National responses

The main strategic documents defining biodiversity policy at national level are the National Environment Strategy, the National Action Plan 2000-2006, the National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and the two National Biodiversity Conservation Plans (1999-2004 and 2005-2010). These documents provide a stable framework for various short-term changes and short to medium-term projections in line with European integration and global management trends.

The Regulation on Conditions and Order for Compatibility Assessments of Plans, Projects and Development Proposals with the Purpose and Objectives of Natura 2000 sites came into force in 2007. This applies the principle of assessment to plans, programmes, projects and development proposals in conservation areas with a view to protecting species and habitats.

Biodiversity conservation measures

Two major approaches are applied to protect biodiversity: in situ and ex-situ.

The first approach conserves species by protecting their habitats in protected areas or under the National Ecological Network; placing species under protection or regulation; maintaining or restoring habitats and populations; reintroducing extinct species into nature or keeping a check on foreign species which impact the local biota.

The 30 protected area management plans are currently being implemented.

Eight threatened species action plans have been adopted for sturgeon (Acipenseriformes), the spur-thighed tortoise (Tеstudo graeca) and the spur-tailed tortoise (Testudo hermanni), wild goats (Rupicapra rupicapra), the brown bear (Ursus arctos), the wildcat (Felis silvestris), the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), the Rhodope tulip (Тulipa rhodopea) and the Rhodope lily (Lilium rhodopaeum). http://chm.moew.government.bg/nnps/IndexDetails.cfm?vID=30

These plans offer opportunities for specific action and initiatives relating to species conservation and aim to restrict the impact of existing threats.

Programmes are also underway for the reintroduction of the plant species Aldrovandra vesiculosa and Caldesia parnassifolia into the Dragoman Marshes.

Ex-situ conservation is a subsidiary approach involving cultivation or breeding in controlled conditions (collections, botanical gardens, zoos and breeding centres) or the conservation of genetic material under special conditions (seed banks, pollen, gametes, tissue and cellular cultures).

Reference sources:

The Executive Environment Agency (ExEA) http://eea.government.bg/eng

The Ministry of Environment and Waters (MOEW) http://www.moew.government.bg

The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Bird (BSPB), http://chm.moew.government.bg

The Executive Forestry Agency (EFA) http://www.dag.bg