On 14 November, the fifth edition of the international initiative “Danube Volunteer Day,” organised by the Directorate of Persina Nature Park, took place. This year, the event was dedicated to the conservation of wetlands, with the main goal of cleaning the small tributaries within the Danube River basin in the park’s territory from accumulated anthropogenic waste. Among the focal points of the initiative was the clean-up of the Bozhurlushka River, which, during the spring high waters, fills the Kaykusha wetland and plays an important role in maintaining valuable habitats. Every year, the river transports a significant amount of household plastic waste that enters the water after rainfall. These wastes accumulate along the river, creating barriers for wildlife, polluting the environment, and obstructing the natural water flow.
The volunteers participating in this year’s edition of the initiative were tasked with collecting the accumulated plastic waste, thereby contributing to restoring ecological balance in the area.
Students from the 11th and 12th grades of Dimitar Blagoev Secondary School in Svishtov took part in the action, along with gold and silver level volunteers from the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, as well as teachers Zdravka Ganeva and Yanitsa Stoyanova. Everyone worked shoulder to shoulder with the park’s experts, with great enthusiasm and responsibility. Despite the cold water and the foggy, damp weather, the volunteers united their efforts for a common cause – to keep wetlands clean and thriving.
More than 26 bags with a capacity of 0.5 m³ were filled with plastic and household waste collected from the Bozhurlushka River. The waste was transported out of the Kaykusha Protected Area with the support of Svishtov Municipality.
“Danube Volunteer Day” is an international initiative bringing together volunteers from across the entire Danube basin under a common cause – to preserve the immense natural wealth of the river. It is organised under the umbrella of DANUBEPARKS, of which Persina Nature Park is a full member. The initiative continues to strengthen its role as an important platform for uniting the efforts of institutions, volunteers, and local communities in the name of nature.
The clean-up of the Bozhurlushka River was part of the activities under the project “Promoting the Ramsar Regional Initiative (RRI) Danube WILDisland in Persina Nature Park,” through a Subgrant for practical pilot measures, Category RRI-2: "Awareness-raising events for the Danube WILDisland RRI". Kaykusha Protected Area was chosen for a reason – it lies within the territory of Bulgaria’s largest Ramsar Site by area, the “Belene Islands Complex,” located within Persina Nature Park.
We thank everyone who joined and embraced the call: “Together, let’s protect the Danube wetlands!” The participation of young people is key to building ecological awareness and ensuring the long-term conservation of natural resources.
Text and photos: Persina Nature Park Directorate