Strandja Nature Park is the only protected area in Bulgaria, within which boundaries there are settlements. Conservation of biodiversity in grasslands in the park, largely depend on the maintenance of traditional farming in the area. Low standard of living, missing or incomplete realization of the traditional livestock production and agriculture has led to a drastic reduction of livestock and grazing in the area. Local people, particularly farmers, are not familiar in detail with the importance of biodiversity and protected area, as well as the opportunities it offers for environmentally friendly living. These processes will inevitably lead to the loss of human resources within the Strandja NP and under-use of available resources and low conservation culture of indigenous peoples.
Because of the lack of grazing there are changes in the grasslands in the area which lead to changes and loss of biodiversity in the protected area. If there are not created opportunities for increasing household incomes, if the project is not realized or is realized later, some farmers will reduce or cease their activities due to failure to maintain households with traditional means of livelihood. This project proposes the establishment of best practice for use of resources available from traditional farming and environmentally friendly use of plant resources in the protected area - the NP "Strandja". The idea is to connect small domestic production with the realization of the production and to increase the incomes. To involve the farmers and breeders in craft related business but not changing their main occupation. Enriching the tourist product offered in the Park and promotes the regional brand "Strandja". The good practice will be presented by employees of NPD Strandja as an approach to motivate the population to keep their traditional livelihood and thus to protect the biodiversity in grasslands within the park.
Justification
Strandja Nature Park is the only protected area in Bulgaria, within which there are settlements. A major problem in protecting the territory is to maintain biodiversity in grasslands. Maintaining biodiversity in them is directly related to their environmentally sound use. Thus, one of the main activities for the conservation of biodiversity that is promoting traditional animal husbandry in the region. This process can be aided by the opening of public interest in Bulgarian crafts related to the livelihood of people and part of the uniqueness of Bulgaria and the region.
Low standard of living, missing or incomplete realization of the production of traditional farming and agriculture, no awareness of the importance of such protected areas reduces the number of animals in private farms and the number of farmers in general and process associated with the depopulation of urban places in the park. This leads to a complete change in appearance of the territory - a reduction of those engaged in traditional livestock and agricultural practices lead to a change in land use, and thus the abandonment of agricultural land and abandonment of semi-natural grassland habitats, where the main regulator was grazing.
Ignorance of the purpose of conservation and opportunities for rational use of resources in protected areas to put management of the park important tasks of socio-economic interest of the local community. One of them is developing a system of incentives for the public interest to preserve traditional livelihoods, which contributes to maintaining biodiversity in the Park.
This project offers one of these solutions is the training of farmers in the art of dyeing with plants dyes. Creation of a demonstration of successful practice combining traditional activities - agriculture and livestock production and create additional income in the local population within the Strandja NP. Support the process of integrating farmers with small businesses in the region is a prerequisite for sustainable agriculture. Joint work of farmers and owners of guest houses for the enrichment of tourist services in the region will also contribute to the development of the region with sustainable products, complementing the core business of local people. Will propose solutions for environmentally friendly use of resources within the park and opportunities for improving welfare of the residents in the protected area. Will increase the sensitivity of people to the problems of environmental protection and promote the advantages of using a Regional brand Strandja.
Location - Strandja Nature Park, Stoilovo village, Malko Turnovo Municipality, Bourgas District
Project Target Groups
A. Target groups who will directly benefit from project
Breeders - direct participation of 10 people in the organization, production and presentation of products. Another 50 people will be participants in seminars for technique of dyeing and preparing dyes from plant materials and inputs for production activities.
Business - selling products from wool
Users of the products - the potential buyers in the shops and guests in the demonstration workshop and in the houses of producers
B. Target groups who will benefit indirectly from the project
Municipalities (Employment - standard - will be informed)
Tourists - through advertisements in all guest houses and tour operators in the project area
Owners of guest houses - increasing the attractiveness of the tourists stay in their homes.
Local residents - promoting good practice in the 4 municipalities.
Scientific community - database and a brochure from an expert participating directly in the project.
Goal and expected impacts
The aim is promoting traditional animal husbandry by establishing a demonstration workshop for dyeing wool as an alternative raw material for recovery of traditional farming and environmentally friendly use of plant resources in the Strandja NP.
Impact:
Creation of additional incomes as a tool for motivation of the livestock and agricultural activities in the park. Keep the stocks and the grazing as a main mechanism for maintaining biodiversity in meadows and pastures. Involving local communities to use and conserve natural resources in a unique area in which they live - Strandja NP. Promoting the regional brand "Strandja? through the creation of sustainable products.
Objectives and expected results
1. Research of the dyeing plant species in Strandja and opportunities for their use in practice - Result: Database available for dyeing plant species in the Park
2. Training of farmers and breeders in technology for growing, harvesting and production of dyes for wool processing, creation of products and ensure their implementation - Result: acting workshop for dyed wool and products, trained farmers to use and cultivation of dye plants.
3. Presentation of the manufactory and its products, as well as the use and cultivation of dye plants - as an alternative to preserve traditional farming and farming in the protected area, which is a key factor in maintaining biodiversity in grasslands and reduction of fallow farmland.
Results: Informed residents and visitors for the workshop and introduction to its products and dyeing plants. Offering the products in at least two retail stores. Preparation of printed materials.
Major activities
1. Preparatory activities, organizing and instructing the participants.
2. Study of dyeing plant resources within the Strandja NP and opportunities for the use and cultivation of dye plants.
3. Preparing and publishing a brochure for dyeing plants and opportunities for home use and production.
4. Workshop - dyeing plants: wild and cultivated. Cultivation and extraction of dyes.
5. Organization and equipment base for processing wool. Development of wool products.
6. Workshops on the results of studies and organizing the workshop and guidelines for good practice in order to preserve traditional livelihoods in the region.
7. Certification of products by the Regional brand Strandja
8. Presentation of local biodiversity in grasslands, plants and dyeing workshop. Presentation of work opportunities in protected areas, while maintaining traditional farming in the area to all stakeholders - farmers, media, local authorities, tour operators, people who are owners of guest houses in the area and others.
9. Distribution of manufactured products with the Regional brand Strandja in retail outlets in Malko Tarnovo, Tsarevo, Sredets and Burgas.
Sustainability
1. Financial sustainability - economic calculations / business plan, other
Created new products are linked to the sale market. There is a demand on natural dyes and natural colored wool.
It is proposed that the production will be organized to a certain place, at any time and as a tourist attraction.
2. Integration in long-term processes
Will motivate local people to preserve traditional farming and agriculture. This will facilitate the use of environmentally friendly pastures, meadows and fallow agricultural land. A demonstration project can be developed with close related craft industries in the region, such as carpet weaving in Malko Tarnovo.
The technique can be replicated with other breeders in other locations within the Strandja NP.
If possible, can be extended out to other regional markets with brand Strandja - as good practice in the relationship between protected areas and conservation and use of natural resources, conservation of biodiversity in a given area.
3. Human Resources
An organized community of educated people without compromising their basic livelihood. An opportunity to improve human well-being. To engage local people and visitors of the park with the problems of conservation and environmentally friendly use of natural resources within the park. Promote biodiversity in the park and opportunities for improving life in the protected area.
Project Budget ? total,34944
from GEF 17 404
NGO Green Bulgaria 10 760
BBF ? 1270
NP ?Strandja? 5510