

20 farmers participated in informational meetings organized by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) in Svilengrad and Topolovgrad. The aim of the training was to be presented and explained the opportunities for applying under Measure 12 "Natura 2000 payments" and measure 10 "Agri-environment and climate" of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020.
The opportunities for applying under the agri-environmental trends this year have been dramatically narrowed regarding support habitats of protected species in arable land – new applications for assistance under the following agri-environmental areas have been stopped since March 1 by an order of the Minister of Agriculture and Food:
• "Maintaining the habitat of wintering geese and Montagu's Harrier in farmland bird counts";
• "Maintaining the habitat of Imperial Eagle and Egyptian Vulture in farmland bird counts";
• Activity "Change arable farmland in permanent grasslands" under the "Control soil erosion."
BSPB organized the meetings within the project “Restoration and sustainable management of Imperial Eagle’s foraging habitats in key Natura 2000 sites in Bulgaria (LIFE14 NAT/BG/001119)” under the LIFE programme of the European Union.
Photo: © Dimitar Gradinarov