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Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project

Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project. Christina Nikolova Project coordination unit Local officer “Kalimok-Brushlen” Protected site. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project. Brief : Total project cost: US D mil 13,228

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Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project

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  1. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project Christina Nikolova Project coordination unit Local officer “Kalimok-Brushlen” Protected site

  2. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project Brief: Total project cost: USDmil 13,228 GEF Grant: USDmil 7,50 Funding: GEF, EU-PHARE BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT, AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT, LOCAL AUTHORITIES Implementation agency: MOEW / PCU Implementation period: 5 years

  3. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project Main project objectives: 1: To demonstrate and provide for replication of reduction of transboundary nutrient loads and other agricultural pollution flowing into the Danube River and the Black Sea basins 2: To ensure the protection of key target threatened species in the protected areas through wetlands restoration and protected areas management programs 3: To provide support to the local stakeholders in adopting environmentally friendly economic activities in the two project areas

  4. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project Pilot Activities: Restoration of ~ 3000 ha former floodplains – Kalimok marsh and Persina marshes and use of their capacity for nutrient reduction Involvement of local stakeholders in decision making - management of Kalimok-Brushlen protected site by non-governmental association of local stakeholders Support to sustainable environmentally friendly use of natural resources around the restored wetlands

  5. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Kalimok-Brushlen Protected site – 6 000 ha • Kalimok marsh (after restoration) ~ 1 850 ha • Kalimokand Brushlen former marshes ~ 35 000 ha Olteniţa/ROMANIA ● Tutrakan●

  6. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Persina Nature Park – 22 000 ha • Persina marsh (after restoration) ~ 1100 ha Turnu MagureleROMANIA ● Belene ●

  7. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Project progress / Sep-2006:Satisfactory • Significant progress has been made in respect of : • Achievement of local stakeholders’ positive attitude towards project implementation – a key tool for successful project completion • Wetlands restoration model studies and design • Implementation of two grant schemes – SGP and FTSF; • Protected sites management planning • Raising capacity of the units responsible for protected sites management, project implementation, local stakeholders • Delayin implementation of planed restoration activities in Kalimok-Brushlen

  8. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Project progress / Sep-2006:By components • Component 1 - Wetlands Restoration: Restoration of critical priority wetlands in the Danube River basin and demonstration of their nutrient removal capacity • Baseline surveys conducted • Feasibility studies for restoration works completed • Detailed wetlands restoration design for Persina marsh completed and approved by local authorities, permit for construction issued, construction works started in Aug-06; • Detailed wetlands restoration design for Kalimok marsh completed, the process of approval by local authorities is on-going - expected final approval date - Dec-06, permit for construction expected to be issued in Mar-07;

  9. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Project progress / Sep-2006:By components • Component 2 - Protected Areas Management: Support towards sustainable resource management in Persina NP and Kalimok-Brushlen PS GEF funding • Two grant schemes implemented – 65 projects funded, Farmer’s Transition Support Fund and Biodiversity Conservation Small Grants Program • Renovation of offices and basic office equipment and vehicles supplied to park administrations • Construction of Administrative building with visitor center in Persina NP • Training program implemented successfully

  10. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Project progress / Sep-2006:By components • Component 2 - Protected Areas Management: Support towards sustainable resource management in Persina NP and Kalimok-Brushlen PS PHARE support • Protected areas management planning completed • Guidelines for establishing environmentally sustainable developed • A comprehensive environmental monitoring program developed • Protected areas management bodies fully supplied with specialized monitoring equipment

  11. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Project progress / Sep-2006:By components • Component 2 - Protected Areas Management: Support towards sustainable resource management in Persina NP and Kalimok-Brushlen PS Austrian Government funding • Support for eco-business development provided by Rousse Business Center to the agricultural producers and small and medium enterprises from Kalimok-Brushlen area – funded 4 projects

  12. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Project progress / Sep-2006:By components • Component 3 – Project management, coordination and monitoring GEF funding • Project monitoring and evaluation system developed • First impact evaluation study conducted in 2005

  13. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project Expenditures by Sources of Funds GEF Grant - USD 2,226,518 GoB Budget - USD 1,614,299 PHARE - USD 2,009,778 Austrian Gvt - USD 244,479 Local Authorities - USD 19,359 TOTAL (Sep-2006) USD 6,114,484

  14. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Project progress / Sep-2006:Difficulties • To gain public attention on wetlands restoration as nutrient reduction tool • Delay in completion of detailed design for wetlands restoration → delay in construction works • Delay in management planning of Belene and Kalimok marshes • Changes in national legislation during the period of project implementation • Unforeseen land use issues in the restoration area of Kalimok-Brushlen protected site – wetland borders very populated area

  15. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Project progress / Sep-2006:Difficulties • Slow running detailed design approval procedure • Management and maintenance of restored wetlands and associated protected areas - Since construction will be completed by March 2008, the project will not be able to provide support during the first years of operation of the facilities • Nutrient reduction strategy guidelines development has not been carried out because of delays with restoration works • Budget and time constraints

  16. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Project progress / Sep-2006: • Recommendations: • The Ministry for Environment and Waters must secure basic funding for park administrations (core management staff) • New international donor support is needed to secure the follow up of this project after 2007)in terms of intensive area monitoring • To strengthen the Project PR campaign at national and local level - to distribute widely good practices from project activities

  17. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Project progress / Sep-2006: • Recommendations: • To come to better coordination between interested institutions • The management plans should address in a better way “Restoration monitoring of nutrients, biomass, morphology (sedimentation) and hydrology” and “Management of nutrients and biomass” • It is extremely important to continue to apply the participatory approach in order to support the sense of ownership of the ideas

  18. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Project progress / Sep-2006:Lessons learnt • Consensus building among stakeholders required more time than originally anticipated • Participatory approach – a main tool for successful project implementation • In order to speed up the designing process it was most appropriate to contract the design to local company - the detailed design was prepared by the British consultants following British standards which differ from the Bulgarian • The design approval procedure exceeded time limits set with the Project Implementation Plan

  19. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Project progress / Sep-2006:Lessons learnt • The design approval procedure exceeded time limits set with the Project Implementation Plan • There is need for further promotion of the detailed wetlands restoration design in both sites • To consider land use and land ownership issues in project areas • Wetland restoration needs National legislation support

  20. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project • Project progress / Sep-2006:Lessons learnt • ALL three functions 1)Biodiversity protection, 2) Flood protection, 3) Nutrient retention can only be partly restored • Any restoration variant is an innovation of wetland use, and is beyond imagination (experience, trust) for both local and national stakeholders and responsible authorities • This pilot project will result in practical experience over the years (e.g. of nutrient uptake and ecosystem response)

  21. Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project More about the Project: www.worldbank.bg/wetlands www.kalimok.org; www.persina.org

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