The Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov participated today in the seminar "Creation and Promotion of a Comprehensive Brand of the ‘Chervena Stena’ Biosphere Park in Asenovgrad", organized by the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water - Plovdiv together with the Municipality of Asenovgrad and the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research (IBEI) at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

The “Chervena Stena” Biosphere Reserve, which is located on the territory controlled by the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water - Plovdiv, is the first of the four UNESCO-approved biosphere parks in our country, along with "Srebarna", "Uzunbudzhak", and "Central Balkan".

The development of the network of biosphere reserves in Bulgaria and the implementation of the UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere" Program were the main highlights of the seminar's agenda. The project “Supporting sustainable economic and social development of the ‘Chervena Stena’ Biosphere Park through the creation of a comprehensive brand and the promotion of the natural value and regional advantages of the biosphere park”, funded by the UNESCO Participation Programme, was presented.

“Our goal is to show how a balance is achieved between humans and nature, to realize that people’s well-being is inextricably linked to the protection of natural resources and biodiversity. Biosphere parks are a living example of how this balance can be sustainably achieved,” said Minister Manol Genov. He expressed high appreciation for the joint efforts and partnership of the Municipality of Asenovgrad and the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water – Plovdiv for the implementation of this significant project.

According to Minister Genov, a biosphere reserve opens great opportunities for the local community. It is a platform for cooperation between institutions, organizations and citizens for the exchange of experience and knowledge, as well as a place for practical training and live lessons in nature for biologists, schoolchildren and university students.

“The reserve has over 300 species of protected plants and animals, as well as about 35 species included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. This wealth is priceless and deserves our attention and care. This reserve must be promoted throughout the country and become an attractive destination for nature lovers and tourists. Asenovgrad Municipality can rely on the Ministry of Environment and Water and its structures for support in this direction,” concluded Minister Genov.

In response, the Deputy Mayor of Asenovgrad eng. Stoyan Dimitrov confirmed the gratitude by the local people for the support for their efforts to build a recognizable image of the region, which inspires and attracts with authenticity and quality. He emphasized that the promotion of the biosphere park has two main objectives – the protection of nature and at the same time the generation of prosperity for local people and businesses.

"Local products and services produced in a clean and preserved natural environment have added value and carry a positive environmental image not only for the business, but also for the municipality as a whole. This is the basis on which we will continue to promote our biosphere park and show that nature conservation and economic development can go hand in hand," said eng. Dimitrov.

The regional brands of the “Rusenski Lom Nature Park” and “Strandzha - an adventure for the senses” were also presented during the seminar, with the idea that it is the local communities that live on the territory of the biosphere parks that are the guardians of this natural treasure - bearers of traditions, tastes, crafts and the spirit of sustainable coexistence with nature.

On November 3, we will celebrate the International Day of Biosphere Parks. The global network includes 724 biosphere parks in a total of 131 countries, with over 260 million people living on their territory. In total, these sites protect about 5% of the Earth's surface and are examples of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, demonstrating good practices and policies for both the conservation of biodiversity and natural ecosystems, and the sustainable development of local communities.

Bulgaria also contributes to the development of this global network. Taking into account the modern vision and requirements of the “Man and the Biosphere” Program, 4 new generation biosphere parks were announced in 2017 - "Chervena Stena", "Srebarna", "Uzunbudzhak" and "Central Balkan".

The effective functioning of the biosphere park allows all stakeholders (local residents, environmental and non-governmental organizations, scientists, various cultural groups, the business, local authorities, and state institutions) to cooperate with each other to achieve a balance between biodiversity conservation, economic development, preservation of cultural heritage, and fair sharing of the benefits arising from the management of the territory. The wide international fame and good image of the "Man and the Biosphere" program attracts numerous visitors to the biosphere parks and arouses increased interest in consuming local products.