Projects

"Bulgarian - Slovak Partnership in Environment Care"

Year: 2008
Leading organization: BIKEAREA ASSOCIATION
Partners: Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, Ekopolis Foundation - Slovakia
Foreseen results:
- exchange visits ;
- training courses in Slovakia and Bulgaria ;
- practical workshops in Slovakia and the Rhodope Mountains / Bulgaria;
- fund raising event in Bulgaria as a result of the cooperation between the three partners.
Financing: The European Commission

"Preservation of the biodiversity in the Rhodope Mountains trough new possibilities for cycling tourism in the region"

Year: 2007 - 2009
Leading organization: BIKEAREA ASSOCIATION
Partners: Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, State Forestry Station "Shiroka Polyana" and "Zhenda", Odysseia IN Ltd, "Silivryak" Cave Club, "GID Association" Smolyan, Momchill Adventure Sports Club, Nature Protection Centre - Madjarovo.

Foreseen results:
- way marking of the designated trail across the Rhodope mountains.
- preparation and launching of a web page providing detailed information about the project, protected areas, bike routes, accommodation etc.
- compilation and print of a guide book giving thorough information about the trail (route description, villages, towns, protected areas, accommodation and other services).
- organizing of training course in order to prepare local guides and other providers of services along the trail.
- PR and advertising activities to promote the general product created by this project.

Financing: Small Grants Program of the Global Environment Facility (www.sgp-bulgaria.org)

"Protected areas on the territory of the Batashka Mountains as a key resource for the development of ecotourism and biodiversity preservation in the region"

Year: 2007
Leading organization: BIKEAREA ASSOCIATION
Partners: Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, Municipal Information Centre Velingrad, State Forestry Station "Beglika"
Results:
- 94 km of forest roads and trails connecting the protected areas in Batashka Mountains were marked and mapped;
- bike rental and guides centre was established in Velingrad;
- bilingual guidebook was published;
- specialized web site www.bikearea-velingrad.org was created

Financing: Demonstration Projects Program of the "Rhodope project" - GEF, UNDP, Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture, State Forestry Agency. (www.rodope.org)

"Closer to the Nature"

Year: 2006
Leading organization: BIKEAREA ASSOCIATION
Partners: Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, Momchill Adventure Sports Club
Results:
- 150 km of forest roads and trails around Momchilovtsi were marked and mapped. A map was published;
- short movie "Tasusaria" was created;
- film festival and photo exhibition on mountain biking and nature conservation was organized.
Financing: Bulgarian Ministry of Sports and Youth

"On Two Wheels around Velingrad"