Justification
Bulgaria?s only Wildlife Rescue Center has been working for more than 16 years now, as the number of wildlife patients has increased considerably. Thus, for example, from only 400 patients in 2006, in 2009 they were already more than 1,060. These are wild animals in distress belonging to species protected both at national and global level. The increased number of patients resulted in greater need for consumables necessary for their caretaking, one of them being heated water. The possibility for the construction of a solar system that could serve our patients, save energy, and at the same time educate the visitors of the Center regarding the renewable energy sources, was considered by the staff of the Rescue Center to be the perfect way out of the situation. Such a demonstration model is applied for the first time in Stara Zagora, and, hopefully, through the attractive presentation we will get the young people from the Vocational High School of Veterinary Medicine excited about using ?green energy?. Thus, this idea will go beyond the borders of Stara Zagora and will become nationwide, because the school children in this high school come from all over the country.
On the other hand, the number of patients - victims of poaching or poisoning, has been increasing over the years. The most serious problem proves to be the banned substance Carbofuran ? used for treatment of sowing-seed. Unfortunately, these are some of the problems faced by the Rescue Center, which have not been addressed previously. However, over the years these problems are getting increasingly worse, so urgent measures and actions are needed.
The first step towards the solution to a problem is raising the awareness of the target groups. This is exactly what we are planning to do, using the flow of visitors to the Rescue Center (ranging between 3,000-5,000 people per year), the media as well-established partners of the Rescue Center, and the network of responsible institutions (in this particular case these include the departments of the Plant Protection Agency and the Regional Forestry Directorates in the project target regions - Stara Zagora, Sliven and Haskovo). The project envisages two large-scale media campaigns in the region of Stara Zagora ? in spring and autumn. Thus, we will include the sowing and the hunting seasons. If the model proves to be successful, it will also be applied in the rest of the regions ? Sliven and Haskovo. Until then, preparatory activities, such as dissemination of educational brochures through the departments of the Plant Protection Agency and the Regional Forestry Directorates, will be carried out in these areas. If these measure are not undertaken in time, there will be a real risk of losing part of the rich biodiversity of the target regions that harbor lots of rare species, such as Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle, vultures, falcons, etc.
Project Target Groups
Target groups directly benefiting from the project
The target group involves all visitors of the Wildlife Rescue Center, partners, donors, adoptive parents from the adoption program, and students from the Vocational High School of Veterinary Medicine. Another target group involves representatives of local farmers and hunters in the municipalities of Stara Zagora, Svilengrad, Sliven, and Ivaylovgrad.
Target groups indirectly benefiting from the project
This group involves all those, who will learn about the project from the media events, as well as those, who will be informed by the visitors of the Rescue Center ? i.e. parents, teachers, and business partners.
Goal and expected impacts
Popularizing various models of sustainable use of natural resources and responsible attitude towards the fragile biological equilibrium ? by using solar energy on one hand, and, on the other ? by halting the use of prohibited methods for agricultural pest control and by combating poaching. Considering the increasing public support for a more environmentally friendly and ?eco? lifestyle, we expect that the ?green idea? will impact a broader range of people.
Objectives and expected results
? Sustainable use and popularization of renewable energy sources
Our expectations are that the energy consumption at the Wildlife Rescue Center will be decreased by 30%, and that more than 3,000 people will become aware of the use of solar energy source.
? Reduction of poaching and banned pesticides used in agriculture in the project target areas
We expect a general decrease in the number of patients at the Wildlife Rescue Center ? victims of poachers or Carbofuran, received from Stara Zagora district, where the two large-scale media campaigns will take place, as well as initial results in the rest of the target regions ? Sliven and Haskovo.
Major activities
? Construction of a solar system for water heating ? 2 constructions in the two facilities of the Rescue Center ?to be implemented during the first and the second months of the project;
? Reconstruction of a building for Green information centre;
? Presentations and open classes at the Vocational High School of Veterinary Medicine, where the Wildlife Rescue Center is located ? two such presentations a month on the average;
? Production and installation of two information signboards in places accessible to visitors, popularizing the use of renewable energy sources ? sun, water, wind, as well as geothermal ones ? to be implemented during the third month of the project;
? Establishment of a demonstration part, showing how much water the system produces, what it is used for, etc. ? fourth month;
? Production and installation of two information signboards in places accessible to visitors, popularizing the actions against poaching and use of banned pesticides in agriculture ? during the fourth month of the project;
? Installation of a special model of a mini solar system in the facility of the Rescue Center ? fifth month of the project;
? Press-conference and official opening of the system focused mainly on the use of renewable energy sources ? sixth month of the project; Broad popularization of the project activities on the website of the Rescue Center and Green Balkans ? during the lifespan of the project and after the project?s end; Organization of media campaigns within Stara Zagora District twice a year ? in spring and autumn, aimed at popularizing the actions against poaching and banned pesticides in agriculture ? during the third and sixth month of the project; Publication of educational brochures related to the actions against poaching and banned pesticides in agriculture ? during the third month of the project; Dissemination of the brochures to the departments of the Plant Protection Agency and the Regional Forestry Directorates in Stara Zagora, Sliven and Haskovo ? during the sixth month of the project.
? Implementation of toxicological analyses of patients of the Wildlife Rescue Center, potential victims of Carbofuran poisoning ? during the third and fourth as well as the sixth and seventh month of the project.
Sustainability
Financial sustainability - At present, more than 30 % of the energy consumed at the Rescue Center is used for heating the water needed for the caretaking of the continuous flow of patients to the Wildlife Rescue Center. The implementation of the project will reduce these costs, which will be then incurred for other pressing needs, such as treatment and feeding of animal patients, staff salaries.
Integration into long-term processes ? Through this project we will set the beginning of a long-term campaign against poaching and use of banned substances, such as Carbofuran, in agriculture. Thus, we will lay the foundations of a large-scale action to be developed in the future.
Human resources ? at least two members of the Rescue Center?s staff will be directly involved in the project activities. In addition, five volunteers on an average will take part in the side activities (making presentations, receiving visitors). Thus, seven people will acquire new knowledge and skills to be used in future initiatives. This will secure the sustainability of the project, as the project benefits will go beyond the walls of the Rescue Center.
Project Budget ? 54,165 BGN total budget; 25,600.00 BGN (47,26%) from GEF