Justification
Even if the brown bear is globally significant species there are several threats for it in Bulgaria: poachers and deterioration of brown bear population and habitats, and a drastic increase of the bear attacks on private stock and property in the last few year as a result of a dense population in the Rhodope Mountains and narrowing their habitat.
The only possible way for protection of the biodiversity on a local level is by developing benefits for the local people from their existence and from protection of their numbers and habitats. There are more than 14 brown bears in the region and the purpose of the project is by creating ecotourist products to develop mutual benefits for both people and nature.
Location
The region of activities of the ?Hunter - fisherman association?, Devin city
Project Target Groups
Visitors of the ecotrail, local hotel owners, local guides, schoolchildren and travel agencies
Major activities
A1 ? Creating of regional eco product for brown bear observation. Under this activity will be marked the ecotrail, build three hides for tourist with chemical WC, developed information materials for interesting parts of the wildlife and biology of the brown bear, local guides training, development of three eco packages (for specialized wildlife observation clients, introduction trips for visitors and package for schools).
A2 ? Dissemination of information for the ecotrail and eco packages. Building a sign board in the center of Devin, printing informational brochure for the eco packages and spreading the brochure among the hotel owners, travel agencies and etc., info tour for journalists and travel agencies, publications in travel magazines, sending informational packages to 100 schools in the region, web page and video material.
A3 ? Information campaign among the local people for different ways to protect the bee hives and domestic animals from brown bears attack.
A4 ? Planting different berries in order to improve the quantity of bears? food and increase the chance for observing it.
A5 ? Creating local fund for protection of the brown bear and maintenance of the ecotrail, the fund will receive a small percent of each sold eco package.
Partnership with GEF SGP proposals/projects
Initial communications were held with Local Initiative group from Dospat in order both places to recommend each other among the tourist in the area.
Sustainability
Future sustainability of the project will be guaranteed by development of the local fund of protection of bears in the region. In order to control the number of visitors, the ecotrail will not be marked neither any other infrastructure except the hides will be made. This will increase the need of a local guide for the visitors and ensure some incomes for the bear protection fund.
Project Budget ? total 102 166 leva, from GEF SGP ? 48 866 leva, financial 24 780 leva, in-kind ? 28 520 leva