Progress

Over the past few months, the project team has concentrated their efforts on developing an After-Life Conservation Plan to propose specific conservation measures / activities for 5 years after the end of the project (2018-2023) The elaboration of this plan aims at maintaining the effect of conservation activities and achieving the long-term conservation objectives for Natura 2000 Atanasovsko Lake area.

We thank all experts and representatives of institutions and organizations who participated in the discussions and presented their opinion and vision of Atanasovsko Lake, which was very useful for determining the future of this natural territory.

The plan can be downloaded at the end of the text (available in Bulgarian).

The presentation bellow will give you details for the activities implemented by the project team for this period till October 2015

January 1^st - June 30^th 2013

• Technical design of the Bypass channel and Protection dyke was elaborated and coordinated with the Regional inspectorate for the environment and waters – Bourgas.
• BS Salinas Ltd. finalised the detailed repair plan of dykes and barriers for the whole project duration (general plan) including reconstruction plan for season 2013-2014
• Project Communication strategy was developed and sent to the EC with the Inception report
• Communication Action Plan for 2013 developed.

January 1^st - June 30^th 2013

• Cleaning the bed of Bypass channel with length of 625 m with excavator type “Dragline”
• BS Salinas Ltd. conducted tender procedure for purchasing timber (planes, boards, pylons) that is needed for the restoration of 1 700 m barriers and 2 400 m earth dykes.

January 1^st - June 30^th 2013

• Field work associated with hydrobiological monitoring and testing the developed methodology started in first week of June. Water samples were taken for studying of phytoplankton as well as the main measurements supporting physicochemical parameters in the Atanasovsko Lake. Monitoring transects were delineated and mapped.
  
• The monitoring of the breeding birds in Atanasovsko Lake has been taking place in the frame of the project LIFE08NATBG000277 and results are communicated with the project Conservation officer
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January 1^st - June 30^th 2013

• One functioning bilingual website www.saltoflife.biodiversity.bg. The Facebook profile of the on-going LIFE project “Life for the Burgas Lakes” is used for promonting project events and key messages;
• Continue to take documentary, still images and video footage, and sound records of project activities and sites, and updating the archive
• 7 broadcasts in the national channels news,
  • 15 broadcasts in local and regional televisions news, shows, etc
  • 1 international publication on the Life+ web site
  • 107 publications in the regional newspapers and internet sites"
• Three events were organised in thereporting period - celebration of the World Wetlands Day, launch of a photo-exhibition “The Colours of the European Salt” and the official start of the bypass channel cleaning in the northern part of Atanasovsko Lake.
• First meeting of the Public council for Atanasovsko Lake was organised on 13th of March 2013 with a main topic Restoration of the lagoon. The stakeholders invited represented state and regional authorities, members of public and environmental organisations (e.g. Hunters’ Association, Angling clubs, etc.), owners of agriculture land, etc.
  

January 1^st - June 30^th 2013

• The core project team meets every week and continue to operate in accordance with project work plan and timetable.
• Second meetings of the Steering group held on 25-26th of March 2013 and was hosted by BS Salinas Ltd.
• The partnership agreements are implemented.
• Inception report produced and sent to EC and the External Monitoring Expert
• Exchanged experience with two Life projects (Life for Bourgas Lakes/LIFE08NAT/BG/000277 and MC -Salt/LIFE10/NAT/IT/256 ), shared experience with other Life projects in Bulgaria. The team has established first contacts with the Research Centre for the Conservation of Mediterranean Wetlands in Tour de Valat regarding the management of salinas.