AN information campaign was launched on Tuesday ahead of making the Western and Eastern part of the Rhodope Mountains natural parks.

The project, entitled Conservation of Global Significant Biodiversity in the Landscape of Bulgaria's Rhodope Mountains, has been supported by the Swiss Embassy through a Bulgarian-Swiss programme for preservation of biological diversity. It has been developed by the UN Development Programme with funding from the World Environmental Facility, and implemented by the ministries of environment and agriculture and forestry and NGOs, project manager Carsten Germer told a news conference.

The project seeks to preserve bio-diversity in the area while promoting sustainable development. The information campaign will seek to answer the most frequently asked questions about nature reserves: how they are managed, does it involve change in ownership, is construction allowed, as well as timber production, mining or the picking of mushrooms, herbs and other such activities.

According to UNDP Resident Representative Marta Ruedas, the Rhodopes are of European significance and the implementation of this project might put them among the national priorities. The project covers 30 municipalities and 140 000 people and can be a strong instrument for development of alternative farming and environmental tourism, Ruedas said.

The Western Rhodopes park has a territory of 8000 square metres and boasts 572 caves and natural sights such as the Chudnite Mostove (Wonder Bridges) and the Trigrad Gorge. It is home to 800 butterfly varieties and 90 bird species.

The Eastern Rhodope park has 50 per cent of the Bulgarian flora species and is home to 22 mammals that are considered endangered in the rest of Europe.