Justification: The pilot project will guarantee the implementation of all good practices in the application of this unique know-how, including also changes of the local policies and legislation on regulation of the activities in truffle collection as original ?hunting without rifle? and functioning of the public-private partnership. This will be the basis for using this project as a successful model for multiplication in many other regions and municipalities with similar characteristics.
The project implementation will enhance the protection of forest terrains with available naturally grown truffles and the restoration of the productivity of destroyed natural locations of truffles and limiting their pests, the creation of truffle plantations on uncultivated lands. This will arouse interest in many more people to deal with this business and will legitimize the country as a producer of this precious delicacy. As an alternative in the forestry sector and a new type of agro forestry, truffle production (collection and cultivation), there is a great potential to revive many rural areas and will have a multiplying effect on other activities, involving large groups of people. The project will prove how the municipalities could generate public and financial benefits from the regulation and promotion of these activities.

Location: Municipality Elhovo, South-East Planning Region, Bulgaria

Project Target Groups:
1) The local people in the Municipality of Elhovo ? participation in the set-up of the truffle plantation, its maintenance and creation of 10 permanent employment places in the region;
2) Training will be provided to truffle collectors and truffle connoisseurs;
3) Indirect: municipal specialists and forestry employees, farmers.

Goal and expected impacts: Pilot cultivation of mycorized trees on permanently uncultivated land in the Municipality of Elhovo, owned by the partner ?Yastreb-Invest? and creation of truffle-cultivated forest (plantation) on the basis of the principles of organic farming and agro forestry.

Objectives and expected results:
1. Prove the suitability of the soil and climatic conditions for truffle cultivation in the region and the possibility for planning accompanying activities in the area of biodiversity.
2. As a combination of three significant factors the truffle agro forestry under this project will prove the possibility for sustainable management of uncultivated land through cultivation and collection of the precious truffles and other agricultures, as well as the creation of a new permanent employment for the local people by creating other similar farms and providing training for the collection of naturally grown truffles in the local forests.
3. Promotion of the protection of forests from fires and purposeful collection of non-ligneous forest products (truffles) through training and application of the ?hunting without rifle?.

Major activities: 1/ Meetings between the partners and practical training seminar for the implementation of the project. Marking the borders of the plantation; 2/ Agrotechnical activities in accordance with the Technological Methodological Map and preparatory activities ? ploughing and cleaning of the terrain; 3/ Planning for the planting of the trees; 4/ Preparation for planting of the trees and verification of their mycorization; 5/ Additional cultivation of the land ? milling and introduction of soil additives, fencing of the terrain; 6/ Making the wholes and planting of the trees; 7/ Final set-up of the truffle plantation. Preparation and Submission of Technological Maps for the maintenance and management of the agrotechnical activities in the truffle plantation; 8/ Project reporting.

Partnership with GEF SGP proposals/projects: The project is a continuation of the already completed project for preparation of a feasibility study and project application, financed by GEF, Project ?Non-ligneous Forest Products as a Stimulus for Sustainability of the Rural Development and Restoration of the Natural Forests in Bulgaria?, Bulgaria, Ref.No. No.BUL/OP3/1/06/03

Sustainability: The plantation will be used as a demo field for periodic /annual/ ecological excursions for the collection of truffles. By using the seeds or offsets from this forest, the extensive production of new mycorised trees for further cultivation will become possible. There will be other ?first? cultivations in the other, specifically in the border regions of Strandja-Sakar. The partnership between the candidate and the partner will continue in the following 5 years ? consulting services and active membership in the association. New commercial relationships between the two partners ? Kipro&Co. and Yastreb-Invest with an additional contract for the collection and trade with wild grown and cultivated truffles and training to local people.
Planning project with no co-financing, according to the decision of the Bulgarian NSC.