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Sofia University and the Ministry of Environment and Water Unite Forces to Conserve Plant Species

Professor Anastas Gerdzhikov, Rector of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, and Ms Ivelina Vasileva, Minister of Environment and Water, signed an agreement for cooperation in the domain of conservation of plant species and plant genetic resources.

The two institutions will unite forces to fulfill the goals of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation and will work jointly on the National Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity.

The agreement makes provision the implementation of joint scientific, research and expert activities, the realization of projects, exchange of data, the organization and accomplishment of educational programs, etc.

The Botanic Garden in Balchik has been given the status of a protected area by virtue of the Protected Areas Act, and due to this status the former is directly responsible for the conservation and propagation of valuable species. For the past year, in its capacity as a sanctuary, it received from the state 580 hybrid orchids confiscated in acts of smuggling.

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The University Botanic Garden in Varna is the first eco park in the country where artificial and natural ecosystems co-exist in harmony and the University Botanic Garden in Sofia attracts visitors with its collections of tropical species and the rosarium where more than 40 rose species are cultivated. It was founded 1892 by the first Bulgarian botany professor Dr. Stefan Georgiev (1859 – 1900). At the opening ceremony, King Ferdinand I planted an oak tree (Quercus robur L.) and put a golden coin in its roots. The tree is still alive.

With its scientific expertise and its overall activities the university botanic gardens contribute to the fulfillment of the strategic goals of the Biological Diversity Convention: the conservation and the sustainable use of the biological diversity of the plant genetic resources that the Ministry of Environment and Water is responsible for. With the envisaged joint activities in the agreement it is expected that the partnership between the two institutions will assist the realization of tangible results for this country in the fulfillment of the National Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity.

The university botanic gardens are members of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), the European Botanic Gardens Consortium, the Educational Botanic Garden Environmental Network (EBGEN), and participate with their collections in the exchange of seeds Index Seminum with botanic gardens from all over the world.

The signing of the agreement was also attended by Dr Krasimir Kosev, Director of the University Botanic Gardens, and Kalina Stoyanova, state expert at the National Office for Natural Conservation Directorate at the Ministry of Environment and Water.