Socotab EOOD along with Green Balkans celebrated the International Day of Forests with a massive afforestation campaign for the planting of over 300 Black Pine trees in the Byala Reka region, near Ivaylovgrad.
This marks the beginning of a large forestation campaign for the planting of 2000 pine trees within the ‘Bright Future for the Black Vulture’ LIFE14 NAT/BG/649 project, financed within the LIFE programme of the EU. The initiative also aims to support firm policies and programs to reduce CO2 emissions, support rare habitats and involving local citizen support in nature conservation.
The campaign started on 21st March in Plovdiv with a special training course for 40 of the company’s employees from the Socotab central and regional offices along with their colleagues from Greece and Macedonia. The course included a special discussion on rare and protected species and opportunities for collaboration between non-governmental organizations and business representatives for their protection. In the second part, the participants learned more about the four European vulture species and our activities within the ‘Bright Future for the Black Vulture’ LIFE14 NAT/BG/649 project aiming for their recovery in our country.
We were glad to learn that many of the participants are also hobby hunters and are very conscientious about protecting all rare species and habitats so they can enjoy their hobby for a long time.
In the early afternoon, the whole group travelled to Stara Zagora, to visit the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Centre and learn more about our work for rare species. The participants got to know about the interesting story of a young buzzard rescued at the Centre and later joined its release near Ivaylovgrad.
On the 22nd March the campaigned continued with the planting of over 300 Black Pine trees near the vulture feeding site near Pelevun, in the Byala Reka region in the Eastern Rhodopes. Representatives of the Ivaylovgrad Municipality, along with local farmers and citizens joined the campaign. Black Pines are characteristic for the region and also a favourite nesting site for the Black Vultures from the Dadya Nature Park in Greece. We are hoping to improve nesting sites for the species in Bulgaria and thus help their recovery in our country.
Changes in forest habitats within the last 50 years have led to losing a large portion of rare and ancient forests. Old forests, where they can be found, are scattered and confined and are under huge pressure and human disturbance. At the same time, these are among the only places that offer optimal nesting conditions for the Black Vulture, which has been extinct for Bulgaria as a nesting species since the 90s. The ‘Bright Future for the Black Vulture’ LIFE14 NAT/BG/694 project aims to recover the species in the Stara Planina, Eastern Rhodopes and Kresna regions. Before we start to reintroduce birds back into our wildlife, we still have to ensure their habitats. One of the activities for improving habitats is reforestation with pine trees along with other activities involving locals and volunteers.
We’d like to use this opportunity to offer our sincere thanks to the Socotab EOOD team and all participants in the planting event for their help, support and genuine interest in our work. We hope our work together will be an example and an inspiration for other companies willing to take responsible and mutually beneficial actions for the environment.
Additional information:
Elena Kmetova-Biro – project manager - ekmetova@greenbalkans.org
This marks the beginning of a large forestation campaign for the planting of 2000 pine trees within the ‘Bright Future for the Black Vulture’ LIFE14 NAT/BG/649 project, financed within the LIFE programme of the EU. The initiative also aims to support firm policies and programs to reduce CO2 emissions, support rare habitats and involving local citizen support in nature conservation.
The campaign started on 21st March in Plovdiv with a special training course for 40 of the company’s employees from the Socotab central and regional offices along with their colleagues from Greece and Macedonia. The course included a special discussion on rare and protected species and opportunities for collaboration between non-governmental organizations and business representatives for their protection. In the second part, the participants learned more about the four European vulture species and our activities within the ‘Bright Future for the Black Vulture’ LIFE14 NAT/BG/649 project aiming for their recovery in our country.
We were glad to learn that many of the participants are also hobby hunters and are very conscientious about protecting all rare species and habitats so they can enjoy their hobby for a long time.
In the early afternoon, the whole group travelled to Stara Zagora, to visit the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Centre and learn more about our work for rare species. The participants got to know about the interesting story of a young buzzard rescued at the Centre and later joined its release near Ivaylovgrad.
On the 22nd March the campaigned continued with the planting of over 300 Black Pine trees near the vulture feeding site near Pelevun, in the Byala Reka region in the Eastern Rhodopes. Representatives of the Ivaylovgrad Municipality, along with local farmers and citizens joined the campaign. Black Pines are characteristic for the region and also a favourite nesting site for the Black Vultures from the Dadya Nature Park in Greece. We are hoping to improve nesting sites for the species in Bulgaria and thus help their recovery in our country.
Changes in forest habitats within the last 50 years have led to losing a large portion of rare and ancient forests. Old forests, where they can be found, are scattered and confined and are under huge pressure and human disturbance. At the same time, these are among the only places that offer optimal nesting conditions for the Black Vulture, which has been extinct for Bulgaria as a nesting species since the 90s. The ‘Bright Future for the Black Vulture’ LIFE14 NAT/BG/694 project aims to recover the species in the Stara Planina, Eastern Rhodopes and Kresna regions. Before we start to reintroduce birds back into our wildlife, we still have to ensure their habitats. One of the activities for improving habitats is reforestation with pine trees along with other activities involving locals and volunteers.
We’d like to use this opportunity to offer our sincere thanks to the Socotab EOOD team and all participants in the planting event for their help, support and genuine interest in our work. We hope our work together will be an example and an inspiration for other companies willing to take responsible and mutually beneficial actions for the environment.
Additional information:
Elena Kmetova-Biro – project manager - ekmetova@greenbalkans.org
