The vision of GEOLAND is to establish a learning path for the Higher Education students and their professors so that they are able to apply their geospatial analysis knowledge in in decision-making for landscape management, planning and protection of NATURA 2000 sites across Europe. GEOLAND provides the opportunity to students, citizens and stakeholders to become interested in the definition and implementation of landscape policies and to play an active part in setting sustainability indicators of desirable landscape quality objectives (Landscape Quality Objectives/LQO). This is a case study of landscape policy in Bulgaria

1. GEOLAND
A learning path
for HE students and professors
Case Study - Bulgaria

2. Implementing the Landscape Convention
• Republic of Bulgaria signed the European Landscape Convention
and ratified it by law on 13.10.2004
• landscape planning primarily in urban planning and architecture
• state policy on landscape management, planning and protection
(SPLMPP) implemented by the Minister of Regional Development
and Public Works through the National Landscape Council (NSL)
• defined within the General Development Plans, as part of the
Spatial Development Act

3. Implementing the Landscape Convention
• Protected Territories Act, regulates the categories of
protected areas, their purpose and regime preservation and
use, announcement and management
• Environmental Protection Act, regulates public relations
related to the protection of the environment
• Law on Geodesy and Cartography, regulates the organisation,
management, financing and implementation of activities in
the fields of geodesy and cartography

4. National level Planning for the future
• National Recovery and Resilience Plan plans restoration of key
ecosystems for climate, including:
• connectivity of Natura 2000 network, restoration of traditional
landscapes and creation of ecological corridors
• restoring traditional forest landscapes, reducing the negative
impact of fires on biodiversity, and
• raising the awareness of young people on biodiversity and
climate issues

5. National level Planning for the future
• National Program For Preservation, Sustainable Use and
Recovery Functions of Soils 2020-2030 to protect soil resources
and their sustainable use
• Long-Term Strategy For The Mitigation Of Climate Change
presents the position and priorities in relation to the low-
carbon economy in Bulgaria and the achievement of climate
neutrality by 2050
• includes environmental impacts of land use changes

6. Landscape Designation at national level
• Full management of the protected areas is a big challenge
• Protected areas cover about 5% of the country's territory under
the Protected Territories Act since 1933
• By 2017 565 protected areas had been designated
• 16 areas declared biosphere reserves under UNESCO
• 3 national parks created
• Biological Diversity Act seeks long-term protection of
landscape diversity

7. Landscape Designation at national level
Natura 2000
• Natura 2000 ecological network in
Bulgaria began in 2002
• Protected areas are part of the
National Ecological Network
• Dedicated interactive map of
NATURA 2000 protected areas
https://natura2000.egov.bg/EsriBg.N
atura.Public.Web.App/

8. Organisations involved
• Bulgarian Ministry of Environment & Water main responsibility
• Regional Development and Water Inspections ensure
implementation of state environmental policies
• Basin Directorates for water management
• Directorates of National Parks specialized regional bodies for
management and protection
• Environmental Executive Agency protection of natural wealth
• Many NGOs like "Green Balkans"

9. How is participation organised?
• Ministerial Council’s “Public consultation portal“ facilitates
feedback about legislation issues for all stakeholders
• Initiatives from Ministry of Environment and Water and the
Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works
• “Knowledge on Natura 2000” competition
• “Green support for a sustainable future”
• National Campaign “Clean Environment”
• Other initiatives like LIFE project "Salt of Life" and Union of
Parks and Landscape Specialists "Make Sofia green for us and our
children"

10. How is participation organised?
Dress the tree - protecting urban trees
"Make Sofia green for us and our children" project to
conserve parks and gardens

11. How is climate change addressed in
landscape terms?
• Vulnerable to climate impacts
• “Long-term strategy for the mitigation of climate change until
2050 for the republic of Bulgaria”
• “The National Strategy and Action Plan for Adaptation to
Climate Change of the Republic of Bulgaria”
• “Third National Action Plan on Climate Change” 2013-2020
• “Climate change mitigation act” addressing the implementation
of government policy on climate mitigation

12. Regional/local level case study: Ruse
• Northeastеrn Bulgaria
• port and economic and
cultural centre on River
Danube
• Ruse is administrative centre
of the North Central Planning
Region

13. Regional/local level case study: Ruse
• Main transport crossroads
• 324 km from Sofia and 60 km from
Bucharest
• Ruse located on the Southern Danube
River bank
• City stretches over 11 km along the
river bank
https://www.regionalprofiles.bg/en/regions/ruse/

14. Regional/local level case study: Ruse
Regional planning based on the Regional Development Act and
the Spatial Planning Act
Regional governors responsible for implementation of the
landscape policy, coordinating the work between municipalities
in the district
Regional landscape development plans developed for areas with
specific natural or anthropogenic formations; technical and
construction infrastructure, pipelines, landfills; areas with
significant natural resources or cultural and historical value.

15. Regional landscape framework: Ruse
Main regional policy with landscape management is the
2021-2027 “Plan for Integrated Development of the
Municipality of Ruse”
Defines regional and spatial development
Outlines current problems, needs and potential
Plan analyses the state of the settlement network,
degree of urbanization and housing sector

16. Local landscape framework: Ruse
“General development
plan” determines the
strategic guidelines for
socio-economic and
spatial development of
the city

17. Local landscape framework: Ruse
Regional landscape studies have been conducted for the
whole country
No unified classification system – individual research
approach
2021-2027 Plan provides an analysis of environment
Project for gradual transition from wood and/or coal
heating to alternative ecological heating in households

18. Landscape designations: Ruse
Rusenski Lom Nature Park created
in 1970
Limestone in the landscape gives
an unusually high biodiversity
Five special protected areas
within the Ruse Municipality
"Lomovete" protected area under
the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC
149 bird species

19. Landscape designations: Ruse
Rock-Hewn Churches
of Ivanovo and The
Basarbovo Monastery
are of special
importance
Included in the
UNESCO World
Heritage List

20. Public participation
• No dedicated public participation strategy at local level
• Awareness raising activities by local governing bodies
• "Orientation towards an energy-efficient, low-carbon and
circular economy" foresees public and private
participation via the implementation of awareness-raising
activities, information and explanatory campaigns
• Participation of students facilitated via competitions,
information campaigns and study visits

21. For more about GEOLAND
GEOLAND Web site
https://www.geolandproject.eu
GEOLAND on social media
https://www.facebook.com/GEOLANDthePROJECT