Training 'Nature Tourism and Management of Protected Areas in Western Stara Planina'

BALKANI Wildlife Society and Association of Parks in Bulgaria organized a training session on nature tourism and protected areas management in Belogradchik, Bulgaria as part of their BESTbelt project.

The training on ‘Nature Tourism and Management of Protected Areas in Western Stara Planina’ was organized as part of the BESTbelt project ‘Involving local communities in nature conservation in Zapadna (Western) Stara Planina’. It brought together leading experts in the field, as well as representatives of local institutions, tourism sector entrepreneurs, and local citizens, to discuss the potential of nature tourism in the Belogradchik region. 

The main speakers emphasised what makes a tourist destination competitive by showing best practices from Bulgaria and Romania: the ability to effectively utilise natural, cultural, human, man-made and capital resources to develop and provide high-quality, ethical and attractive tourism products and services. They also highlighted that, while Romania is promoting sustainability through its national network, Bulgaria is demonstrating the power of local initiative.

Inspiring examples of this include eco-destinations such as the Devetashka Plateau, Tran, Sakar, and the Iskar Gorge, where nature tourism is developed by local tourist groups or associations. These groups organise various events, including the creation, marking and cleaning of tourist trails, group hikes and themed tours to promote local nature, traditions and culture. 

Sharing this experience triggered fruitful discussions about the potential for the Belogradchik region to become a successful tourist destination by leveraging its strengths, such as its captivating natural beauty, diverse flora and fauna, and the iconic red sandstone rock formations of the Belogradchik Rocks Natural Monument. Participants and experts at the training event also discussed the need for better management of existing protected areas, the designation of new ones, and the successful involvement of various local and regional stakeholders. They also discussed the need for better waste management and the development and maintenance of a network of visitor and tourist trails in the region.

 

The training was organaized within the framework of the EU-funded BESTbelt project ‘Involving local communities in nature conservation in Zapadna (Western) Stara Planina’ which is implemented by the BALKANI Wildlife Society in collaboration with Association of Parks in Bulgaria from October 2024 to September 2026.

For more information, please contact Petko Tzvetkov, BALKANI Wildlife Society petko.tzvetkov(at)gmail.com 

Project website: https://www.europeangreenbelt.org/bestbelt/projects/involving-local-communities-in-nature-conservation-in-zapadna-western-stara-planina