A vision for sustainable development of Western Stara Planina High Nature Value region
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Site/Location
- Western Stara Planina
- Link
- http://www.hnvlink.eu/learning-areas/western-stara-planina-region/
- Link
- http://www.hnvlink.eu/innovations/western-stara-planina-region/
- Contact
- step_ngo@abv.bg
Western Stara Planina is an exceptional region from many perspectives. It is situated in north-western Bulgaria on the border with Serbia. It is predominantly a mountainous area of exceptional beauty and biodiversity richness. It covers five municipalities (LAU1 level) from two administrative districts (Godech, Berkovitza, Chiprovtzi, Varshets, Georgi Damyanovo) on an area of 1662 km2. It is a High Nature Value farming and forestry area with biodiversity richness of national, European and global importance. The area is known for the ethnic cultures and traditional festivals, crafts and cuisine of the ‘karakachans’ and the ‘torlaks’ including the famous Chiprovtzi hand-made carpets. A lot of these traditions are related to the farming systems practised in the past – sheep grazing in the mountainous pastures, wool used to produce the carpets and local herbs and flowers used to colour the wool.
Currently the area is a part of the poorest NUTS II region in the EU, tourism in all forms is still underdeveloped and depopulation is significant.
The land use in the LA is divided almost equally between forests (48%) and agriculture (47%).
The utilized agricultural area is dominated by pastures and meadows (63% of the UAA in 2016) of which common grasslands are 72%. Historically, they were used as common grasslands but the introduction of the CAP Pillar I payments led to changes in the use. There had to be individual responsibility for the claimed area. Since accession to the EU in 2007, the rules for the allocation of municipal pastures changed frequently. The current rules give priority to livestock farmers with grazing animals from the respective municipality.
The rules resulted in allocation of the most « fit-for-CAP-payments » grasslands for individual use to farmers applying for CAP payments.
The pastures in worse conditions in terms of scrub / tree encroachment are designated for common use by subsistence farmers in the villages that do not apply for subsidies.
Local stakeholders gathered in the frame of HNV Link project and outlined a vision for sustainable development of the region:
"Agricultural modernization taking into account the natural and cultural heritage in the region."
This involves action in the following directions:
* The farming activities and production methods need to reflect the specificities of the WSP region: pastoralism, maintenance of the landscape and nature values, protection of natural sites and protected areas, but also HNV farmland outside the protected areas. This also means that all farmers should have access to grasslands near their farms; long-term contracts for the use of municipal pasture; and forests and grasslands routes and watering places are restored.
* Cooperation and interaction between all stakeholders is needed to increase social cohesion, rediscovery of local traditions and events that lead to joint initiatives for promoting and marketing local products: local brand, direct marketing and direct contact with consumers, better promotion and services linked to tourism development.
Western Stara Planina is an exceptional region from many perspectives. It is situated in north-western Bulgaria on the border with Serbia. It is predominantly a mountainous area of exceptional beauty and biodiversity richness. It covers five municipalities (LAU1 level) from two administrative districts (Godech, Berkovitza, Chiprovtzi, Varshets, Georgi Damyanovo) on an area of 1662 km2. It is a High Nature Value farming and forestry area with biodiversity richness of national, European and global importance. The area is known for the ethnic cultures and traditional festivals, crafts and cuisine of the ‘karakachans’ and the ‘torlaks’ including the famous Chiprovtzi hand-made carpets. A lot of these traditions are related to the farming systems practised in the past – sheep grazing in the mountainous pastures, wool used to produce the carpets and local herbs and flowers used to colour the wool.
Currently the area is a part of the poorest NUTS II region in the EU, tourism in all forms is still underdeveloped and depopulation is significant.
The land use in the LA is divided almost equally between forests (48%) and agriculture (47%).
The utilized agricultural area is dominated by pastures and meadows (63% of the UAA in 2016) of which common grasslands are 72%. Historically, they were used as common grasslands but the introduction of the CAP Pillar I payments led to changes in the use. There had to be individual responsibility for the claimed area. Since accession to the EU in 2007, the rules for the allocation of municipal pastures changed frequently. The current rules give priority to livestock farmers with grazing animals from the respective municipality.
The rules resulted in allocation of the most « fit-for-CAP-payments » grasslands for individual use to farmers applying for CAP payments.
The pastures in worse conditions in terms of scrub / tree encroachment are designated for common use by subsistence farmers in the villages that do not apply for subsidies.
Local stakeholders gathered in the frame of HNV Link project and outlined a vision for sustainable development of the region:
"Agricultural modernization taking into account the natural and cultural heritage in the region."
This involves action in the following directions:
* The farming activities and production methods need to reflect the specificities of the WSP region: pastoralism, maintenance of the landscape and nature values, protection of natural sites and protected areas, but also HNV farmland outside the protected areas. This also means that all farmers should have access to grasslands near their farms; long-term contracts for the use of municipal pasture; and forests and grasslands routes and watering places are restored.
* Cooperation and interaction between all stakeholders is needed to increase social cohesion, rediscovery of local traditions and events that lead to joint initiatives for promoting and marketing local products: local brand, direct marketing and direct contact with consumers, better promotion and services linked to tourism development.
