Our understanding is that effective environmental conservation and respectively effective management of protected areas is possible only if it is based on reliable scientific data interpreted by experts that have the necessary experience and expertise. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Maria Boyadzhiyska at the opening of an information meeting on the Natura 2000 in the Black Sea project, which was held today in Varna in relation to reporting the results of the field work carried out during the winter period.

“Monitoring and data collection are extremely important in order to know what the conservation status of species is, so that it can be carefully assessed how it is most expedient to protect them,” said the deputy minister.

She outlined as the most important priority within the project the determination of the protected areas in the Black Sea water area, as well as the consideration of the need for new ones.

“For us, as part of the Ministry of Environment and Water, the results will be the basis for assessing how Bulgaria will contribute to the goals of the European Biodiversity Strategy for the protection of protected areas and what will be our contribution to protected areas in the marine environment,” said Deputy Minister Boyadzhiyska.

She expressed confidence that the activities will be carried out within the set deadlines, as well as lead to the achievement of the expected results.

“I want to thank the team of biologists, because these people in the field make real achievements - whereby they have to survey territories by plane, by ship, dive into the water, taking risks. We are to be grateful for their courage and work,” Deputy Minister Boyadzhiyska addressed the specialists working on the project who were present.

The project “Research and mapping of the distribution of types of natural habitats, habitats of species, and their populations and determination of their environmental protection status in the marine spaces of Bulgaria” is financed under the Operational Program “Environment” 2014 - 2020. Its main goal is the completion of the “Natura 2000” network in the marine environment, in accordance with the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive.

As a result of implementation of the project, it is expected that the necessary research will be generated for the evaluation and argumentation of the sufficiency of the network according to the specifics of the Black Sea area.

The data from the studies will be the basis for establishing the specific objectives for the protection of the areas and for planning the necessary measures to preserve or restore the favorable status of the species and natural habitats subject to protection in the marine spaces of Bulgaria in the coming years.