The territory on which the CLLD Strategy of the FLAG Burgas-Kameno is applied has continuous borders and is part of the South-East Planning Region in Bulgaria. It is located within the district of Burgas, which is consisted of 13 municipalities in total. FLAG`s territory covers the whole municipality of Kameno and part of the settlements of the municipality of Burgas with a total area of ​​627.68 sq. Km. (Municipality of Kameno – 354.95 sq. km. and Municipality of Burgas – 272.73 sq. km.).

The territory of FLAG Burgas-Kameno borders with the Black Sea, the regional center of Burgas and the Black Sea resorts. There are good opportunities for cross-border cooperation with Turkey and Romania. The border to the Black Sea is enabling the strategic development of economic activities in the sector “Fisheries and Aquaculture”. There is existing cargo port, port infrastructure and customs as well as ship building and repair yard in Burgas. With the EMFF support currently there are 2 existing small-scale fishing boat docks in FLAG`s territory, one in north part of Burgas outside FLAG`s territory but very close by -in Sarafovo district in Burgas, and two more are in progress.

The existing dams, wetlands and lakes on the territory of FLAG are suitable for fish and aquaculture production, as well as aquaculture processing enterprises. There is very well-developed small-scale fishing in the settlement “Chengene scele” and the neighborhoods of Burgas, covered by the territory of FLAG.

Other economic sectors are also developed: processing industry is well represented by “Lukoil Neftochim” (the largest oil refining company on the Balkan Peninsula) and “Burgas Sugar Plants”, agriculture and forestry, processing of forest products, trade, repair of cars and motorcycles. There is also good road infrastructure. The city of Kameno and the neighborhoods of Burgas from the territory of FLAG are partially gasified. Availability of public transport to connect with municipal centers. A section of the Trakia Motorway, which is part of the Pan-European Transport Corridor №8, passes through the territory of the FLAG and provides connection to the inner part of the country, the capital Sofia and the countries of Western Europe. The Industrial Zone “North” in Burgas is also part of the FLAG`s territory.  The park is strategically situated near the railway cargo station and has a direct railway connection to the Port of Burgas. In 2018 Burgas Municipality started the development of a new industrial and logistics zone in south Burgas with total area of about 600 decares. While the north zone is more focused on SMEs and is home to a few fish and aquaculture processing companies, the new South Zone offers opportunities for the development of larger enterprises and is attracting high-tech companies.

Biodiversity and preserved natural environment

The territory of FLAG is rich in various natural resources: fertile soil, clean air, low mountain slopes favorable for tourism, valleys, rivers, lakes (Mandra, Vaya, etc.) waters and areas inhabited by unique animal and plant species. Existence of ecologically clean agricultural land with rich soils, natural meadows and temperate transitional-continental Black Sea climate, suitable for development of plant growing and animal husbandry. On the territory there are various natural landmarks and 9 protected areas. These features, together with the presence of a beach for part of the territory of FLAG are a good opportunity for the development of all kinds of tourism. Well-built are sports infrastructure and places for recreation in the town of Kameno and the neighborhoods of Burgas from the territory of FLAG.

There is extremely large, rich and diverse waterfowl – many of them are protected species according to the Bulgarian and world legal provisions (small cormorant, Dalmatian pelican, red-breasted goose, little white-fronted goose, meadow warbler, pink pelican reed warbler, evening kestrel, etc.). In order to preserve their habitats several protected areas have been identified. Apart from them on the territory of FLAG Burgas – Kameno can be seen falcon, partridge, hawk, quail, snipe, turtle dove, owls (protected species), capercaillie pigeon, wild ducks and others. In the lakes and wetlands of Burgas and Kameno we can also find species like carp, woodcock, caracuda and others.

 Part of FLAG`s territory matches with Via Pontica bird migration route – Europe’s second largest bird migration route, through the western part of the Black Sea Biogeographic Region. The migrating birds use the coastal lakes, marshes and lagoons behind the shoreline, and some spend the winter in these wetlands.

• Protected areas and territories

Part of the Protected Area “Mandra – Poda” BG 0000271 –   Protected area under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive.

The protected area „Mandra  –  Poda”    is  part  of the Burgas Lakes Complex. It is a wetland that has an important ornithological significance. In 1998 it is designated for CORINE because of its European importance for the conservation of endangered and rare bird    species. A total of 249 bird species are established on the territory of “Mandra – Poda”, of which: 12 are identified as globally endangered, 137 are of European conservation importance (SPEC), and 74 are included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. The total area of the complex is 5987.96 ha and includes the protected areas “Poda”, Mandra Dam together with the surrounding wetlands, “Uzungeren” and “Mouth of the Izvorska River”.

The conservation status of Uzungeren Protected Area was issued in order to protect the natural wetland, remnant of Lake Mandra, habitat of more than 200 species of waterfowl, of which 5 are world protected – small cormorant, dalmatian pelican, red-breasted goose, small white-fronted goose and meadow tree, as well as other protected, rare and vulnerable plant and animal species.  

Protected area „Mouth of Izvorska River “has an area of 151.0 ha. Its conservation status is determined in order to preserve the natural habitats of protected and rare bird species.The conservation status was created to protect deposits of rare and endangered waterfowl.  The bottom of the bay in front of the mouth of the Marinka Region is covered with thin nanos forming large plyths with a depth of 5-10 cm. About 180 species of birds, of which 80 are of European conservation importance (SPEC), such as small cormoran and shiny ibis nesting in the bay, have been observed on many occasions. The place is also relevant for migratory birds, especially rain-like birds.

The presence of these protected areas and territories is part of the local uniqueness, which is an important factor for the development of the species, but also a responsibility for its preservation by both the administration and the population and economic operators, as well as predetermines the restriction of economic activities in these territories. 

Tabl. 1      Sources:    Register  of protected  areas maintained   by the EEA (https://eea.government.bg/zpo/bg/) and RIEW – Burgas  /www.riosvbs.eu  /