Promoting green jobs along the Bulgarian Green Belt

What do nature conservation and green jobs have in common? The European Green Belt combines the two: Europe's longest green network protects unique habitats and endangered species, while providing employment opportunities in the regions it passes through. A new case study shows the potential for green jobs and their creation along Bulgaria's Green Belt.

 

Nature is not only breathtaking and fascinating, it is also the foundation of our societies and economies. It provides critical resources for construction, agriculture, our food and produces the air we breathe every second. Nature provides what are known as ecosystem services to our societies. In addition, protecting healthy ecosystems and managing our natural resources in a sustainable way can provide important employment opportunities.

A recent case study was carried out by the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation in cooperation with EuroNatur and on behalf of the European Green Belt Association within the EU-funded BESTbelt project to assess the potential for green jobs along the Balkan Green Belt. The case study focused on the three Bulgarian regions of Strandzha Mountains, Western Stara Planina Mountains, and Belasitsa Mountains, and the used methods ranged from interviews with local stakeholders and the organisation of local forums, to desk research assessing socio-economic development, and and the presentation of the findings at the national level. 

The case study identifies a number of specific and common challenges facing the three regions, such as economic factors, demographic pressures or a lack of coordinated marketing. In turn, it identifies sectors with high potential for green job creation, such as sustainable manufacturing and sustainable tourism, and makes a number of recommendations on the changes that need to be made to realise this potential.

You can read the full case study, or download a short version only focusing on the developed recommendations.

To stay updated and read more about green jobs along the European Green Belt in general, please also have a look here.

 

For more information about the case study, please contact:

Eleonora Yosifova; eleonora(at)biodiversity.bg (Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation)

or Jessica Bitsch; jessica.bitsch(at)euronatur.org (EuroNatur)