1. 109.08.2009 NGO ECOSOUTHWEST HISTORY AND ACTIVITY http://ecosw.dir.bg

2. 09.08.20092 Regional Movement Ecosouthwest was established in September 1994. Regional Movement Ecosouthwest was established in September 1994. The organization is active at the national level on the subjects of: The organization is active at the national level on the subjects of: – Water Management (www.bluelink.net/water); – Genetically Modified Organisms (www.bluelink.net/gmo). INTRОDUCTION http://ecosw.dir.bg

3. 09.08.20093 At the regional level Ecosouthwest operates actively also on the issues of: At the regional level Ecosouthwest operates actively also on the issues of: –Environmental Education; –Waste Management; –Sustainable Regional Development. Ecosouthwest is actived in youth projects and actions and has participated in national and international environmental campaigns – anti- nuclear, global ban of GM-trees and etc. Ecosouthwest is actived in youth projects and actions and has participated in national and international environmental campaigns – anti- nuclear, global ban of GM-trees and etc. INTRОDUCTION http://ecosw.dir.bg

4. 09.08.20094 The experts of Ecosouthwest: The experts of Ecosouthwest: − Give attitudes about new plans, programs, objects and legislations; − Prepare municipalities programs for environment protection; − Write ecological projects; − Make publications. INTRОDUCTION http://ecosw.dir.bg

5. 09.08.20095 Ecosouthwest is a member of: Northern Alliance for Sustainability (ANPED); Northern Alliance for Sustainability (ANPED); Global Water Partnership (GWP); Global Water Partnership (GWP); Citizens United for Renewable Energy and Sustainability(CURES); Citizens United for Renewable Energy and Sustainability(CURES); CEEweb for Biodiversity; CEEweb for Biodiversity; Associated partner organization of Youth and Environment Europe (YEE). Associated partner organization of Youth and Environment Europe (YEE). http://ecosw.dir.bg INTRОDUCTION

6. 09.08.20096 ANTI-GMO’s CAMPAIGN The national campaign started in 1998. The national campaign started in 1998. T hanks to the financial support from the JMG Foundation and the assistance of Iza Kruszewska (ANPED), NGO Ecosouthwest, realized its Anti-Genetic Engineering Strategy, and achieved the results below: T hanks to the financial support from the JMG Foundation and the assistance of Iza Kruszewska (ANPED), NGO Ecosouthwest, realized its Anti-Genetic Engineering Strategy, and achieved the results below: –Thanks to the media involvement, a public discussion was launched; http://ecosw.dir.bg

7. 09.08.20097 ANTI-GMO’s CAMPAIGN –National research concerning spread of GM food and crops, and film, explicitly proved that the reality is different than the official position: GE maize harvest was not bought back by the distributors of seeds and it remained in the country, buffer zones were not kept, GE crops was not stored in separated stores and this way was not segregated from non GE crops; –The parliament refused three GMO’s Law-proposals and now Bulgaria has maybe the most restrictive GMO’s law in Europe. http://ecosw.dir.bg

8. 09.08.20098 ANTI-GMO’s CAMPAIGN –A Regulation for labeling of genetically modified soya and maize entered into force in July 2001; –Bulgaria ratified the Biosafety Protocol; –Nine Bulgarian NGOs created an anti-GE group; –Bulgarian Government stopped financing and banned genetic experiments with tobacco and grapes; http://ecosw.dir.bg

9. 09.08.20099 ANTI-GMO’s CAMPAIGN http://ecosw.dir.bg

10. 09.08.200910 ANTI-GMO’s CAMPAIGN http://ecosw.dir.bg

11. 09.08.200911 ANTI-GMO’s CAMPAIGN http://ecosw.dir.bg Regions where was cultivated GM maize

12. 09.08.200912 WATER MANAGEMENT The activities of Ecosouthwest are orientated towards: The activities of Ecosouthwest are orientated towards: –Improvement of the relationship and collaboration; –An expert group of professionals - representatives of different institutions, businesses and NGOs; http://ecosw.dir.bg

13. 09.08.200913 WATER MANAGEMENT –We pay specific attention to youth and implemented some actions with them in order to solve some environmental problems at the upper stretches of the rivers Struma and Mesta. –The first street campaign under the slogan Water Partnership was implemented in the cities of Blagoevgrad, Pernik and Dupnitsa. To this end a specific brochure under the title Water Partnership was published. 15,000 copies were printed, distributed and young people have made investigation among the 685 inhabitants of Southwestern Bulgaria. http://ecosw.dir.bg

14. 09.08.200914 http://ecosw.dir.bg WATER MANAGEMENT

15. 09.08.200915 http://ecosw.dir.bg WATER MANAGEMENT

16. 09.08.200916 WASTE MANAGEMENT In 1999 Ecosouthwest submitted a proposal to the Municipality of Blagoevgrad to introduce a new organization of urban waste collection and disposal. With its offer the municipality has saved about USD 100,000. In 1999 Ecosouthwest submitted a proposal to the Municipality of Blagoevgrad to introduce a new organization of urban waste collection and disposal. With its offer the municipality has saved about USD 100,000. Together with the Municipality of Blagoevgrad and the environmental club Terra we implemented a project for split collection of ash from other types of urban waste in one residential district of Blagoevgrad. Together with the Municipality of Blagoevgrad and the environmental club Terra we implemented a project for split collection of ash from other types of urban waste in one residential district of Blagoevgrad. http://ecosw.dir.bg

17. 09.08.200917 PROJECTS FOR 15 YEARS 29 PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED The main topics of the projects were: The main topics of the projects were: - Protection children’s health; - Raise citizens and specially farmers knowledge about GMO’s food and crops; - Lobbing for good GMO’s legislation; - Water management; - Waste management; - Environment protection, and etc. http://ecosw.dir.bg

18. 09.08.200918 PROJECTS EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP - CLEАN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP - CLEАN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Regional Movement Ecosouthwest realized this project in partnership with the Municipality Nevestino, Kustendil district. The project received financial support from the EU Program Youth in Action and was implemented in the villages Smolichano and Nevestino. Participants were junior high school students from the municipality Nevestino, students from Southwestern University – Blagoevgrad and members of Ecosouthwest Regional Movement Ecosouthwest realized this project in partnership with the Municipality Nevestino, Kustendil district. The project received financial support from the EU Program Youth in Action and was implemented in the villages Smolichano and Nevestino. Participants were junior high school students from the municipality Nevestino, students from Southwestern University – Blagoevgrad and members of Ecosouthwest http://ecosw.dir.bg

19. 09.08.200919 PROJECTS EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP - CLEАN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Smolichano is a small village with a rich cultural and historical heritage. Smolichano is a small village with a rich cultural and historical heritage. The main goals of the project was to inform young people for European citizenship and to raise their self- awareness and motivation for environment protection and sustainable development. The duration of the project was 3 months. The final outcomes were: The main goals of the project was to inform young people for European citizenship and to raise their self- awareness and motivation for environment protection and sustainable development. The duration of the project was 3 months. The final outcomes were: http://ecosw.dir.bg

20. 09.08.200920 PROJECTS EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP - CLEАN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP - CLEАN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT –Was published advertising leaflets for the region where the project was realized; –Was prepared a new project proposal to the program Youth in Action as an extension of this project; –The project’s participants enhanced their European self-awareness; –We published the project’s information on the Ecosouthwest’s web site. http://ecosw.dir.bg

21. 09.08.200921 PROJECTS http://ecosw.dir.bg

22. 09.08.200922 PROJECTS http://ecosw.dir.bg

23. 09.08.200923 PROJECTS WHERE IS THE ROAD TO EUROPE In 2006 NGO Gruener Grashalm, Germany and Ecosouthwest implemented this project. About 40 participants from 17 – 28 years old 13 days lived in tents next to village Kashina, Sandanski municipality. Kashina is situated in Pirin mountain. About 20 years ago there have lived 800 habitants and now are 6. In 2006 NGO Gruener Grashalm, Germany and Ecosouthwest implemented this project. About 40 participants from 17 – 28 years old 13 days lived in tents next to village Kashina, Sandanski municipality. Kashina is situated in Pirin mountain. About 20 years ago there have lived 800 habitants and now are 6. http://ecosw.dir.bg

24. 09.08.200924 PROJECTS http://ecosw.dir.bg

25. 09.08.200925 PROJECTS WHERE IS THE ROAD TO EUROPE WHERE IS THE ROAD TO EUROPE The main goal of this project was to provoke young people of thinking how they can help according to their vision and imagination for the region’s conservation and development. The main goal of this project was to provoke young people of thinking how they can help according to their vision and imagination for the region’s conservation and development. The participants were divided in two groups and: The participants were divided in two groups and: http://ecosw.dir.bg

26. 09.08.200926 PROJECTS 1. They made some activities to improve living condition of local people: 1. They made some activities to improve living condition of local people: Gathered a huge quantity garbage; Gathered a huge quantity garbage; Recovered an old village oven; Recovered an old village oven; 2. They participated in: Lectures about EU and ecotourism, and discussions; Lectures about EU and ecotourism, and discussions; Marches in Pirin mountain; Marches in Pirin mountain; A lot of sports and entertainment games and talks; A lot of sports and entertainment games and talks; http://ecosw.dir.bg

27. 09.08.200927 PROJECTS http://ecosw.dir.bg

28. 09.08.200928 PROJECTS http://ecosw.dir.bg

29. 09.08.200929 KALIN ANASTASOV k_anastasov@dir.bg +359 898 812 815 +359 884 883 332 http://ecosw.dir.bg