EDUCATION FOR NATURA 2000
A training toolkit for extracurricular activities for pupils from 8th to 12th class
HANDBOOK FOR TEACHERS
Issued in Sofia, 2010
In Bulgarian (English translation available partly)

OSOGOVO TO BELASITSA MOUNTAINS FOR KIDS
A training toolkit for extracurricular activities for pupils from 4th to 8th class
HANDBOOK FOR TEACHERS
Issued in Sofia, 2010
In Bulgarian (English translation available)

Open Position
Ref. no.: 2010/05
Organisation: Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), REC Country Office (CO) Bulgaria
Position: Country Office Director (COD)
Immediate supervisor: regional director for South Eastern Europe (SEE) Supervisory responsibilities: CO Bulgaria staff

Between 28th of April and 2nd of May 2010, at Krapets village, Shabla Municipality the Green school ‘Together for Natura 2000’ was organized. The Green school was organized in the frames of ‘Education for Natura 2000 – introducing the ecological network in Bulgarian schools’ project developed by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe and the Bulgarian Society for Bird Protection – BirdLife Bulgaria, financed by the NGO fund of Financial Mechanism of EEA (2003-2013).

We are now inviting applications for our 2010 LEAD Europe Fellows programme in “Leadership for Sustainable Development”. Scholarships are available to support exceptional candidates. Do you want to be a leader for a more sustainable world? Or do you have rising stars in your organisation, who would benefit from the opportunity to improve their leadership skills, enhance their understanding of sustainable development, and join a unique global network of leaders?

In 2007 REC for CEE published its new educational program for environment for children - Green Pack Junior. It was brought to the attention of the Ministers of the Environment, UN officials and trainers during the Conference "Environment for Europe" held in Belgrade the same year. In response to the interest of the toolkit it created a common strategy for its implementation in Central and Eastern Europe. Although the toolkit, available only in English language and developed by a Bulgarian team of educational specialists, it is not yet available in Bulgarian language and adapted to the educational system in the country.REC studies of secondary schools in several regions of the country and the results of the consultations from the conducted in May, 2009 Round Table “Education for Natura 2000”, demonstrated the need for tools for teachers at the primary schools (1-4 grade) to introduce the topics related with the environment.

NATURNET PLUS www.naturnet.cz will transfer methods and knowledge of the NATURNET REDIME project www.naturnet.org to European regions and enterprises trough network of organizations in Europe dealing with Environmental Education (Czech Centre for Science and Society (CCSS), Videsprojekti, Ligatne, REC Bulgaria, REC Romania, AliTerme, SRPA).The project focus is on the training of sustainable tourism management among the target regions and mainly in sensitive areas as protected territories, national parks and costal zones.

On 19th, 20th and 21st, March 2010 in Belasitza, Petrich was held a Green School "From Osogovo to Belasitsa for kids" with the participation of students from the target schools from the region of Kyustendil and Blagoevgrad. The Green school is organized within the frames of the project Osogovo, Ograzhden and Belasitsa for kids" implemented by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe - Bulgaria Branch (REC for CEE) and the Bulgarian Foundation Biodiversity (BBF) , financed by the Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa, with the support of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science (MOMN) and the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW).

The programme has been developed by the Regional Environmental Center (the REC) together with Venice International University, Agroinnova - University of Turin and Istanbul Bilgi University based on the needs of government and other stakeholders. The wide range of seminars will provide participants deeper knowledge on current sustainable development issues and its practical contexts both on a global and regional basis.

On 25th and 26th of February 2010, in Falkovets village, Beolgradchik region at Madona Guest house was held an educational seminar - ‘Project preparation and sponsorship, and project based training’. The seminar was organized in the frames of the project“Osogovo, Ograjden and Belasitsa for kids” realized by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC for CEE) – Bulgaria branch

Local governments (LGs) are key players in a number of ways. As the closest level of governance to citizens and as community leaders they have excellent potential to guide the process of change by changing their own energy use in municipal operations (corporate sector). They have the opportunity to lead change among citizens and businesses (community sector) and potentially local industry. Energy is needed for electricity, heating / cooling; in buildings; transport; waste and water management. Improvements can be made in services, through efficient measures and technologies.

The process of approbation of the toolkit “Natura 2000 in education” ended with success in 13 schools which were included in the project “Education for Natura 2000”. In the period between 23rd of November and 8th of December 2009, 13 pilot schools were visited in 6 regions in Bulgaria – the towns Belogradchik, Berkovica, Svishtov, Belene, Kavarna, Provadia and Blagoevgrad.