In the last days of September, the 4-days Danube volunteer conservation camp took place in the Persina Nature Park in Bulgaria. It was the first educational and practical training, organized for university students by the Park Directorate. 20 volunteers came from Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen and Local High schools from Belene and Svishtov.
The volunteers had some theoretical sessions but also a lot of activities in the field. They actively participated in the conservation work and helped the team of the Park to prepare the nesting grounds for the new breeding season of the Dalmatian pelican on Persin Island, located at the territory of Persina Nature Park.
The volunteers were extremely excited to take part in the practical actions, learning on the way about the problems that Dalmatian pelicans face in the area. One of them is a disturbance of the pelicans in some of the restored nesting places of the species in Bulgaria. Also, the participants studied the wetlands conservation and restoration of habitats along the Danube River, and discussed the challenges the conservationists need to overcome in the process.
The biodiversity conservation experts of Persina Nature Park organized special educational sections for the participants on how to apply some monitoring techniques and hold different conservation actions.
The conservation camp was very productive and inspiring for the volunteers and also for the team of the Persina Nature Park. Next year the second edition of the camp will be organized by the Park Directorate in the framework of the Pelican Way of LIFE initiative.
