2.2. Justification
Centuries on end the Rhodopy region was famous for its endless herds, breaded here. The herds spent the winters on the White Sea coast, where it is warm and there is food for the herds.
Because of the changes that followed 9th September 1944 and most of all the closing of the boarder with Greece and the compulsory sedentary life for the people, engaged in sheep breeding, led to a dramatic decrease in the number of sheep and to breeding races, not characteristic for the region and not accustomed to long passages. This led to the fact that the most wide spread and adopted to regional characteristics Karakachanska sheep became in danger of disappearance. The local breeds, like the Karakachanska sheep, are a part of the bio diversity of Bulgaria. They are valuable not only as a part of that bio diversity, but also as races adapted exactly to the Bulgarian living conditions.
The investigations show that the Karakachanska sheep is one of the oldest races on the Balkan Peninsula. Genetically it is closest to the wild sheep Ovis ammon misimon. Animals of that kind were bred there for ages and as a result a very robust and adopted to the hard living conditions and nomadic way of life sheep race, known in Bulgaria as Karakachanska sheep was consolidated.
The presant project aims to raise the community interest and to stress how uniquely different our country is , despite of its small area. The Old Bulgarian races and traditions are in danger of disappearance and forgetfulness. These are races adapted to our region, and the traditions are connected to the means of living and both contribute to the uniqueness of Bulgaria. Except as sources of income from breeding the race, its uniqueness can be used to attract tourists and to raise the economic prosperity of the region. That is way it?s very important for us to find way of their survival.
Breeding of races not adapted to the local living conditions is in many cases economically not effective. This makes people stop breeding sheep and the ancient for the Rhodopes means of life ? sheep breeding decline. Thus the possibilities for the local people to earn their living lessen, and they have to migrate and depopulate the mountain.
To lessen the threat many programs like this one of UNDP, of SHARS, SAPARD, etc. support the restoration of disappearing local races, like Karakachanska sheep. The restoration of a disappearing race is a long process, demanding much money as well. So that the support of local authorities is necessary to lobby in front of the higher institutions that they accept incentive measures for this activity.
The sheep breeders have also to be informed about the possibilities they can use to be financed and about the organizations that can help them in their efforts to restore the race.

The present project makes efforts to solve part of the problems and to help the restoration of the disappearing race Karakachanska sheep as well as use this to develop and include a new tourist product in the region.

2.3. Location ? Bulgaria, Smolyan region, the village of Momchilovtsi

2.4. Project Target Groups
Direct beneficiaries:
The members of the Local Initiative Group and the members of their families;
The four shepherds and the members of their families;
20 participants in the workshop on the races in danger and the training;
10 participants in the training for the production of souvenirs;
The Association for breeding of local races and its representatives, taking part in the project;
Indirect beneficiaries:
The inhabitants of the village of Momchilovtsi;
The region and the country as a whole, as the project will contribute to saving their bio diversity

2.5. Goal and expected impacts
1.Breeding the available herd karakachanska sheep and increasing it with 82 new animals in the time of the project;
2. Improving the available 200 decares pastures and meadows;
3. Development of a new eco tourist product, aiming to use the datum of nature and the region to attract tourists and increase the incomes for the Local Initiative Group.


2.6. Objectives
To contribute to saving the bio diversity and sustainable development of Smolyan region through the restoration of the rare, traditional for the region race Karakachanska sheep.

2.7. Major activities
1. Pure race breeding of Karakachanska sheep in the active breeding part of Local Initiative group, Momchilovtsi by increasing the elite breeding units of the race and submitting it to supporting selection.
2. Improving the meadows and pastures;
3. Working out technical project for a depot for the manure;
4. Development of a specialized tourist product, connected with the disappearing, traditional race Karakachanska sheep and promoting it through the local tour operators
5. Making the good practices of the project popular through the interested farmers and the public

2.8. Sustainability
To ensure the financial sustainability of the project and additional incomes for the farmers, the stress in the present project is put on the development of a new eco-tourist product.