On 4 December, Persina Nature Park celebrated its 25th anniversary with a ceremonial event marking Persina Nature Park Day, bringing together partners, institutions, and friends of the only nature park along the Bulgarian stretch of the Danube.
Established in 2000, the Park has become a key actor in international projects for wetland restoration and conservation, gaining international recognition for the successful restoration of the Persina Wetland and the return of breeding Dalmatian pelicans after more than 60 years.
The Park, which includes the Belene Islands Complex—the largest Ramsar site in Bulgaria—protects some of the last natural wild islands on the Danube and plays a vital role in conserving valuable habitats and species.
The anniversary celebration also featured a festive cultural program performed by children from local music schools in Svishtov and Belene, and received broad institutional recognition for the Park’s long-term conservation work.
The event was implemented with the financial support of the pilot action, Category RRI-2: “Awareness-raising events for the Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative”.
To mark the anniversary, we spoke with Eng. Stela Bozhinova, Director of Persina Nature Park, discusses the park’s journey, achievements, and the challenges ahead:
Happy anniversary to Persina Nature Park, Stela! On behalf of DANUBEPARKS, we wish you many more years of successful biodiversity conservation, inspiration for new initiatives, and shared joy with all friends of the park.
Thank you very much on behalf of the entire Persina Nature Park team for the kind wishes! A quarter of a century may seem short for a nature park, but for us it represents years of consistency and effort. Persina remains one of the youngest parks in Bulgaria, established to restore and preserve wetlands. For decades, people considered swamps useless, but we managed to show their importance for biodiversity and ecological balance. Of course, there is still more to be done, but the progress so far has been significant.
As someone who has led the park through most of its existence, you have certainly faced many challenges. How did you manage to build an effective team and a stable management structure?
When I first became Director, I didn’t know exactly what awaited me, but I intuitively understood that I needed to build a strong and capable team. The process was long and difficult, but today I can proudly say that we have succeeded – over 25 years, we have implemented more than 20 externally funded projects, which is a clear indicator of the team’s professionalism and dedication.
The park’s history surely includes many significant milestones. Which moments stand out the most for you?
In 2006, we opened the Park Visitor Centre, funded by the Global Environment Facility through the World Bank. It became one of Belene’s most attractive and visited buildings, allowing us to develop interactive exhibitions and educational programmes. In 2007, we joined the Danube initiative that later grew into the DANUBEPARKS Association — and today we host the Lower Danube Office and coordinate the Ramsar Initiative for the Danube. In 2008, we completed the restoration of the largest wetland in the park – Persina wetland – which we continue to successfully manage to this day.
One of your key priorities is species protection. Could you tell us about one of the park’s most significant achievements in this area and the actions taken to make it possible?
The efforts of the Persina Nature Park team were rewarded with great success. We are proud that the park once again became a nesting site for the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus). The species is classified as near threatened on the IUCN Red List (2017) and is included in Annexe II of the Bern and Bonn Conventions, as well as AEWA. It had disappeared from the park’s territory more than fifty years ago. After the restoration of Persina Marshes, there was enough water to support breeding and feeding grounds for many bird species. What remained was to encourage their return. Together with NGOs such as WWF and BSPB, and with the help of volunteers, we built a wooden nesting platform about 15 years ago. It took time for the pelicans to accept it as home, but thanks to externally funded projects, we now have four large nesting platforms and dozens of pelicans using them every year. Our team regularly maintains and renovates the platforms to ensure safe breeding conditions.
As you mentioned, Persina Nature Park is part of the DANUBEPARKS Association. What does this cooperation mean to you, and what benefits has it brought to the park and the region?
The creation of the DANUBEPARKS network was a great challenge for us. At first, it seemed ambitious to bring together representatives from countries speaking different languages and with diverse governance systems and levels of economic development. But we quickly realised that something greater united us — the Danube River, its wetlands, and the migratory birds that know no borders. We discovered that we share common challenges and goals, and we strive to find joint solutions. Over time, we have built a true “Danube family,” and today, in every country along the river, we have partners and friends we can trust. This is what DANUBEPARKS represents — a strong, united network of protected areas along the Danube.
Finally, what is your message to our readers?
I call on everyone to protect wetlands and the nature around us. Together, we can leave a vibrant natural heritage for our children, care for biodiversity, and support the sustainable development of our region. I wish peace and prosperity to all colleagues, friends of the park, and citizens.
Photo: Persina Nature Park