BSP Europe

BSP's Eastern Europe Program

BSP's activities in Eastern Europe have focused predominantly on two countries: Bulgaria and Ukraine. In both countries, BSP emphasized its role in facilitation and capacity-building, achieving both conservation impact as well as the introduction of tangible models of open, democratic processes into this complex and often challenging region.

In Bulgaria, BSP facilitated the development of a national biological diversity conservation strategy. Ancillary activities included training in geographical information systems (GIS) technology, technical assistance to the newly formed Bulgarian Ministry of Environment (MOE), and a workshop presentation on alternative funding mechanisms for conservation. Smaller biodiversity research efforts in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, as well as project planning missions in Poland and the Czech Republic were also carried out.

In Ukraine, BSP's project consisted of two principal components: building capacity through small grants to individuals and organizations for applied conservation activities throughout Ukraine, and a regionally-focused, Crimean Conservation Needs Assessment to set geographic and thematic priorities for conserving the biodiversity of the Crimean Peninsula.

Highlights from BSP's Portfolio on Eastern Europe

National Biological Diversity Conservation Strategy for Bulgaria
Working with local scientists, NGOs, and government officials, BSP facilitated a process to develop a national-level strategy for biodiversity conservation.

Promoting Biodiversity Conservation in Ukraine
In one component, BSP provided support through small grants to individuals and organizations for applied conservation activities in existing or potential protected areas.

In a second component, BSP used a multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral, and highly participatory process to establish conservation priorities for the Crimean Peninsula.