Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation

The Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation works to protect, restore and/or create protected areas and ecological corridors within Bulgaria.

This project looks to restore and enhance internationally important peatlands. Peatlands support biodiversity, purify water, mitigate flooding and droughts and store vast amounts of carbon – more than twice the carbon kept by all forests. In Bulgaria, peatlands are only found in the higher mountain areas. One of the most emblematic peatlands is found at Charite Lakes, a site of European importance, part of the Western Rhodope Natura 2000 Site. However, changes in hydrological conditions and the overgrowing of non-characteristic vegetation are having significant adverse impacts on these peatlands. This project will ensure the long-term preservation and maintenance of peatlands in the area. This project is helping to protect and restore part of the European Natura 2000 network, which is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world. It offers a haven to Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats.