We celebrate the World Wetlands day annually on 2 February. In this way we aim to draw as much attention as possible to the importance of wetlands for us people and our planet. There is another reason for celebration on this date – the signing of the Ramsar convention back in 1971.
We will celebrate this important date by organising many public and online events during the entire month of February. The campaign motto is 'Wetlands and Water'.
► On 2nd February we will celebrate the date together with the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water – Plovdiv and the Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds as we organize a monitoring of the roosting sites of the Pigmy cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus) on Adata Island in Plovdiv. Volunteers and nature lovers are invited on the Maritsa River shore in order to take part in the event. The Pygmy Cormorant is enlisted as endangered species in the Bulgarian Red data book, protected on the territory of the country by the Bulgarian biodiversity act and subject to conservation under the NATURA 2000 environmental network. Major threats for the species are the illegal kills and chases, degradation in the wetlands and destruction of their habitats. During the winter they form so called night roosts in which the number of individuals can reach to over 5 000 and in singular cases more than 10 000. Around Adata Island is located the biggest roosting site for the species along the Maritsa River and Trakiya region.
More details can be found in the Facebook event HERE.
►The Stara Zagora team will celebrate the Wetlands Day near Ovcharitsa dam. A monitoring of waterfowl and cormorants roosting sites will be organized along with volunteers.
More information regarding the event in the area of Stara Zagora – Polya Ruseva – tel. +359894059156, e-mail: ptoncheva@greenbalkans.org
► On the same date we announce together with RIEW Plovdiv a national children drawing contest on topic “Wetlands – a source of life”. For one month children from 3 to 7 years old from any kindergarten in the country can send their artworks to the address of the eco inspection. A jury will make a selection out of the received drawings. The best ones will be displayed in an exhibition dedicated to the Water Day – 22 March 2021. Prizes and diplomas are prepared for the participants and their teachers. More detailed information about the rules of the contest is published on the RIEW – Plovdiv website as well as in the files below.
For more information regarding the contest: Miloslava Mihaylova – PR RIEW Plovdiv – tel. +359882388720; e-mail: riosv_pd_pr@abv.bg
► With the support of the French Agency for Biodiversity (OFB), MedWet Initiative and World Wetlands Day (WWD) we created and realized an animated map presenting information about the Ramsar sites in Bulgaria and Maritsa River. The map will be available for distribution to state and educational institutions as well as online for the wide public.
Follow our Facebook and Instagram pages in the next month for interesting information about the wetlands in Bulgaria and the biodiversity which they preserve.
You can download the infographic regarding the lack of water in the Mediterranean region HERE.
The Ramsar Convention:
The Ramsar Convention is the only global agreement that focuses on a specific ecosystem – the wetlands. Today the convention is adopted by 171 Contracting Parties, obliged to identify wetlands with а high conservation value in the list of Wetlands with International Importance – the Ramsar sites. By signing the contract, the Parties agree to use wetlands wisely and to co-operate on cross-border issues.
Bulgaria is one of first states that signed the Ramsar Convention. At the moment the country is represented by 11 wetlands areas – Atanasovsko Lake, Belene Islands Complex, Durankulak Lake, Ibisha Island, Shabla Lake, Poda Nature Reserve, Pomorie Lake, Ropotamo Complex, Srebarna Lake, Vaya Lake and Dragoman Marshland.
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is the largest coordinated network for nature conservation. More than 30% of the territory of Bulgaria falls within the scope of the network - 120 areas for the protection of wild birds and 234 areas for the protection of natural habitats.
Red-breasted Goose
The Red-breasted Goose is a globally endangered species, protected within the Natura 2000 ecological network. Bulgaria is an important country for the protection of the species - almost the entire world population spends the winter in the region of Primorska Dobrudzha.
Pigmy Cormorant
With only a few nesting sites in the country, the Pigmy Cormorant is one of the three species of cormorants found in Bulgaria. The species is closely associated with ponds and nests in colonies, making it vulnerable to disturbance. One of the most endangered species, which is why it is strictly protected by the Natura 2000 ecological network.
Contacts:
Miloslva Mihaylova – PR RIEW Plovdiv – tel. +35988 23 88 720; е-mail: riosv_pd_pr@abv.bg
Polina Hristova – Green Balkans – tel. +359882508721; e-mail:phristova@greenbalkans.org
Aneliya Pavlova – Green Balkans – tel. +359899269576; e-mail: apavlova@greenbalkans.org
Vladimir Dobrev – BSPB – tel. +359877790975
The events are implemented within:
We will celebrate this important date by organising many public and online events during the entire month of February. The campaign motto is 'Wetlands and Water'.
► On 2nd February we will celebrate the date together with the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water – Plovdiv and the Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds as we organize a monitoring of the roosting sites of the Pigmy cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus) on Adata Island in Plovdiv. Volunteers and nature lovers are invited on the Maritsa River shore in order to take part in the event. The Pygmy Cormorant is enlisted as endangered species in the Bulgarian Red data book, protected on the territory of the country by the Bulgarian biodiversity act and subject to conservation under the NATURA 2000 environmental network. Major threats for the species are the illegal kills and chases, degradation in the wetlands and destruction of their habitats. During the winter they form so called night roosts in which the number of individuals can reach to over 5 000 and in singular cases more than 10 000. Around Adata Island is located the biggest roosting site for the species along the Maritsa River and Trakiya region.
More details can be found in the Facebook event HERE.
►The Stara Zagora team will celebrate the Wetlands Day near Ovcharitsa dam. A monitoring of waterfowl and cormorants roosting sites will be organized along with volunteers.
More information regarding the event in the area of Stara Zagora – Polya Ruseva – tel. +359894059156, e-mail: ptoncheva@greenbalkans.org
► On the same date we announce together with RIEW Plovdiv a national children drawing contest on topic “Wetlands – a source of life”. For one month children from 3 to 7 years old from any kindergarten in the country can send their artworks to the address of the eco inspection. A jury will make a selection out of the received drawings. The best ones will be displayed in an exhibition dedicated to the Water Day – 22 March 2021. Prizes and diplomas are prepared for the participants and their teachers. More detailed information about the rules of the contest is published on the RIEW – Plovdiv website as well as in the files below.
For more information regarding the contest: Miloslava Mihaylova – PR RIEW Plovdiv – tel. +359882388720; e-mail: riosv_pd_pr@abv.bg
► With the support of the French Agency for Biodiversity (OFB), MedWet Initiative and World Wetlands Day (WWD) we created and realized an animated map presenting information about the Ramsar sites in Bulgaria and Maritsa River. The map will be available for distribution to state and educational institutions as well as online for the wide public.
Follow our Facebook and Instagram pages in the next month for interesting information about the wetlands in Bulgaria and the biodiversity which they preserve.
You can download the infographic regarding the lack of water in the Mediterranean region HERE.
The Ramsar Convention:
The Ramsar Convention is the only global agreement that focuses on a specific ecosystem – the wetlands. Today the convention is adopted by 171 Contracting Parties, obliged to identify wetlands with а high conservation value in the list of Wetlands with International Importance – the Ramsar sites. By signing the contract, the Parties agree to use wetlands wisely and to co-operate on cross-border issues.
Bulgaria is one of first states that signed the Ramsar Convention. At the moment the country is represented by 11 wetlands areas – Atanasovsko Lake, Belene Islands Complex, Durankulak Lake, Ibisha Island, Shabla Lake, Poda Nature Reserve, Pomorie Lake, Ropotamo Complex, Srebarna Lake, Vaya Lake and Dragoman Marshland.
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is the largest coordinated network for nature conservation. More than 30% of the territory of Bulgaria falls within the scope of the network - 120 areas for the protection of wild birds and 234 areas for the protection of natural habitats.
Red-breasted Goose
The Red-breasted Goose is a globally endangered species, protected within the Natura 2000 ecological network. Bulgaria is an important country for the protection of the species - almost the entire world population spends the winter in the region of Primorska Dobrudzha.
Pigmy Cormorant
With only a few nesting sites in the country, the Pigmy Cormorant is one of the three species of cormorants found in Bulgaria. The species is closely associated with ponds and nests in colonies, making it vulnerable to disturbance. One of the most endangered species, which is why it is strictly protected by the Natura 2000 ecological network.
Contacts:
Miloslva Mihaylova – PR RIEW Plovdiv – tel. +35988 23 88 720; е-mail: riosv_pd_pr@abv.bg
Polina Hristova – Green Balkans – tel. +359882508721; e-mail:phristova@greenbalkans.org
Aneliya Pavlova – Green Balkans – tel. +359899269576; e-mail: apavlova@greenbalkans.org
Vladimir Dobrev – BSPB – tel. +359877790975
The events are implemented within:
