Last week, the "Nature" Academy initiative of the project "Life for Lesser Kestrel" LIFE19 NAT/BG/001017, financed by the LIFE program and implemented by Green Balkans, once again brought together curious young people.
This time the highlight of the event was autochthonous breeds of goats raised in the Sakar mountain area.
Within a day, the future specialists studying in the Department of "Animal Science" from the specializations Animal Engineering with Information Technology, Selection and Reproduction in Animal Breeding, as well as Animal Engineering of the Agricultural University were introduced by their teachers Associate Professor Dr Atanas Vuchkov and Chief Assistant Dr Maya Popova with the criteria for selection of breeding animals in herds of indigenous goat breeds. From the Green Balkans team, the students learned more about the connection between agriculture and nature conservation through the breeding of primitive breeds of animals and their use for the management of grass habitats - hunting grounds for several protected species, among them Lesser kestrels and Imperial eagles.
Of course, the Karakachan horses in Sakar, especially suitable for free grazing, were not left out. The herds of the two autochthonous breeds - goats and horses in the area help to increase their range of distribution and preserve their genes in Sakar and various places in the country.
In the second part of their visit to Sakar, the young people and their teachers visited the Demonstration Center of the project "Life for Lesser Kestrel" in the village of Levka, in the Natura 2000 Park "Sakar". There they got to know in detail the process of the return of this species that disappeared from our nature until a few years ago, and the informational and educational approaches that the Green Balkans team uses in its educational activities. As part of their visit, our guests also explored the recently built "Educational Yard", presenting traditional elements of animal husbandry and agriculture in the area, which are directly related to the rich biodiversity in Sakar, including the presence of such species as Lesser kestrels.
This time the highlight of the event was autochthonous breeds of goats raised in the Sakar mountain area.
Within a day, the future specialists studying in the Department of "Animal Science" from the specializations Animal Engineering with Information Technology, Selection and Reproduction in Animal Breeding, as well as Animal Engineering of the Agricultural University were introduced by their teachers Associate Professor Dr Atanas Vuchkov and Chief Assistant Dr Maya Popova with the criteria for selection of breeding animals in herds of indigenous goat breeds. From the Green Balkans team, the students learned more about the connection between agriculture and nature conservation through the breeding of primitive breeds of animals and their use for the management of grass habitats - hunting grounds for several protected species, among them Lesser kestrels and Imperial eagles.
Of course, the Karakachan horses in Sakar, especially suitable for free grazing, were not left out. The herds of the two autochthonous breeds - goats and horses in the area help to increase their range of distribution and preserve their genes in Sakar and various places in the country.
In the second part of their visit to Sakar, the young people and their teachers visited the Demonstration Center of the project "Life for Lesser Kestrel" in the village of Levka, in the Natura 2000 Park "Sakar". There they got to know in detail the process of the return of this species that disappeared from our nature until a few years ago, and the informational and educational approaches that the Green Balkans team uses in its educational activities. As part of their visit, our guests also explored the recently built "Educational Yard", presenting traditional elements of animal husbandry and agriculture in the area, which are directly related to the rich biodiversity in Sakar, including the presence of such species as Lesser kestrels.
