A Partnership Group for sustainable management of common grasslands in Godech municipality
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Site/Location
- Godech municipality
- Link
- https://www.step-bg.bg/en/publication/municipal-pastures-bulgaria-natural-richness-governance2-challenges
- Link
- https://www.step-bg.bg/en/publication/recommended-steps-municipal-administration-implementation-act-related-leasingre
- Contact
- step_ngo@abv.bg
Godech municipality is situated in Western Stara Planina mountains and has approximately 4100 ha arable land, 4550 ha meadows and 10300 ha pastures and common grazing land. 71% of the permanent grasslands are owned and governed by the municipality. These use to be common grasslands in the past. 95% of them fall in Natura 2000. The grasslands include 6210 Semi-natural dry grasslands, 6240 Subpannonic steppic grasslands, 62D0 Oro-Moesian Aciodophilous grasslands, 6430 Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of planes and of montane to alpine levels, 6510 Lowland hay meadows and 6250 Mountain hay meadows. Being located in Western Stara Planina mountain, Godech municipality is a home of rich biodiversity, 160 breeding bird species, including the biggest populations of Rock Partridge, Corncrake, Saker Falcon, and Imperial Eagle; as well as a number of Red Book species and Balkan endemic plantsл
STEP and local stakeholders formed a partnership group of farmers, municipal experts, LAG members, NGOs working in the territory and the local cultural house members (chitalishte).The Partnership group focused its efforts on:
- Developing long-term vision for municipal pastures’ management in Godech municipality;
- Proposing changes in the existing rules for use of municipal pastures to meet the needs of local livestock owners within the national-level framework;
- Developing proposals for differentiating the support schemes for grasslands management in Natura 2000 sites for grazing and mowing and introducing requirements preventing the topping of the grasslands and leaving the grass to rot on the field;
- Bringing the different stakeholders (environmentalists, farmers, representatives of local and national authorities (ministries), researchers, etc.) together and developing a common understanding of the natural values and needs for Natura 2000 grassland habitats management;
- Building recognition of the importance of the farmers amongst consumers.
The proposed changes of the rules for the governance and use of the municipal grassland to meet the needs of the local livestock farmers were adopted by the national framework.
Godech municipality is situated in Western Stara Planina mountains and has approximately 4100 ha arable land, 4550 ha meadows and 10300 ha pastures and common grazing land. 71% of the permanent grasslands are owned and governed by the municipality. These use to be common grasslands in the past. 95% of them fall in Natura 2000. The grasslands include 6210 Semi-natural dry grasslands, 6240 Subpannonic steppic grasslands, 62D0 Oro-Moesian Aciodophilous grasslands, 6430 Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of planes and of montane to alpine levels, 6510 Lowland hay meadows and 6250 Mountain hay meadows. Being located in Western Stara Planina mountain, Godech municipality is a home of rich biodiversity, 160 breeding bird species, including the biggest populations of Rock Partridge, Corncrake, Saker Falcon, and Imperial Eagle; as well as a number of Red Book species and Balkan endemic plantsл
STEP and local stakeholders formed a partnership group of farmers, municipal experts, LAG members, NGOs working in the territory and the local cultural house members (chitalishte).The Partnership group focused its efforts on:
- Developing long-term vision for municipal pastures’ management in Godech municipality;
- Proposing changes in the existing rules for use of municipal pastures to meet the needs of local livestock owners within the national-level framework;
- Developing proposals for differentiating the support schemes for grasslands management in Natura 2000 sites for grazing and mowing and introducing requirements preventing the topping of the grasslands and leaving the grass to rot on the field;
- Bringing the different stakeholders (environmentalists, farmers, representatives of local and national authorities (ministries), researchers, etc.) together and developing a common understanding of the natural values and needs for Natura 2000 grassland habitats management;
- Building recognition of the importance of the farmers amongst consumers.
The proposed changes of the rules for the governance and use of the municipal grassland to meet the needs of the local livestock farmers were adopted by the national framework.
