Background

In June 2002, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) provided the Government of Bulgaria with funding for the implementation of project activities for the Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction Project. The objective of this project is to assist Bulgaria in meeting its national and international commitments to reduce transboundary nutrient loads and to conserve biodiversity in the Danube and Black Sea Basins through the restoration of wetlands and improvement management and sustainable use of water and wetland natural resources.

A portion of this Grant will be used for:

Training and education of experts from Institutions Involved in the management of Natural Resources within Protected Areas (Component 2 Protected Area Management, Subcomponent Strengthening Implementing Agencies Capacity).
Procurement workshops and other workshops over the project period. (Project Component 3 Project Coordination, Management and Monitoring)

The Project Coordination Unit identified the local stakeholders’ needs for training and prepared semiannual program for training and study tours.

The expected outcomes are:

Capacity of institutions involved in natural resource management within the two protected areas strengthened.
Project management capacity within the park administrations and the Ministry of Environment and Water improved.

These report summaries the activities which were carried out under the Training program of the project for the period October 2002- June 2006

Implementation of the Training Program

The Project Coordination Unit identified the stakeholders’ needs for training and prepared semiannual programs for training and study tours. The programs are coordinated with the protected sites administrations and approved by the World Bank. Since the beginning of the project the following training, in which participated many of the partners of the two protected areas has been organized and carried out:

Study tours

Study tours, as part of educational programs, make great impressions and keep knowledge for long time. Well organized, they raise the ecological culture and public awareness.

The first study tour was organized in May 2003 to the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve for local stakeholders from PNP and KBPS – farmers, mayors, park and protected site administration, PCU staff, MoEW staff, Regional Inspectorate of MoEW staff, and Member of the Environment Commission of the Parliament. During the study tour the participants were exposed to broad range of new experiences in protected areas and natural and restored wetlands. The role of WB grants and loans for set up alternative income generating activities was discussed Apart of demonstrating ecotourism development, wetlands restoration and wetlands management the Study tour had other social aspect since the communication among the stakeholders was improved and cooperation among the stakeholders of the two project sites was established (Highly satisfactory).

The second study tour was to Calarasi, Romania in August 2003. The participants, local stakeholders from PNP and KBPS – farmers, mayors, park and protected site administration, PCU staff, MoEW staff, Regional Inspectorate of MoEW staff, Rousse and Silistra Regional Agricultural Advisory Services staff, were introduced to the progress of the implementation of WB Agricultural Pollution Control Project in Calarasi judeţ in reference to household manure management, the problem with water nutrient pollution for local people, promotion of environmentally friendly agricultural practices and public awareness activities within the project territory. The participants were convinced that introduction of good manure management in WRPRP sites is possible and the small grants program support would be a chance to start sooner. (Highly satisfactory)

The next study tour to constructed wetland in Nea Maditos, in Greece in the spring of 2004 proved to be very interesting and useful to the participants from the MoEW, park administrations and stakeholders from the local authorities. A new technique for waste water treatment was presented and many of the participants expressed their hope that such facilities for settlements and pig-farms should be constructed to avoid nutrient pollution of underground water. (Highly satisfactory)

Another study tour was organized for students from Persina Nature Park territory in order to visit Kallimok/Brushlen Protected Site and Srebarna Biosphere Reserve and proved to be very interesting and highly appreciated by the children. (Highly satisfactory)

Even though separate study tour to the visitor center was not conducted the staff of the two protected areas administrations and the PCU visited Central Balkan National Park and the Information Centre in Kalofer as part of the Team building and communication skills development workshop. The participants also visited Rila National park and its Visitor centre in Panichishte as part of the Action planning workshop.

International Conferences, Workshops, Seminars and Courses

International Seminars and Courses are very important tool for capacity building. Not only the participants improve their knowledge but also they exchange experience and established very useful contacts.

Project Manager, PCU, MOEW Executive Director, KBPS Association took part in the Workshop of Wetlands Managers on Restoration and Nutrient Reduction, Viena, 2003 The workshop was very useful to exchange experience and to make contacts with people working in the area of wetlands management and wetlands restoration and become part of the Danube Wetlands manager network. (Highly satisfactory)

In May 2003 the Director of the Water Directorate, MOEW attended the International Conference on Sustainable Development for Lasting Peace, in Athens, Greece. The Conference adopted the "Athens Declaration" concerning "Shared Water, Shared Future, Shared Knowledge." The project also supports the participation of the responsible Deputy Minister in the High level Segment at the 12th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, USA (Satisfactory).

Another participation supported by the project was the one of the Liaison person from the Water Protection Department, MOEW in a Workshop on Preparation of Wetlands Horizontal Guidance, Rome, Italy, 2004. (Satisfactory).

The international course on Wetland Management, 2003, organized by the Wetland Advisory and Training Center (WATC), Holland, helped the MAF staff, liaison officer for the project to increase her understanding of relevant processes in wetlands and the importance of these areas (Satisfactory).

The Workshop for Lower Danube Green Corridor (LDGC) Stakeholders and Implementing Agencies provided an opportunity for stakeholders and implementing agencies to present their achievements to date, exchange experience and explore the potential for complementary activities and co-financing; and created a forum in which stakeholders and implementing agencies can discuss specific project proposals. During this discussion the WRPR project implementation progress was presented. (Successful).

Representatives of the PNP Directorate, Rural Development Department and National Agricultural Advisory Service, MoAF and PCU participated in the Regional Conference on Agricultural Source Pollution Control in Danube, Baltic and Black Sea Riparian Countries in Romania. During the Conference the Experience of Danube, Baltic and Black sea riparian countries in agricultural source pollution control supported (projects supported by GEF, ICPDR and BSEP) was shared. Tow presentations were given by the members of the Bulgarian delegation (Satisfactory).

In year 2004 the project supported the participation in the International Course in Sustainable Management of Wetlands and Shallow Lake, Bodensee, Germany and International course on Wetland Management and Restoration, Broads National Park, UK of representatives of KBPS, PNP, Nature Protection National Service and PCU. As a result of these participation Kallimok/Brushlen Protected Site Administration will become a member of the international network Living Lakes partnership, whose mission is to enhance the protection, restoration and rehabilitation of lakes, wetlands, other freshwater bodies of the world and their catchments areas. (Highly Satisfactory)

The project supported participation of representative of the National Nature Protection Service in the Eurosite Annual General Meeting on Managing Large Scale Protected Areas. Following the meeting the National Nature Protection Service translated and disseminated the new manual for preparing of management plans, prepared by “EUROSITE”. The National Nature Protection Service will initiate a Workshop with the regional departments of the MOEW for revising the theme for transboundary management of protected sites and preparation of management plans. (Highly Satisfactory)

The project also supported the participation of the mayor of Goljamo Vranovo and member of the Managing Board of KBPS in the Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Mr. Ablekim disseminated the information about the technologies, equipment and the products of the American’s companies to villages, which lands are inside the protected sites. (Satisfactory)

In order to strengthen the MOEW capacity the project also supported the participation of MOEW experts, involved in the project implementation in the Distance Learning MSc. course in International Economics and in MSc. course in Environmental Sciences and Policy.

Local workshops, short courses and seminars

Three workshops were organized in order to involve the stakeholders in the finalization of the Communication Strategy and the Action plan for its implementation (Satisfactory).

Representatives of Tutrakan Tourism Association attended a short course in Ecotourism were theoretical knowledge on the subjects was presented together with many practical examples (Satisfactory).

Potential applicants for grants under the Small Grant program took part in Project Writing Seminar. The result was very positive as the number of project applications is more than expected. (Highly Satisfactory)

Team Building Workshop was organized for the staff of PNP directorate, KBPS Administration and the PCU.. After the Team Building Workshop the working environment in both protected area administration is improved. (Highly Satisfactory)

The consequent Action Planning workshop, organized for the staff of PNP Directorate, KBPS Administration and PCU, also reached its objectives: the understanding for belonging to the Bulgarian network of protected area and the overall protection policies was improved; the general principles of strategic and operational team planning introduced to the participants; Drafts for annual operational plans for 2005 developed and experience exchanged with “Rila” National park Directorate. (Satisfactory)

The objective of the Workshop on Effective Meetings for the PNP, KBPS and PCU staff was to develop the participants’ skills in effective meetings management. The self-assessment of participants proved the effectiveness of the training and the need to continue the capacity building program for both administrations.( Satisfactory)

In April 2005 the Public Relation Experts of Persina Nature Park Directorate and Kallimok/Brushlen Protected Site administration attended a course in Public Relations in Sofia in order to update their knowledge in the Public Relation and to exchange experience with other professionals in the field. (Satisfactory)

In 2005, simultaneously with the launch of the Farmer Transition Support Fund, some local stakeholders (agricultural producers – FTSF applicants), KBPS agri-specialist, FTSF evaluation commission representatives, took part in a short course in organic farming organized by BIOSELENA Foundation in Karlovo. During the seminar the latest trends in the organic farming were presented both in theory and practice. The FTSF applicants were convinced by the BIOSELENA Foundation experts to start organic farming activities in Kalimok-Brushlen especially when such an financial instrument as FTSF is available. Every participants received a “Certificate for professional training in agriculture – organic farming” which could be used when applying for grants or credits under SAPARD, State fund “Agriculture”, FTSF and other financial institutions. (Highly Satisfactory).

Park administration representatives and PCU staff took part in a short course on the pest control of Drissena Polymorpha in order to become acquainted with the Drissena Polymorpha biology, its invasion in Bulgaria and the latest pest control methods (Satisfactory).

A “joint” one-day workshop in Svishtov in September 2005 was supported by PCU and “DWM” project in order to update the Persina Nature Park and Kalimok-Brushlen protected site “Joint Communication Strategy and Public Relations plan for 2005” with issues related to Management plans preparation process. Over 30 interested in SGP stakeholders and representatives of project winner organizations from Kalimok-Brushlen area attended the workshop. (S)

After the implementation of three SGP sessions projects and the launch of 4^th call for full project proposals of the Program, PCU recognized the need to organize workshops in both project sites concerning capacity building in project writing and reporting for local organizations interested in SGP. Two workshops were organized in December, 2005 on both territories that gathered more than 40 people. The participants were very active during the training. They addressed their questions to the PCU consultant on project proposals development, PCU financial expert and PCU LGO’s and exchanged experience in management of SGP project implementation. As a result, the SGP-4^rd session full projects had better quality and were more focused and supportive to the parks PR activities. (Highly Successful)

English language courses

The participants in the courses were selected by the KBPS Association and PNP Directorate in such a way that they represent different authorities and stakeholder groups in the both territories. The participants were highly motivated to upgrade their English knowledge. During the course the participants were regularly informed about all activities of Kallimok/Brushlen Protected Site Administration and Persina Nature Park Directorate, as well as of the project, especially about the Biodiversity Conversation Small Grant Program and Farmer Transition Fund. English language courses were also supported for some staff of the Ministry of Environment and Waters, Regional Inspectorates of Environment and Waters in Pleven and Rousse. Due to their improved English language skills some of the stakeholders took more active participation during the WB missions and other events (Satisfactory).

Computer courses

The courses in computer literacy were much needed by the stakeholders and there were several requests for such courses. The courses in computer literacy for work with MS Word, MS Excel, Power Point and Internet were organized for stakeholders in Tutrakan and Slivo pole, while training in MS Word, Excel, Power Point and Access was organized for the staff and stakeholders in PNP. The staff of Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Waters, Rousse, had requested a course on MS Power Point, Internet, Excel and Access, and they were trained to work with these software under the training program of the project as well. As a result of the computer literacy courses which were held in the premises of KBPS Association the local stakeholders not only acquired skills for project preparation, but also became much more informed about the activities of KBPS Association and the implementation of the project as well. Therefore there was very high number of applications for grants under the Biodiversity Small Grant Program. (Highly Satisfactory)

Computer courses in working with MS Power Point, MS Access and MS Project were also organized in Sofia for the MOEW and PCU staff (Satisfactory).

Course for working with Geographic Information System Arc View were also organized for representatives of all the organizations involved in the management and the implementation of the monitoring program, namely the MOEW, the Executive Agency of Environment and Waters, PNP Directorate, KBPS Administration, Regional Inspectorate of Environments and Waters – Pleven and Rousse, Regional Environmental lab and Regional River Basin Directorate Rousse and Pleven and PCU. (Satisfactory)

A Small Vessel Driving Course was organized in Belene in order to provide the necessary skills and certificates for the PNPD staff to use the boat and carry out environmental monitoring and other tasks (Satisfactory).

Component 3

In order to enhance its work and to be updated with the latest trends and documents, as well as to exchange experience, the PCU staff took part in different initiatives. The Project manager participated in the short course on Project management in WB-funded projects while the Procurement officer attended the short course on Selection and recruitment of consultants in World Bank-funded projects in ILO, Turin, Italy, as well as in the WB-organized Seminar on Procurement of Information technology in World Bank projects in Saraevo, Bosna and Herzegovina, 2004. The financial specialist was updated with the current thinking and best practices in using environmental economics to address resources and environmental problems at the macro, sector, and project levels in applied environmental economics during the WB course on the Environment al Economics and Development Policy 2004, Washington, USA. The Workshop on Sustainability of Competitive Grant Programs, which was held in Georgia in November 2004 was attended by the Local Liaison officers, the Financial and the Procurement specialists in order to exchange experience with other organizations, implementing Small Grant Programs with funds of the WB.

In order to improve the communication skills the PCU staff also took part in the short courses on Business Correspondence, Negotiation Skills, Report Writing and Project Management, Sofia, Bulgaria, as well as in the Team Building Workshop organized for the protected areas administrations.

The responsible Deputy Minister and the project manager took part in the Second Biennial International Waters Conference, 2002, in Dalian, China. The participation of the project manager in Third Biennial International Waters Conference, 2005, in Salvador, Bahia Brazil and the participation of the procurement specialist in the International Seminar on Protected Areas Management 2003, in Montana, USA, were sponsored by the organizing agencies. These events, together with the International Black Sea Conference Environmental Protection Technologies for Coastal Areas 2004 in Varna, Bulgaria were not only occasions for getting updated with the latest trends in protected areas management and water protection and management, but also for disseminating the information and lessons learned from the project.