(( Projects ))

Cross-sectoral Cooperation for Good Water Quality Management on Lower Danube Farms

Background of the Problem

The main environmental problem, which this project is addressing, is water pollution from agricultural activities. Nitrates are easily distributed from waters and they may cause negative effects to a whole catchment area or river basin, including eutrophication, pollution of surface, ground and underground waters. Some of these waters are source of drink and fresh waters, other are used in agriculture again. It means that in this way pollutions endanger human's health, biodiversity and environment, and the balance of ecosystems. The next impact is change of water courses and river beds, due to eutrophication, which cause floods, where beside material damages, there are increased pollutions not only with nitrates, but with industrial and waste waters. After all of these and according to EU policy and legislation this problems in Danube River Basin need to be addressed through cross-sectoral, multi-institutional, multi-stakeholder and trans-boundary approaches and activities.

Goal and Objectives of the Project

The overall project goal is the reduction of water pollution caused by agriculture in the Lower Danube basin in the long-term.

• Objective 1: Model farms for good water quality management.
• Objective 2: Contribute to water-agricultural policy development.
• Objective 3: Cross-sectoral, multi-stakeholder platform.
• Objective 4: Communication and promotion of the project activities at each step, dissemination of information and project results.

Methodology and Strategy

The main part of strategy is to challenge public discussions with all stakeholders, including national and local authorities, and in this way to raise public and stakeholders' awareness of water pollution related problems and to help them to work out their own, proper understanding of them. Methods are giving examples - with both model farms, explanations and dissemination of information for Good Agricultural Practices and for the reasons that brought them. Organization of public meetings will give to each participant the opportunity to express his own opinion, point of view or to share useful practical experience. Here the target is to identify every single object and stakeholder and the role he is playing for development of this issue; and his motivation as an engine of his activities. From meetings will be got out information for current agricultural practices, current experience of stakeholders and for some details of the state of agriculture, ecosystems and their relation at local level. Very important is to highlight the international feature of problems, as far as the Danube River or its tributaries are crossing many countries or are their boundaries so there is a crucial need from common agreed set of methodology, strategy and approaches, defining the appropriate activities or otherwise - need from integrated management.

Achievements/Outcomes (with specific examples when possible)

• Transboundary dialog and cooperation between NGOs from Bulgaria and Romania - ongoing; and through them
• Transboundary dialog and cooperation between Bulgaria and Romania at level of national/local authorities - ongoing.
• A working group for GFP at local level.
• Two working model farms - one in Bulgaria and one in Romania - ongoing.
• Promotion of project and project activities as examples for appropriate approach - ongoing.
• Enhanced experience with control and monitoring of agricultural practices and their relation with the water quality.
• Increased interest and raised awareness about the issue between farmers, their associations, other stakeholders and local/national authorities - ongoing.
• Collected information for farming practices as feedback for project activities and policy development and implementation - ongoing.

Products/Outputs Developed

• Set of Good Farming Practices adapted to a specific farm.
• Set of recommendations for GFP based on EU requirements and adapted to the national context;
• Presentation of the project (PowerPoint presentations);
• Questionnaires to asses the needs and collect the feedback on project' activities.
• Prepared analyses and recommendations for integrated management of water/agricultural relations.
• Prepared brochure containing relevant information on GFP.
• Prepared brochure containing recommendations and examples for Agri-environmental measures.

Cleaning the Path to Employment for Youths

Background of the Problem

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Goal and Objectives of the Project

The overall objective of the project is to enable the long-term unemployed young people up to the age of 29 to overcome the social isolation and to get into the labour market. This will be made possible by their participation in activities related to the rehabilitation of the town park and the creation of open gallery for ceramic art in one part of the park.

The specific aims of the project are the following:

• Objective 1: To reduce the unemployment rate of the long-term unemployed young people up to 29 by their direct integration in the labour market as well as to provide the necessary social environment for overcoming their isolation.
• Objective 2: To restore the existing park area in Troyan by improving its infrastructure and living environment and to provide opportunities for the permanent exhibition of ceramic arts.
• Objective 3: To increase the capacity of the local communities, to develop effective local partnership and co-operation aiming to form positive social capital for the successful utilization of the EU funds.