leading to sustainable development of rural population; iv) involving more young people and thus reducing aging migration in rural areas.
Knowledge and skills to be received by biological producers, support with agricultural materials (e.g. seeds and seedlings, biological manure, tools, etc.), provision of technical literature and provision of contracts for wholesale of certified herbs are all preconditions for high interest to the project aims and activities by the rural population.
The project budget take a balanced approached from careful on-site preparation activities to practical agricultural help to producers and training/education and promotion.