Three-year conservation project supported by LIFE programme of the EU is starting at Pomorie Lake. The project unites non-profit (two Bulgarian conservation NGOs), scientific (French biological station) and business (private company operating in the lagoon) sectors.
Pomorie Lake is part of the most important wetland complex along Bulgarian Black Sea coast. It holds great importance in Europe as a rare type ecosystem and site where 40% of all European bird species can be observed. Production of sea salt at Pomorie Lake has been practiced for millennia and nowadays Salinas continue to produce sea salt by solar evaporation. The lake turns the town of Pomorie into one of the preferred balneo, SPA and wellness resorts due to the qualities of medicinal mud extracted there. The medicinal mud from Pomorie Lake is important product defining the status of Pomorie as a resort of national importance.
In recent year the services that the lake provided are undermined due to disrupted hydrological regime as a result of floods in 2015. Pollution of water is observed along decreased salinity and shifted food basis for the breeding birds at the lagoon. Lowered salt production and infrastructure damages led to limited options for investments for maintenance of sea salt production and its secondary products – lye and medicinal mud.
Hydrological regime of Pomorie saline lagoon is defined by inflow of sea water through artificially created canal connecting the lake to the Black Sea as well as through natural infiltration of se water through the sand spit separating the lagoon from the sea. Inflow of freshwater from rains is limited by two protective drainage canals surrounding the lagoon. These are the exact objects for restoration and rehabilitation to ensure optimal hydrological balance of the lagoon assuring normal functioning of the entire ecosystem.
Project realization will contribute to increase of the socio-economic services that Pomorie municipality is offering in the cultural and eco-tourism. Ecosystem services provided by the lake as tourism opportunities will ensure economic benefits and will contribute to increase of quality of life for citizens of the municipality.
Sensitiveness of the natural territory, proximity to the town and the intensive tourism use of the region creates a need for involvement of main stakeholders into issues related to sustainable development of the NATURA 2000 sites. In this regard the project team will establish a Stakeholders’ Consultative Council. Leading partner in this action – the international scientific organization Tour du Valat wil put in practice its long-term experience from France and the Mediterranean related to involvement of stakeholders in adaptive wetland management.
Pomorie Lake is protected within the pan-European ecological network NATURA 2000. It is a national protected area and a Ramsar site. The current project targets conservation of Coastal lagoons (1150*) - a priority habitat type and bird species listed in annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive (avocet; little, Sandwich and Common tern, etc.).
Expect soon project’s website and until then you can follow all more important news on the Facebook page of project LIFE for Pomorie Lagoon.
Project „Conservation of Pomorie Lake coastal lagoon” is implemented by Green Balkans NGO in partnership with M-Pomoriyski solnitsi Ltd, Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation and biological station „Tour du Valat“, France with the support of the financial instrument LIFE of the European Union. Project’s duration is from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2023.
You can learn more about the project and its activities on its website.
Contacts: Dimitar Popov, Green Balkans NGO - Project manager. Email: dpopov@greenbalkans.org
Pomorie Lake is part of the most important wetland complex along Bulgarian Black Sea coast. It holds great importance in Europe as a rare type ecosystem and site where 40% of all European bird species can be observed. Production of sea salt at Pomorie Lake has been practiced for millennia and nowadays Salinas continue to produce sea salt by solar evaporation. The lake turns the town of Pomorie into one of the preferred balneo, SPA and wellness resorts due to the qualities of medicinal mud extracted there. The medicinal mud from Pomorie Lake is important product defining the status of Pomorie as a resort of national importance.
In recent year the services that the lake provided are undermined due to disrupted hydrological regime as a result of floods in 2015. Pollution of water is observed along decreased salinity and shifted food basis for the breeding birds at the lagoon. Lowered salt production and infrastructure damages led to limited options for investments for maintenance of sea salt production and its secondary products – lye and medicinal mud.
Hydrological regime of Pomorie saline lagoon is defined by inflow of sea water through artificially created canal connecting the lake to the Black Sea as well as through natural infiltration of se water through the sand spit separating the lagoon from the sea. Inflow of freshwater from rains is limited by two protective drainage canals surrounding the lagoon. These are the exact objects for restoration and rehabilitation to ensure optimal hydrological balance of the lagoon assuring normal functioning of the entire ecosystem.
Project realization will contribute to increase of the socio-economic services that Pomorie municipality is offering in the cultural and eco-tourism. Ecosystem services provided by the lake as tourism opportunities will ensure economic benefits and will contribute to increase of quality of life for citizens of the municipality.
Sensitiveness of the natural territory, proximity to the town and the intensive tourism use of the region creates a need for involvement of main stakeholders into issues related to sustainable development of the NATURA 2000 sites. In this regard the project team will establish a Stakeholders’ Consultative Council. Leading partner in this action – the international scientific organization Tour du Valat wil put in practice its long-term experience from France and the Mediterranean related to involvement of stakeholders in adaptive wetland management.
Pomorie Lake is protected within the pan-European ecological network NATURA 2000. It is a national protected area and a Ramsar site. The current project targets conservation of Coastal lagoons (1150*) - a priority habitat type and bird species listed in annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive (avocet; little, Sandwich and Common tern, etc.).
Expect soon project’s website and until then you can follow all more important news on the Facebook page of project LIFE for Pomorie Lagoon.
Project „Conservation of Pomorie Lake coastal lagoon” is implemented by Green Balkans NGO in partnership with M-Pomoriyski solnitsi Ltd, Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation and biological station „Tour du Valat“, France with the support of the financial instrument LIFE of the European Union. Project’s duration is from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2023.
You can learn more about the project and its activities on its website.
Contacts: Dimitar Popov, Green Balkans NGO - Project manager. Email: dpopov@greenbalkans.org
