Protection and restoration of water ecosystems in Bulgaria

1. Protection and restoration of water
ecosystems in Bulgaria

2. 1. Water management in Bulgaria
– national and river basin level
2. Four river basin
districts/directorates
3. 4 River basin management
plans (RBMP) 2010-2015
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3. Protected areas according the WFD
Natura 2000 – more than 30% of the
territory of Bulgaria
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4. Measures in the RBMP concerning protected
areas
Administrative measures:
• Bans and restrictions on construction of hydro-power stations at
rivers in the protected areas
• Bans on sand and gravel abstraction from river beds and bans on
distraction of natural reparian tree vegetation. (This measure aims
protection of reparian habitats and improving hydromorphological
status )
• Bans on discharge of waste water in the protected areas
Investment measures(restoration )
• Restoration of wetlands, natural conditions and river bed
• Afforestation of river banks with free species
• Remeandring
• Constraction of fish passes
• Biological strength of the banks, etc.
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5. Example 1 - Restoration of Veselina River
meander near the Mindya Village, Bulgaria
WWF together with local people from Mindya village in the region of Veliko
Turnovo, restored the connection of Veselina River, a tributary of Yantra, with its
former meander near the village. When the river meander was cut off back in time,
the river dug nearly 150 cm deeper into its bed, so now a threshold had to be built
to raise its level enough for enabling it run back to its old bed.
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6. Before
After
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7. Example 1 - Restoration of Veselina River
meander near the Mindya Village, Bulgaria
The project objective is by conducting a number of technical,
environmental and forest management activities to achieve
ecosystem restoration of the river Vesselina in particular:
• Conservation and restoration of biodiversity in isolated old
bed of the river and correction of Vesselina river near by
Mindya village;
• Create favorable conditions for development of recreation
and tourism in the region
• Reduce the level of flood risk
• Optimization of groundwater level and reduce the impact of
drought and floods on agricultural land in river terrace;
• Reduction of erosion;
• Increased self-purification capacity of water flow in the
region of isolated old bed of the river;
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8. Example 2 - Restoration of the Russenski Lom
River near Ivanovo Rock Monasteries
•In the mid 20th century most of
the lower flow of Russenski Lom floodplain
River was fully diverted.
•High water floods the road, dyke
•When water overflows the dike it openings in the dyke
can no longer go back into the
river.
•The flood in 2006 washed away
the bridge and the alcoves on the
island once again.
•In this case, the water itself
suggested the solution to the
problem.
•It is the first example in Bulgaria
for application of the principle
“more space for the river – more
safety for people”, proven yet in
mid 20th century.
The project was implemented in 2009 by the
Russenski Lom Nature Park Directorate,
Club „Friends of Russenski Lom” and WWF with
the support of the Ministry of Culture and 8
was funded by WWF and
the German Federal Ecological Foundation DBU

9. Example 2 - Restoration of the Russenski Lom
River near Ivanovo Rock Monasteries
Average water level
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10. Example 2 - Restoration of the Russenski Lom
River near Ivanovo Rock Monasteries
High water level
Average water level
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11. Example 2 - Restoration of the Russenski Lom
River near Ivanovo Rock Monasteries
High water level
Average water level
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12. Example 3 - Restoration of the link between
the Danube River and the wetlands of Persin
Island
In 2007 the wetlands of the Persin Island
were re-linked to the Danube River under
the Project for Wetlands Restoration and
Pollution Reduction as part of the initiative
“Lower Danube Green Corridor”. The
project was carried out by the Ministry of
the Environment and Water in Bulgaria and
the main donor was the Global
Environment Facility (GEF).
- The restored wetland is a man controlled
floodplain of about 2200 ha. The depth of
flooding varies up to 2.5 m. At this water
level, four relatively large marshes shape
up in the eastern part of the island –
Murtvo Blato, Peschina, Staroto Blato and
Dyulova Bara, as well as several smaller
ones.
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13. 13

14. Example 4 – Restoration, protection and
sustainable development of Zlato pole
Restoration Activities for restoration of
awetland near Maritza river.
Objective – Assurance of additional water
quantity for maintainance of hydrological
regime of the wetland; restoration and
protection of wet woods; protection and
restoration of species; control of introduced
species; publicity and administration
Amorpha fruticosa
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16. 1.Watercourses
2.Inland Rivers
3.Territory occupied by
watercourses and
waterbodies
4.Gullies
5.Other natural waters
6.Slough(marshland)
7.Agricultural fields
8.Other territories
occupied by agriculture
9.Pasture
10.Grasslands with
shrubs
11.Polish roads
12.Forest into
agricultural lands
13. Deciduous tree
species

17. Removal of invasive species-
Amorpha fruticosa
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18. Cuttings of willow native species (Salix carpea, Salix fragilis, Salix cinerea)

19. Planting cuttings of willow

20. Marsh snowdrops - high content of galanthamine in bulbs

21. Artificial islands for nesting wading birds

22. Example 5 - Restoration and conservation of
riparian forests - habitats of European
conservation importance on
the territory of Dimitrovgrad municipality
• Complete restoration of habitat 92A0, 91F0 and 92D0,
protected in PA "Maritsa river". Recovery biocorridor function of the river
by defragmentation existing isolated and fragmented riparian forest habitat
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23. Afforestation
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24. Location of project activities

25. Thank you for your attention!
Vasil Uzunov, EARBD
Email:vasilu@yahoo.com