Semperviva - actuality

Bulgarian Biodiversity Preservation Society Semperviva

 

10-28, 2008

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News from October 2008

Semperviva selling Cheese from Karakachan sheep
at Salone del Gusto/Terra Madre Fair in Torino, Italy

 

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News from Nov. 2005

A new project shall be started:
The conservation project for Kalofer long-haired goat

The local long-haired and particularly the Kalofer type does not have any similar among the European goat breeds. It is present only in Bulgaria and significantly consolidated in its type. Nowadays these goats are mainly saved around the town of Kalofer (Central Stara Planina Mts.). From very old times the furs of these goats have been used for making masks and costumes for a Bulgarian traditional customs.

Saving a native local breed is a cause, which is very difficult but it is worth. Selecting ancient breeds of domestic animals is a process which can not be repeated and their extinction is irreparable. Being a link between the wild predecessors and the modern breeds, the old domesticated forms possess a big vitality and valuable qualities. The success of the such an initiative is not only a success for the livestock breeding sciences, because invaluable genetic material will be saved, but also a part of historical and cultural heritage of Bulgaria will be conserved for the future generations. Bulgaria needs to save its natural and historical heritage which the socialist regime almost destroyed. The conservation of semi-natural habitats as the high mountain pastures is an integral part of the traditional livestock breeding and the local breeds conservation. The local goat breeds are effective regulators against closing of mountain pastures and have indirect positive influence on IUCN Red list species like Ground squirrel (Suslik) Citelus citelus, and Imperial eagle Aquila heliaca.

 

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News from Sept. 2004

The new Base of the "Rare Breed Centre" in Vlahi in duty

and the Karakachan horses in the Pirin region

 

 

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News from 06. 2003

Start of new SAPARD agro-environmental measure in Bulgaria:

 

 

MEASURE 1.3.
DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND ACTIVITIES

Contribution of the measure to the general objective of the programme

Agri-environment is an important part of the acquis and has constantly become more significant for the Common Agricultural Policy over the last few years. One of the greatest challenges for Bulgaria in the process of economical restructuring is to balance the sufficient production of food and the increase of the employment rate with preventive protection of the environment. As a result from the monoculture cultivation systems of the past, negative changes in soil-composition, water quality and bio-diversity have been observed: high level of soil acidity and soil erosion, increase of losses in soil-, plants- and animals biodiversity, soil and water pollution with pesticides and fertilizers, disappearance of habitats for many species.

Low input sustainable agriculture, organic farming and other integrated agro-ecological measures can lead to stabilization of the eco-systems, preservation and restoration of national resources and development of the countryside and prevention of land abandonment process. Maintenance and improvement of the semi-natural habitats will contribute to the long-term biodiversity conservation.

The implementation of the measure will develop understanding and build awareness as well as experience among farmers and institutions on agri-environment measures in Bulgaria.

Linkage with other measures and programs

This measure will work in parallel with other measures of the National Agricultural and Rural Development Plan for the period 2000 - 2006:
- improvement of vocational training;
- technical assistance ;
- investments in agricultural holdings;
- improving the processing and marketing of agricultural and fishery products;
- forestry, afforestation of agricultural lands, processing and marketing of forestry products (especially for the support to anti-erosion activities);
- development and diversification of economic activities, providing for multiple activities and alternative income;
- renovation and development of villages] protection and conservation of the rural heritage and cultural traditions;
- setting up producer groups (especially for organic products);
- agricultural water resources management and irrigation ;

and with projects under Phare programme:

  • Project No.BG0201.03 Support to Pre-accession Strategy of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Ministry of Environment and Water in the field of Agri-environment (the project is scheduled to begin implementation in June 2003). The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the MoAF, its services and the Regional Environmental Inspectorates of MoEW to undertake the priorities for EU alignment and implement the reforms identified in the current Accession Partnership and the National Programme for the Adoption of the Aquis (NPAA in the field of Agri-environment and rural development, to contribution to the better management of natural resources and multifunctional development of the rural areas. Main activities include harmonizing Bulgarian legislation with the EU legislation and EU practices in accordance to the requirements of Directive 91/676/EEC on Nitrate pollution from agricultural resources in the field of the Good Agricultural practices; harmonising Bulgarian legislation with the EU legislation in the field of agri-environment, strengthening the agri-economic capacity to establish payment calculation methods regarding the agri-environmental schemes.

1. Description and scope

Preliminary proposals have been developed in accordance with Chapter VI of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999 - the Rural Development Regulation - for a National Agri-environment Programme to be implemented upon the accession of Bulgaria to the European Union (Annex 1). An important tool for developing and refining the National Agri-environment Programme for Bulgaria will be the implementation of a series of pilot agri-environment activities (each of 5 years duration). These pilot activities will be funded under this measure of the NARDP and will aim to implement as much as possible the agri-environment actions proposed for the National Programme. The general objectives of this measure correspond to the general objectives of the NAEP, presented in Annex 1. Additionally, it is anticipated that implementation of the agri-environment pilot activities will make a significant contribution to the broader strategic objectives of:

  • stabilising the income of farmers that undertake agri-environmental activities;
  • reducing rural unemployment by encouraging labour-intensive agri-environmental practices;
  • stimulating new potential markets for quality organic and other environmentally-friendly products.


1.1.General objectives of the measure:

The general objectives of the measure are closely related to the objectives of the National Agri-environment Programme:

  • ways of using agricultural land that are compatible with the protection and improvement of the environment, the landscape and its features, natural resources - soil and genetic diversity, and the protection of endangered and rare species of wild flora and fauna;
  • an environmentally-favourable extensification of farming and management of low-intensity pasture systems
  • conservation of high nature-value farmed environments which are under threat;
  • upkeep of the landscape and historical features on agricultural land;
  • use of environmental planning in farming practices;
  • protecting soil and avoid land abandonment.


1.2 Specific objectives:

The specific objectives of the measure are:

  • to demonstrate and promote the concept of a National Agri-environment Programme for Bulgaria amongst farmers, policy makers, politicians, civil servants, relevant NGOs and members of the general public;
  • to prove the applicability of environmentally friendly and organic farming methods in different agro-ecological zones in the country;
  • to evaluate the effectiveness of the agri-environment actions proposed for inclusion in the National Agri-environment Programme at achieving their agri-environmental objectives (e.g. environmental, economic and social impact of changes in agricultural management practice and associated payments);
  • to test the practical implementation of various elements of the proposed National Agri-environment Programme for Bulgaria (e.g. administrative procedures, payments rates, control systems etc.);
  • to provide training to the beneficiaries on the implementation of certain agri-environmental actions;
  • to support the development of the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, State Fund for Agriculture and other relevant agencies to implement the full National Agri-environment Programme after accession to the EU;
  • to help prepare the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for future negotiations with the European Commission about EU co-financing of the proposed National Agri-environment Programme for Bulgaria, including the collection of appropriate data for verification of payment rates.


2. Selection of pilot actions

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry established three working groups for the finalization of the measure and the selection of the pilot actions. The members of the working groups comprised interested and related institutions and agencies as well as non-governmental organizations. Each working group defined and justified the pilot character of the respective activity under the measure. Thus, two of the actions are to be implemented in pilot areas (limited geographical scope) and two of the actions are to be implemented for pilot crops (products) and pilot breeds at national level.

Table 1. Pilot character of the actions under the measure
Action
Pilot area
Pilot crop/breed

Organic farming

*

Local breeds endangered of being lost to farming

*

Management of semi-natural habitats
*

Support to anti-erosion practices
*

Justification for the selection of the agri-environment activities to be implemented under this measure

The selection of the activities included in this measure was based on the activities proposed in the draft National Agri-environment Programme and the sector analysis prepared under the Phare project No.BG9810-02-01 Preparation of detailed measures for the National Rural Development Plan under the SAPARD Programme in Bulgaria. They reflect the agri-environment situation and needs in the country and are listed as priority activities in the National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy. These activities fall within the scope of the agri-environment pilot actions as defined by the Guidance on "Agri-environment pilot actions within SAPARD Programmes".

Agri-environment Measure Working Groups

Three working groups are established for the finalization of measure 1.3. Development of Environmentally Friendly Agricultural Practices and Activities under the SAPARD Programme.

1. Organic Farming Working Group (MoAF Order No RD-09-335 from 15.05..2002)

It includes representatives from:

  • Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
    - Plant Growing Directorate
    - Integration Policy Directorate
    - Rural Development and Investments Directorate
  • SAPARD Agency
  • National Service for Plant Protection
  • Ministry of Environment and Water
  • Executive Environment Agency
  • National Centre for Agrarian Science
  • Agro-Market Information System
  • Association for Sustainable Environmental Solutions 'AGROLINK'
  • Association for Ecological Agriculture 'ECOFARM'
  • 'BIOSELENA' Foundation for Organic Agriculture
  • Foundation for the Development of Private Agriculture
  • WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme

2. Endangered Breeds of Local Farm Animals Working Group (MoAF Order No.RD 09-334 from 15.05.2002)

It includes representatives from:

  • Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
    - Livestock-Breeding Directorate
    - Rural Development and Investments Directorate
  • SAPARD Agency
  • Ministry of Environment and Water
  • National Service of Selection and Reproduction in Animal Breeding
  • Research Institute of Mountain Stockbreeding and Agriculture - Troyan
  • Institute of Animal Breeding - Kostinbrod
  • Agricultural University - Plovdiv
  • 'BIOSELENA' Foundation for Organic Agriculture
  • Breeding Association for Tsigayska and Aboriginal Sheep Races
  • Breeding Association for the Gray Cattle and Rodopean Short-Horned Cattle
  • Bulgarian Biodiversity Preservation Society 'Semperviva'
  • WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme
  • Legal advisor.

3. Management of Semi-natural Habitats and Support to Anti-erosion Practices Working Group (MoAF Order NoRD-09-333 from 15.05.2002)

It includes representatives from:

  • Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
    - Rural Development and Investments Directorate
  • Ministry of Environment and Water
  • Executive Environment Agency
  • National Centre for Agrarian Science
  • Agro-Market Information System
  • Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme,
  • Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds
  • WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme
  • Legal advisor.

 

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News from 05. 2003

National agricultural show in Sliven 30.05.2003

It was organized by National Agency for selection and reproduction within Ministry of agriculture and forestry. Exposition of old autochthonic breeds was organized by foundation "BIOSELENA" with help of BBPS "SEMPERVIVA", "Karakachan dog International Association" and "Bulgarian society for protection of birds". BBPS SEMPERVIVA exhibit Karakachan sheep and Karakachan dog from project herds. Other exhibited old breeds are Shoumenska copperred sheep, Rhodope shorthorn cattle, Bulgarian grey native cattle and Karakachan horse. National Agency for selection and reproduction prized SEMPERVIVA`s Karakachan sheep. Audience have opportunity to compare old type, pigmented, short tail Karakachan sheep showed by BBPS SEMPERVIVA to improved Karakachan sheep(white with long tail) showed by Bulgarian society for protection of birds and State farm "Kabiuk".

 

Karakachan ram from Kabiuk farm, Shoumen

Karakachan ram and ewes of BBPS Semperviva
 

 

National agricultural show in Pleven 14-16.05.2003

Within this show foundation Bioselena organized for the second time exposition of Bulgarian rare native breeds. BBPS SEMPERVIVA exhibit Karakachan sheep and Karakachan dog from project herds. Other exposed native breeds are Shoumenska copperred sheep, Rhodope shorthorn cattle and Bulgarian grey native cattle. There are also different improved and high selection breeds showed by state farm institutes and private farmers

ram of Pleven blackhead sheep

gray native cattle

left: improved Karakachan sheep
right: copperred Shumen sheep

our Karakachan sheep from Semperviva
 

 

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News from 04. 2003

 

XII national show of Karakachan dogs, Pernik 26.04.2003

Karakachan dog International Association (KDIA) and BBPS SEMPERVIVA organized "XII national show of Karakachan dogs" in town Pernik, Bulgaria. Breeders from all over the country exhibited their dogs. The show was opened by Mr. S. Stoev - president of KDIA. Judge was Mr. V.Mourarov. Winners in different classes are:

Best puppy: SHISHMAN owner J. Stankev

Best youth: BELYO KARAKITAN owner S. Sedefchev & A. Sedefchev

Best open -male: KASE owner I.Murat
Best open -female: KUSHA KARAKITAN owner S. Sedefchev & A. Sedefchev

Best veteran: SHARO owner S.Stoev

Best couple: owner ALBENA & MECHO owner N.Georgiev

Best progeny group: BUYAN KARAKITAN owner S. Sedefchev & A. Sedefchev

Best in show: KUSHA KARAKITAN owner S. Sedefchev & A. Sedefchev

 

 

Pernik show, males

Kusha Karakitan, best female

Pernik skow, puppies

Sharo ot Buren, best senior

Kase, best male open class

Medun 3, miasto mujki kucheta

Belyo Karakitan, best young
Albena and Mecho, best couple

 

 

07-26, 2003

 

BBPS Semperviva
Sider Sedefchev, chairman
kv. "Tvardi livadi" bl. 51 ap.90
BG-2300 Pernik / Bulgaria

phone: +359-76/2 57 70
e-mail: semperviva@bluelink.net