Bulgaria’s three National Parks border on 24 municipalities with a combined population of over 600,000 people (approximately 7.5% of Bulgaria’s population). For an area to be declared a National Park, it must not only contribute to the national welfare but to the welfare of local villages and communities.

A Community Approach

The Park Directorates and Park section offices are located around the National Parks. Park Directorates employ local residents familiar with the mountains and their respective regions. This approach helps the Directorates to operate more efficiently and with greater credibility. This employment policy creates jobs in local communities.

The National Parks also demonstrate a preference for local contractors. They hire local businesses to produce goods and deliver services. In this way, national government subsidies to the Parks flow into the local economy.

Non-timber Natural Resources

For centuries, the livelihoods of residents around the mountains have depended upon nature. Almost every Bulgarian household uses products taken directly from the mountains. Mountain areas with the status of national parks continue to allow sustainable harvesting of select wild resources.

Bulgaria is the number one exporter of herbs in Europe, and one of the largest exporters in the world. One hundred and seventy species or three-fourths of all medicinal plants used in the country are found in the combined territories of Pirin, Rila and Central Balkan. Eighteen species of edible mushrooms and many wild fruits, such as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, as well as herbs can also be found in these regions. The National Parks management system helps to ensure the best possible conservation of their localities, but also provides for their sustainable harvesting. The Protected Areas Act allows access to traditional, non-timber natural resources within national parks, and in combination with Europe’s first Medicinal Plants Act, regulates their use.

When developing the Rila and Central Balkan management plans, data from socioeconomic surveys and public opinion polls were used to organize the management activities in accordance with the traditions and needs of local communities. The survey results showed that half of the residents of the each Park’s local municipalities collected forest fruits, herbs, mushrooms, and snails.

Medicinal plants, mushrooms and wild fruits (non-timber natural resources) are valuable locally and commercially. A Park policy of wise husbandry and collection lets local collectors harvest for subsistence use, as well selling to commercial buyers. This enlightened approach means that local communities are realizing financial benefits and contributing to national economic growth. A simple calculation of the revenue generated from harvesting berries, medicinal herbs and mushrooms shows a three-fourfold greater financial value to the local income of collector households than it costs Government to administer the National Parks. At present levels, collection systems are sustainable with minimal damage caused to the Parks. In addition, the processing of these wild resources and their export adds value to the product and the national economy.

Collaborative Management of Non-timber Natural Resources

Public opinion polls show that 80% of the Bulgarian people are convinced of the need for measures to conserve natural resources. To maintain the balance between conservation and use, Park Directorates have engaged in local partnerships with collectors, local authorities, and businesses. This approach is called collaborative management: sharing the benefits and responsibilities of local resource conservation and management. Collaborative management arrangements also work to minimize resource-use conflicts between the Parks and collectors.

During the 2002 collection season, the Rila and Central Balkan National Park Directorates, together with local partners and with the support of the Biodiversity Conservation and Economic Growth Project (funded by the United States Agency for International Development) implemented a pilot Blueberry Collaborative Management Model. The goals of the model were to:

• Develop more efficient and effective regimes for natural resource collection and conservation; and
• Create opportunities for increasing the market value of resources collected from the Parks and their surroundings.

This model is being adapted for management and conservation of other non-timber resources within the Parks.

Responsible Tourism and Ecotourism

The Park Directorates also work with municipal authorities and local entrepreneurs to develop the programs and infrastructure needed to support tourist activities inside and outside the Parks. Part of this effort is supported by educational and publicity materials promoting responsible tourism.

An ecotourism component of each Park’s activities focuses on supporting local business opportunities within the Parks: promoting the tourist experience and capitalizing on local foods, events, crafts, and hospitality. Thus, the philosophy of sustainable tourism is enforced—tourists can experience nature, local cultures and traditions, and thereby create civic pride and mitigate the negative impact on nature.

Ecotourism supported by the Parks has already demonstrated improvements to local livelihoods by creating jobs, and increasing business and revenues. Ecotourism is a real tool for local economic growth. Close proximity to the Parks provides local residents with a competitive advantage that is being developed and marketed. When people benefit directly from this relationship with Parks, they become more responsibly engaged in its protection and perpetuation.

Parks are Part of a Rich Cultural Legacy

The culture and traditions of the communities around the National Parks are inseparably related to nature and the mountains. This strong bond is reflected in countless folk songs, in the entire palette of traditional festivals, rites and customs, and even in the names of the children. Since ancient times, Pirin, Rila and the Balkan mountains have been immortalized in song, legend and image. There are few Bulgarian poets, writers, painters or composers who have not drawn on the country’s scenery as a paramount source of inspiration.

Bulgarian National Parks preserve cultural monuments of national and world significance dating from different epochs.

Research and Ecological Monitoring in National Parks

The Parks provide countless opportunities for scientific research. Scientific surveys are conducted by experts from the Bulgarian Academy of Science – Institute of Forests, Institute of Botany, Institute of Zoology, Central Laboratory of General Ecology, Institute of Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy, Sofia University, Forestry Technical University – Sofia, and other national institutions.

The Agrolesproject has historically conducted Forest inventories. Hydrology data is gathered by the National Water Council.

National Parks and the National Education System

The Park Directorates are responsible for disseminating information and attracting public support for environmental protection. An example of this is the environmental education program implemented in the Rila and Central Balkan National Park Directorates. This effort was implemented by the two Parks and the Information and Teacher Training Department of the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. This collaboration resulted in an effective team of experts, local teachers, non-governmental organizations, cultural institutions, and local authorities working to develop a creative and practical natural history and nature conservation program in primary and secondary schools around the parks. The environmental education models and mechanisms created in these programs have demonstrated their applicability and have been adopted as part of the national curriculum and teachers training.