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: USD mil 13,228
GEF Grant: USD mil 7,50
Funding: GEF, EU-PHARE BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT, AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT, LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Implementation agency: MOEW / PCU
Implementation period: 5 years
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
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
Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project
Olteniţa/ROMANIA ●
Kalimok-Brushlen Protected site – 6 000 ha Kalimok marsh (after restoration) ~ 1 850 ha Kalimok and Brushlen
former marshes ~ 35 000 ha Tutrakan●
Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project
Persina Nature Park – 22 000 ha Persina marsh (after restoration) ~ 1100 ha
Turnu MagureleROMANIA
●
Belene ●
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 completionWetlands 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
Delay in implementation of planed restoration activities in Kalimok-Brushlen
Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project
Project progress / Sep-2006: By componentsComponent 1 - Wetlands Restoration: Restoration of critical priority wetlands in the Danube River basin and demonstration of their nutrient removal capacity
Baseline surveys conductedFeasibility studies for restoration works completedDetailed 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;
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 fundingTwo grant schemes implemented – 65 projects funded, Farmer’s Transition Support Fund and Biodiversity Conservation Small Grants ProgramRenovation of offices and basic office equipment and vehicles supplied to park administrationsConstruction of Administrative building with visitor center in Persina NPTraining program implemented successfully
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 completedGuidelines for establishing environmentally sustainable developed A comprehensive environmental monitoring program developed Protected areas management bodies fully supplied with specialized monitoring equipment
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
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 developedFirst impact evaluation study conducted in 2005
Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project
Expenditures by Sources of Funds
GEF Grant - USD 2,226,518GoB Budget - USD 1,614,299PHARE - USD 2,009,778Austrian Gvt - USD 244,479Local Authorities- USD 19,359
TOTAL (Sep-2006) USD 6,114,484
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 worksDelay in management planning of Belene and Kalimok marshesChanges in national legislation during the period of project implementationUnforeseen land use issues in the restoration area of Kalimok-Brushlen protected site – wetland borders very populated area
Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project
Project progress / Sep-2006: Difficulties
Slow running detailed design approval procedureManagement 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
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 monitoringTo strengthen the Project PR campaign at national and local level - to distribute widely good practices from project activities
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
Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project
Project progress / Sep-2006: Lessons learnt
Consensus building among stakeholders required more time than originally anticipatedParticipatory approach – a main tool for successful project implementationIn 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
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 PlanThere is need for further promotion of the detailed wetlands restoration design in both sitesTo consider land use and land ownership issues in project areasWetland restoration needs National legislation support
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 restoredAny restoration variant is an innovation of wetland use, and is beyond imagination (experience, trust) for both local and national stakeholders and responsible authoritiesThis pilot project will result in practical experience over the years (e.g. of nutrient uptake and ecosystem response)
Bulgaria Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project
More about the Project:More about the Project:
www.worldbank.bg/wetlands www.kalimok.org; ; www.persina.org