For a period of three years from 2022 to 2024, through a series of voluntary actions, EVN and WWF Bulgaria will work together on initiatives related to the restoration and protection of riparian forests and, more specifically, the riparian zone along the banks of the Maritsa River near Stamboliyski , and will promote information about their importance in nature.

Riparian forests are important to the overall ecosystem. They are extremely valuable because they strengthen banks and limit erosion, absorb dust, improve water quality, protect against flooding, and also create habitats and biocorridors for many rare plants and animals. The restoration of the riverside area of Maritsa will contribute both to better air quality for the residents of Stamboliyski and for the locals from the region along the river.

The project is part of the already 9-year-old "EVN for Bulgaria" program, in which we promote initiatives for the benefit of society and nature on the territory of South-Eastern Bulgaria. For 3 years, we will give new life to the riverside area of the Maritsa river near Stamboliyski. Together with WWF, we collect and plant Quercus robur acorns, alder seeds and black poplar saplings. We will take care of their cultivation and maintenance so that they can grow and become a great forest.

Activities 2022 – Initiative with 10 volunteers from EVN and 3 experts from WWF to collect and select summer oak acorns. – Planting of the collected acorns – more than 6000 pcs. on an area of over 8,000 square meters, 1,500 nests and the participation of 25 volunteers from EVN and WWF. – Initiative with 5 volunteers to collect alder seeds that WWF grew in a nursery to plant in 2023. – Multiple posts on social networks, press releases on the EVN and WWF websites. Activities 2023 – Planting 400 saplings of black poplar and white willow (200/200) + 150 white poplar. – Multiple watering. – Video material published about project activities and how to reforest properly. – Multiple posts on social media platforms and publication on the websites. – Cleaning the terrain of household waste, growing the saplings (mulching, weeding) with 15 EVN volunteers and WWF experts, putting up an information board. – Planting of 500 black alder saplings with 22 volunteers from EVN and WWF. Rodent protection nets have been installed. Activities 2024 – Cleaning the field, mulching, weeding. – Gathering acorns from summer oak and filling nests. – Planting black poplar and willow.

The land we took care of in support of WWF is a former illegal dump. It looks different now. Together, we are participating in the creation of a true, natural riparian forest in a way that nature itself would. We planted saplings not of one species, not even of two species, but of more than 5. Years from now it will be a wonderful home for mammals and birds. Even for the fish in the river, because the trees will cast a shadow over it.