Protection and restoration of water ecosystems in Bulgaria

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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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Protected areas according the WFD

Natura 2000 – more than 30% of the territory of Bulgaria

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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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Example 1 - Restoration of Veselina River meander near the Mindya Village, BulgariaWWF 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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Before

After

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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Example 1 - Restoration of Veselina River meander near the Mindya Village, Bulgaria

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floodplain

dyke

openings in the dyke

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 River was fully diverted. •High water floods the road, •When water overflows the dike it 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 andwas funded by WWF andthe German Federal Ecological Foundation DBU

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Average water level

Example 2 - Restoration of the Russenski Lom River near Ivanovo Rock Monasteries

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High water level

Average water level

Example 2 - Restoration of the Russenski Lom River near Ivanovo Rock Monasteries

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High water level

Average water level

Example 2 - Restoration of the Russenski Lom River near Ivanovo Rock Monasteries

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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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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

Example 4 – Restoration, protection and sustainable development of Zlato pole

1.Watercourses2.Inland Rivers3.Territory occupied by watercourses and waterbodies4.Gullies5.Other natural waters6.Slough(marshland)7.Agricultural fields8.Other territories occupied by agriculture9.Pasture10.Grasslands with shrubs11.Polish roads12.Forest into agricultural lands13. Deciduous tree species

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Removal of invasive species- Amorpha fruticosa

Cuttings of willow native species (Salix carpea, Salix fragilis, Salix cinerea)

Planting cuttings of willow

Marsh snowdrops - high content of galanthamine in bulbs

Artificial islands for nesting wading birds

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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

Afforestation

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Location of project activities

Thank you for your attention!

Vasil Uzunov, EARBDEmail:vasilu@yahoo.com