More than 80 young people from North-Western Bulgaria gained new knowledge and skills in the field of ecology and conservation of endangered species inhabiting Vratsa Balkan Nature Park. The young people participated in educational and informational meetings and talked personally with representatives of the institutions involved in the conservation of forests and rare species in the northwestern part of the country.
The most curious of the youngsters participated in field research. Within two days, 22 young people and 4 teachers from the Forestry Vocational School – town of Berkovitsa, Hristo Botev Secondary School – town of Vratsa, Ivan Vazov Secondary School – village of Varshets, and Professional Secondary School – town of Montana, got to know first-hand the biodiversity of the Vratsa Balkan Nature Park.
From a favorable distance for the birds and with the help of optical equipment, the young conservationists observed the established populations of Black and Griffon Vultures near the village of. Lower Ozirovo and above the town of Vratsa. Most exciting for everyone was the observation of a nest with a baby Griffon Vulture hatched this spring, which is still being raised and fed by its parents.
The young people also visited NATURA Nature Conservation Centre in Vratsa, where they saw an interesting model presenting the territory of the Nature Park and its karst rocks and forms. There they met with biodiversity experts from the Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park Directorate and forest experts from the Northwest State Enterprise (NWSE). From them they learned how the institutions are working to manage the forest habitats in a way that will make them suitable for nesting Black Vultures in order to stabilize the population of nesting birds in the area.
Finally, the young conservationists discussed how adjacent nesting areas can attract visitors and create livelihoods and jobs while remaining a protected environment for birds.
The initiative was implemented by the Bulgarian Environmental Partnership Foundation.