A Workshop in Bulgaria: Options for Local Biodiversity Management in Protected Areas

8 - 10 February, 2002

The Project Proposal Session: Lessons Learned

• Clearly state assumptions about the background to a proposal (such as data on market research and opportunities).
• In addition, be explicit about other aspects of the proposal, such as feasibility, relevant activities and the likely results of these activities.
• Make the purpose and objectives of the project concise, in order to avoid attempting too much. Do not get distracted from this project purpose and these objectives.
• Involve people from a socio-economic background in devising the project.
• In tackling conflict issues, involve people; adopt clearly limited goals; identify goals which are common to all participants.
• Develop a list of simple, defined actions: this helps partnerships agree on which actions to adopt.
• Use local experience-based knowledge reflecting community heterogeneity, in order to form new collaborative approaches.
• Don't always avoid conflicts, as these inspire discussion.
• Distinguish between encouraging economic development within a park and the legal requirement to produce a management plan.
• Account for lessons from previous projects when designing new project proposals.
• Small, demonstration projects of community involvement are morel likely to receive funding than national proposals.

• The Project Proposals
  • Strandja Nature Park project: Development of Sustainable Tourism 62K bytes.
  • Information system for Bulgarian parks in general 58K bytes.
  • Development of Eco-tourism in Bulgarian parks 76K bytes.

After this workshop: possible future action