Since January 2012, the Directorate of the Shumen Plateau Nature Park has started implementing the activities under the project "Shumen Plateau Nature Park - a European Park for the Future". It is financed by the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union and the state budget of the Republic of Bulgaria through Operational Program "Environment 2007-2013". The value of the project is 709,610 BGN, of which the European co-financing is 590,674 BGN and the national co-financing is 118,936 BGN.
General objective:
Achieving a favorable conservation status of habitat types and species habitats targeted for conservation, through the implementation of activities to implement the Management Plan of the Shumen Plateau Nature Park.
Specific objectives:
- Area and structural restoration and maintenance of target natural habitat types.
- Protecting the habitats of target plant and animal species through conservation activities focused on threats to individual species.
- Conservation of biological diversity by creating the necessary infrastructure for information, interpretation, education, guidance and control of visitors.
Main activities:
- Project Management. Project management aims to ensure the achievement of the set goals and results within the planned timeframe and the successful implementation of all project activities.
- Conservation, maintenance and restoration of forest, grassland and shrub habitats by achieving a favorable conservation status on the territory of the Shumen Plateau Nature Reserve. It will be achieved by implementing a complex of silvicultural measures aimed at maintaining and restoring the following types of forest habitats: thermophilic beech forests (Cephalanthero-Fagion), Pannonian forests with Quercus petrea and Carpinus betulus, Pannonian forests with Quercus pubescens, semi-natural dry grassland and shrub communities on limestone (Festuco-Brometalia), lowland hay meadows (Alopecurus pratensis, Sanguisorba officinalis).
- Preparation and construction of 3 thematic routes: - Thematic route "Dendrological Trail" - to introduce park visitors to characteristic, rare and interesting tree species. - Thematic route "Karst under protection - a gift for generations" - to present underground and surface karst forms and their accompanying flora and fauna. - Thematic route "Floristic Trail" - to present protected and medicinal plants.
- Preparation and implementation of a project for the transformation of lighting fixtures in public facilities on the territory of the park, with the aim of protecting target species. The implementation of the activity envisages the transformation of some of the lighting fixtures in public facilities of the park in order to reduce the anthropogenic effect on conservation-significant species of nocturnal insects.
- Design and preparation of a detailed development plan (DDP) for the construction of an information center at the Shumen Plateau Nature Reserve.
- Construction of an Information Center of the Nature Park. An information center of the Shumen Plateau Nature Park will be built in the "Kyoskovete" area as a multi-purpose information and educational base for year-round activities with park visitors and the public.
- Project awareness and publicity activities – aimed at raising public awareness of the objectives, implementation and results of the project and the EU financial support for the project. 3 press conferences are planned during the different stages, publication and distribution of information materials, maintenance of a section on the park’s website and use of advertising materials with the EU logo.
- Project audit – aims to establish the appropriateness of the project costs incurred.
Expected results:
- Biodiversity in the nature park maintained and protected; improved management and stewardship of natural resources.
- Properly planned and implemented forestry activities to maintain a favorable conservation status of the typical species in the protected area.
- Increased awareness, knowledge and understanding of society regarding the role and importance of biodiversity.
- An information center for the Nature Park has been designed and built.
- Attracted new visitors and investments in the park.
Project implementation period: 36 months
Project Manager – Svetla Koleva
For contacts: tel. 054/ 800 765
email:sh-plato@mbox.contact.bg