Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation (BBF)

BBF works to conserve the biodiversity in Bulgaria and neighboring countries and assists organizations and institutions involved, supports the participation of citizens and local communities in managing natural resources and protected areas and raises public awareness to the issues of biodiversity.

BBF is a successor of the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Program, implemented in the period 1994-2004. Under the program a number of direct conservation activities were implemented and 13 Management Plan for Protected Areas (PA) were prepared.

Individually and in partnership, BBF developed 12 Action plans for species from the IUCN Red list, prepared the documentation for proclamation of three Nature Parks, 11 protected areas and three new Ramsar sites and helped for the establishment of 6 information and nature conservation centers. Small Projects Fund of BBF supports activities of more than 50 environmental organizations. Institutional strengthening was secured for several national NGOs, National Nature Protection Service and three Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water.

In 2007, BBF established four branches in the regions where it works most actively - Strandja, Belasica, Eastern Rhodopes and Kaliakra. BBF is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), CEEweb (Central and East European Working Group for the Enhancement of Biodiversity), Bulgarian Donors' Forum, the Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism and the Coalition "For the Nature in Bulgaria”.

BBF operates in five main areas:

I. Protected areas and species - including protection of Chamois, Capercaillie, Tortoises, etc. We contribute to the proclamation of 14 new protected areas in the Rhodope Mountains, the expansion of the Sinite kamani Nature Park, the establishment of the newest Nature Park Belasitsa, as well as improvement the legislation on biodiversity.

II. Green Belt and Natura 2000 – we coordinate the international initiative "Green Belt" to convert the former Iron Curtain areas in conservation and sustainable use areas in Strandja, Rhodopes, Osogovo, Belasitsa and the Western Frontier mountains; preparation of the first modern biosphere park in Strandja; development of guidelines for determining the favorable conservation status for habitat types and species of the Natura 2000 and involvement in the development of documentation for protected zones in the Rhodope mountains, the Black Sea Coast and Belasitsa.

III. Educational and PR activities - organizing of educational course "Biodiversity Conservation" in Sofia and more recently in Blagoevgrad; traditional training camp Kartali in May in the Eastern Rhodopes collect tens of students from all over the country; organizing the school competition "Natura 2000” for the promotion of protected areas and species in Bulgaria among children from 7 to 12 class; raising public awareness through annual campaign for promotion of biodiversity in Bulgaria and publishing information materials; maintenance and management of the Visitor Center "Kaliakra" in Bulgarevo. We support a system of Internet sites for biodiversity (details at www.bbf.biodiversity.bg).

IV. Sustainable tourism - as the primary approach for biodiversity conservation and providing livelihoods for local communities in Belasitsa, Western border mountains, Strandja, Dobrudja, Pirin and Osogovo; develop and implement a regional brand Strandja together with the Directorate of Nature Park Standja. We support and develop the web portal www.belasitsa.com.

V. Campaigns and coalitions – BBF is one of the initiators and founders of the coalition "For the Nature in Bulgaria”, acting as its secretariat; conducting a campaign among municipalities for the conservation of river ecosystems and sustainable management of flood risk; active participants in the campaign to save Strandja Park in 2007 and participating in many community conservation initiatives.

During 2010 all our activities will be devoted to the International Year of Biodiversity, because Biodiversity is for life, Biodiversity is our life.

Instytut Spraw Obywatelskich

The Civil Affairs Institute is an independent non-governmental organisation not connected to any political party or government. The Institute is a think tank; we are a non-profit organisation.

Our aim is to provide information enabling Polish citizens to address issues with an impact on the general quality of life. We aim to promote civil society, independent media and sustainable development. 

The Institute was established in connection with the "Nationwide campaign for the promotion of sustainable transport", which was conducted in 1996-2003 with financial support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and substantial content-related support from New York's Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.

In our nine years of conducting campaigns, we have brought together a team of people with tremendous experience, knowledge and qualifications - social activists, scientists, local authorities, lawyers, journalists, former and present parliamentarians, economists, sociologists. These people are now the Institute's main strengths and guarantee our effective and thorough work in the name of the public good.

The Institute actively accomplishes its goals by offering workshops, consultancy activities, publications, and working to influence public authorities. Our target groups are local communities, non-governmental organisations, universities, mass media, public administration, local government, and business. Of special importance are independence and the high quality of the tasks performed.

Our campaigns are conducted at both local and national level. We focus not only on education, but primarily strive for the protection of nature. Many of our projects and campaigns significantly contribute to raising awareness about the environment.

EKOLAND

Organic Food Manufacturers Association EKOLAND was founded on the noble idea to produce – without destroying the earth, nourish – without harming the consumers. This motto EKOLAND has converted into a specific task: organizing a system of organic agriculture in Poland, namely the development of criteria for production  - inspection of farmsteads – validation of products. This program is based on the standards of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements  - IFOAM. On 9/01/1989 the Association obtained judicial registration and became a member of IFOAM (as the second organization in the region after the Hungarian “Bioculture”).

EKOLAND’s own criteria of organic farming have been published in January 1994; however, inspection and validation of farmsteads have been started in 1990.

Currently there are five regional offices: Kuyavian-Pomeranian, West Pomeranian, Lublin, East Masovian  and Lower Silesian.

Certified organic products are sold in Poland by several hundred shops. It is worth of attention that their number is constantly growing from year to year. Fresh products: vegetables, fruits, cheese and eggs – are shipped directly to stores by the farmers. Nevertheless, most produce coming from certified farmsteads are sold directly by farmers: to regular customers arriving to the farm, on the local market or directly to consumers’ homes.

MACIEJ KOZAKIEWICZ

Maciej Kozakiewicz, the organizer of Nationwide Ecological Movement Meetings during 1993-1997, the founder of the Responsible Business Forum (1999/2000),  an Assistant Professor of Management in the Department of City and Region of Lodz (since 2002), co-author of the BI-NGO Index. Communicating social commitment of companies on the Internet (2007-2009), the ethics of business lecturer, promoter of longevity as well as organizational and individual vitality

Liga Ochrony Przyrody

League for Nature Conservation is the oldest  and the largest environmental organization in Poland. Thanks to years of LOP efforts today we understand nature and the need to project it. As it did before so does today League for Nature Conservation continue its mission: teaching, educating, developing natural interest. League for Nature Conservation organizes visits to forests and parks, camps in the bosom of nature, observation of animals, teaches the creation of  herbaria with plants, the establishment of school gardens, and care for nature.

KOBIETY.LODZ.PL

KOBIETY.LODZ.PL is an organization established in 2001 to support women in development, provide them with useful information to enable them to become involved in various areas of life. KOBIETY.LODZ.pl mission is to inspire women to develop, explore their passions and power coming from independent thinking. They show their strength to the world!

Fundacja Międzynarodowy Ruch na Rzecz Zwierząt - Viva!

The foundation was initiated  by Juliet Gellatley. She is considered one of most effective activists campaigning for animal rights. In 1994 Gellatley founded the organization with headquarters in the UK and has expanded its activity in the United States and Poland.

Viva! – Action for animals  has been working since 2000.  We are a non-government organization which assembles people who are interested in helping animals. We are a non-profit  organization, our goal is to put an end to cruelty to animals and to rise public awareness based on compassion and responsibility. We focus on actions promoting vegetarianism and animal rights protection.

We regularly organize informational campaigns concerning the humane treatment of animals and respect for their lives. Our action is based on credible sources, research and scientific evidence.