Conserving Nature since 1988

Apr 16, 2025Biodiversity, Bulgaria, Inspiring initiative

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Conserving Nature in Bulgaria since 1988

Green Balkans is a leading organization in the field of conservation of rare species and habitats in Bulgaria. The Organization was established in 1988 being Bulgaria’s oldest nature conservation NGO. Thanks to Green Balkans hundreds of volunteers and experts, as well as the international and national support, the Society achieved significant results in the preservation of Bulgaria’s unique natural heritage. Green Balkans has 25 correspondent centers – informal groups throughout the country – that give assistance to the activities.

Preserving Bulgarian wetlands
The organization has hundreds of projects and initiatives, but one of the longest running and still ongoing campaigns is the preservation of the wetlands in Bulgaria, such as Lake Pomorie, that are important parts of the Via Pontica bird migratory route. This route is important for birds to rest and feed during the migration period. 266 species of birds can be found on the territory of Lake Pomorie, most of which are rare and globally endangered species.

The work of Green Balkans for the protection of Lake Pomorie aims at restoring the natural state and biodiversity of the lake, its preservation and the adoption of economic practices that protect biodiversity. One of the most important activities is the annual “conservation brigade” of volunteers for cleaning of the lake and strengthening of the natural shores of the habitat each September.

Beneficiaries are the population of the town of Pomorie and the wetlands’ neighbouring settlements. The ongoing preservation of the natural habitats and resting places of more than 200 species of migratory birds has created good opportunities for development of ecologically-friendly tourism, most notably for ornithological observation. The initiative also facilitates different informational campaigns, exhibitions and guides teams of volunteers in the area of the Pomorie lake.

Other Green Balkans activities
– Conducted 300 campaigns and actions, 80 of which were of national significance;
– 160 texts proposed by the Green Balkans experts are included in the new Bulgarian environmental legislation;
– 25 cancelled environmentally unfriendly political and municipal decisions;
– four filed lawsuits, two of which were won;
– over 350 reports received from citizens about poaching, violations and corruption in the forestry and environmental protection sector and investigated by the Association’s experts;
– 180 cases of poaching, illegal logging and hunting, improper privatization of forest companies, substitutions, corrupt practices, etc. have been handed over to the prosecutor’s office and the responsible institutions.