Filming begins on five short films about “Lake Durankulak”, “Shabla-Ezerets”, “Kazashko” and “Yatata”, as well as about the sustainable economic development practices of these areas. The natural wealth, conservation regimes, sustainable use of natural resources and ecosystems in the protected areas will be filmed.
The films will be produced by the Public Center for Environment and Sustainable Development. They will be available for free viewing and download through the Ecovarna.info site and channels. The tapes will be used during training meetings with students from Shablensko and Varna, which the association will organize at the beginning of the next school year. In the form of an interactive lesson and role play, young people will learn and generate ideas for the sustainable use of protected areas and the development of the area in which they live.
A practical demonstration meeting will also be organized – a four-day tent camp in the village of Ezerets in August, as an opportunity to demonstrate and popularize sustainable ways of relaxation and recreation. During the camp, participants will be introduced to the importance of wetlands for the future of the area; will carry out analysis – diagnosis of the locality; will participate in eco construction. At the end of the training, a mock-up of natural materials and waste will be made with a design of the territory after 20 years, integrating the protected areas with the economic and social development of the area. Applications for participation in the eco camp are accepted until July 15, 2024 here.
The realization of the films, the trainings and the ecocamp is carried out under the “Unknown Paradise” project. The present project is implemented thanks to Lidl Bulgaria’s largest socially responsible initiative “You and Lidl for our tomorrow”, in partnership with the Foundation “Workshop for Civic Initiatives” and the Bulgarian Donor Forum.
Wetlands are among the types of ecosystems most affected by human activity. This has led to their significant reduction in cover and the loss of associated biodiversity. Locals in small towns such as Durankulak and Ezerets complain about the litter and dirt left behind by tourists during the few summer months. They begin to see vacationers as a necessary evil rather than an opportunity for sustainable development and economic prosperity in their area.
Only during the past summer season (May 1 – September 15, 2023) the Regional Environment and Water Inspection (RIOSV) – Varna, carried out 139 inspections within the boundaries of protected territories and zones for the protection of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna from Durankulak to Obzor. The inspections are for compliance with the prohibitions introduced by the zoning orders, and more specifically for damage and destruction of natural vegetation on the coastal beach strip and in dunes, outside the active beach area.
Almost every inspection found violations – 111 in number, and they were mostly related to illegally parked cars. Violations are most often found in the regimes of the “Durankulak Lake” protected area – within the boundaries of the “Kosmos” and “Krapets – North” sea beaches, as well as the “Shabla-Ezerets” protected area.
Although of a different nature, the problems with the Kazashko and Yatata protected areas in the Varna-Beloslav Lake wetland are no less. Development of parts of the wetland for development, intensive industrial activities along almost the entire periphery of the lake, movement of vessels (including large cargo ships), pollution by petroleum products, chemical preparations and solid household waste leading to eutrophication of the water body are observed here. , plans for coastal urbanization and development of industrial, transport and recreational infrastructure.
