Reinforcing protected areas capacity through an innovative methodology for sustainability – BIO2CARE

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October 2017 – December 2020

Co-funded under the INTERREG V-A Greece-Bulgaria 2014-2020 territorial cooperation programme

Total project budget: 1,093,111.60 EUR

Partners: From Greece – Thracian University of Democritus (Lead partner), Nestos Municipality, the Greek Biotope/Wetland Center, the National Confederation of People with Disabilities; from Bulgaria – the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Waters – Blagoevgrad, Rila National Park Directorate, the Southwest University of Neofit Rilski and PTF

Territorial range: National park of East Macedonia and Thrace in Greece; Rila National Park and the catchment area of Blagoevgradska Bistritsa River in Bulgaria

Goal: Reinforcing Protected Areas’ Management Bodies (PA MBs) efficiency and effectiveness in an innovative and integrated approach

Activities undertaken: 1) Producing new knowledge about the protected areas and especially the anthropogenic activities related to them; 2) Applying to PA MBs new procedures and tools; 3) Setting the first solid foundations for one common or two commonly operating cross-border Decision Support system (-s); 4) Setting in operation two jointly designed sets of monitoring equipment and exchanging information produced by them; 5) Setting in force an eco-labelling award scheme to help local businesses to overcome possible disadvantages emerge from protection status that apply; 6) Making PAs accessible to disabled and aged persons; 7) training specific target groups with training sessions and workshops; 8) Raising awareness among target groups and wide audiences; 9) Contributing to a better policy making through a Policy Recommendations Report

More information is available at the project web-site: https://bio2care.eu/bg