The Directorate of the Shumen Plateau Nature Park at Executive Forestry Agency (EFA) Work has begun on the project "Organization and Management of the Shumen Plateau Nature Reserve", approved for funding under Priority Axis 3 "Conservation and Restoration of Biological Diversity" by Operational Program "Environment 2007-2013". The value of the project is 4,879,555.26 BGN, of which 85% from the European Regional Development Fund and 15% from the state budget of the Republic of BulgariaThe grant agreement was signed on 02.08.2012, and the project activities will be finalized by December 2014, and the final report - by March 2015.
Project objective:
- To assist Bulgaria in achieving compliance with European environmental legislation and to contribute to achieving sustainable regional development.
- To improve economic infrastructure and promote various forms of economic development.
- To protect natural resources, which are the basis for development and competitiveness.
The main activities:
- Correction of a site, a habitat element with a low percentage presence within the boundaries of the Nature Reserve and the Shumen Plateau Protected Area - Biserna Cave through landscaping and installation of a system for long-term monitoring of the state of the microclimate and cave fauna. The activity also includes the creation of an interpretative module.
- Refinement and repair of existing rock climbing routes in connection with taking measures to protect chasmophyte vegetation on limestone rock slopes. The activity envisages repair of the existing 24 climbing routes with replacement of wedges and other specialized elements, designation and marking of the route with boards and signs.
- Maintenance of grassland habitats of the type of semi-natural dry grassland and shrub communities on limestone, lowland hay meadows, natural habitat types for area restoration of Moesian mixed thermophilic forests and Pannonian forests. The activity envisages supporting natural regeneration by felling undergrowth, mainly of hornbeam over 3 years old, in order to increase the average weighted age of hairy oak and reduce the participation of hornbeam, as well as afforestation with target species.
- Development of information materials and tools to promote maintenance and restoration activities in forests, lands and water areas and the available biodiversity.
- Renovation of visitor infrastructure: tourist shelters, gazebos, children's areas, short-term recreation areas, fountains, interpretive areas and specialized alleys.
- Renewal of all main tourist hiking and cycling routes and removal of unregulated markings on the territory of the nature reserve.
- There are eight separate pedestrian and four bicycle routes on the "Shumen Plateau", directing the flow of tourists into the park with the aim of preserving biological diversity.
- Reconstruction and expansion of the Summer Information Center of the Shumen Plateau Nature Reserve. Reconstruction into a massive building, expansion and construction of a tower with a telescope dome, provided and installed by the Sh U "Ep. K. Preslavski", are planned.
- Construction of an administrative floor at the Shumen Plateau Nature Reserve. It is planned to upgrade the Information Center in the Kyoskovete Forest Park with one floor.
- Providing information and improving visitor infrastructure in order to improve public awareness of the park and form a positive attitude towards its conservation.
- Repair of the roads to the Temenuga and Detelina agricultural complexes by filling with gravel fraction and tamping the existing approaches. Reconstruction of the asphalt approach road to the Kyoshkovete IAC.
- Interior design and purchase of furniture for the "Kiosks" information and administrative center.
- Repair of safety facilities within the boundaries of the Nature Reserve. The activity includes repair (where necessary) and repainting of metal railings at the Khan Krumovi Porti and Divdyadovski Skali sites. Installation of a metal rope at the Khan Krumovi Porti site and a new metal grate at the approach to the Divdyadovski (Small) Zandan cave.
- Construction of a specialized bicycle route for mountain biking, category "Downhill". The construction of a specialized bicycle route will contribute to directing lovers of this sport to an area of low conservation importance, so as to limit negative impacts on the existing biodiversity and landscape.
- Repair of paragliding launch sites, category "Slope Soaring" and determination of a location for the subsequent construction of site 5 - "west" launch. After repair of the existing 4 launch sites, the following activities will be carried out to separate the west launch: clearing the terrain of vegetation, leveling the terrain; placing a soil embankment to achieve a launch slope; leveling and tamping.
- Construction of a horse stable with a shed for 10 horses. The activity is foreseen under the Management Plan in order to create conditions for the development of equestrian tourism, given that near the town of Shumen there is a large equestrian base and the State Stud Farm "Kabiyuk". The place where the horse stable will be built is near the hut "Bukatsite".
- Development of a multimedia descriptor of the flying fauna (birds and bats) in the Shumen Plateau Nature Reserve. It will contain information about the bird and bat fauna in the Nature Reserve through drawings, sounds, text and map material reproduced on magnetic media.
- Preparation of an Action Plan for emergencies and unforeseen events for the Shumen Plateau Nature Reserve. The activity is planned in implementation of the Nature Reserve Management Plan and is a necessary tool for adequate actions and planning of control and subsequent measures in overcoming circumstances of unforeseen scale and nature such as natural phenomena, severe pollution with a prolonged period of impact, etc. In the course of developing the plan, a specialized navigation map for the Nature Reserve will be commissioned for development, which will be provided for use by services relevant to its implementation.
- Mandatory publicity and audit measures. They aim to inform stakeholders and the public about the objectives and implementation of the project, as well as the correct and targeted spending of the funds provided.
Expected results:
- Maintained and preserved biological diversity in the nature park.
- Improved management and governance of natural resources.
- Adequate park infrastructure.
- Properly planned and implemented silvicultural activities to maintain a favorable conservation status of the typical species in the protected area.
Implementation period: 33 months
Project Manager – Ainur Velieva
For contacts: tel. 054/ 800 765
email:sh-plato@mbox.contact.bg