We are excited to announce that DANUBEPARKS has been officially approved to implement the Community Engagement for Wetland Conservation - Persina4Nature project – an innovative project focused on community engagement and citizen science in Persina Nature Park, Bulgaria.
The initiative is financed by the IMPETUS Accelerator, part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, which supports bottom-up, inclusive approaches to addressing global environmental challenges.
Persina4Nature is a 7-month project designed to connect people with nature, raise awareness of wetland values, and empower citizens—especially youth—to take an active role in protecting the Danube’s biodiversity. Anchored in the heart of Persina Nature Park, this initiative highlights how local communities can contribute meaningfully to environmental conservation through citizen science and educational action.
This project builds on the strong regional cooperation fostered by the Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative.
Our main goals are:
1. Promote wetland conservation through participatory science and education
2. Encourage local engagement in monitoring biodiversity and water quality
3. Deliver environmental education to children in a fun, hands-on format
4. Strengthen community ownership of natural heritage and encourage long-term stewardship
5. Share a replicable model with other Protected Areas across the Danube River Basin
And we plan to achieve them through the following activities:
1.Persina Edu Summer Camp: A 4-day outdoor program for children aged 7–12 to explore nature, learn about habitats, and use citizen science tools.
2.Volunteer Clean-Up: A community effort to clean up Danube wetlands in autumn.
3. School Stakeholder Meetings: Held in Belene and Svishtov to share project results and inspire future educational activities.
4.DANUBEPARKS Online Meeting: Final exchange to share results and promote replication across the Danube region.
Persina Nature Park is home to some of the Danube’s most unique wetland habitats—but like many ecosystems across Europe, it faces pressure from pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. Persina4Nature tackles these challenges by involving people directly in conservation and building a new generation of nature advocates.
With the support of IMPETUS, this project represents a powerful example of how grassroots action and international collaboration can go hand in hand to protect our shared environment.