The project was implemented by the Consortium Grontmij / Carl Bro / Niras / JIT. ACG Ltd. provided a Stakeholders Involvement Expert for the following project activities:

• Design and implementation of a stakeholder analysis for the Mesta River Basin. This activity also included the design and elaboration of a Terms of Reference for a representative quantitative survey among the population in the target area (collection of information) and an analysis of the collected information;
• Development and implementation of a Stakeholder Involvement Plan;
• Identification of training needs and elaboration of proposal for a training campaign for the relevant stakeholders;
• Identification and implementation of public awareness raising activities.

ACG Ltd. provided the Project Manager for the project, for the implementation and coordination of the following activities:

• Comprehensive analysis of the area economy focusing on agriculture and food processing industry;
• Identification and planning of appropriate rural development activities for the pilot implementation of EU Rural Development Policy 2007 – 2013 Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005;
• Identification of the most effective ways for incorporating biodiversity conservation objectives into economic development goals and achieving the sustainable development of the area;
• Organization of consultative process involving all stakeholders in the planning process;
• Awareness raising about EU Rural Development Policy 2007 – 2013;
• Building of institutional capacity at the local level – municipalities, rural eneterpreneurs associations, NGOs, local units of the state institutions – for participatory planning and the implementation of programs and projects under EU rural development policy 2007 – 2013;
• General supervision and coordination of the project activities.

The Programme has been approved by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria in June 2005

• Elaboration of methodology and tools for implementation of a Market research programme on ecotourism;
• A representative survey among the population at and above 15 years in the major cities in Bulgaria;
• A survey among tour-operators;
• A series of focus-group discussions.

• Developing Terms of Reference and methodology for cultural and socio-economic assessment on:
• Population in and around the nature park;
• Tourism: visitors and infrastructure;
• Cultural and historic sites;
• Gathering and use of natural products;
• Analysis of the future development in the context of the regional and local development plans: potential, limitations, and prospects;
• Public attitudes and awareness with regard to the Rila Monastery NP;
• Participation in stakeholder meetings and workshops;
• Participation in the law procedures and public hearing on proposed management plan.
• Collection of resource materials and supporting research from primary and secondary sources for the purposes of the management plan preparation;
• Responsible for all sections of the Management Plan’s prescriptive part.

• Population around the park boundaries;
• Tourism – visitors and infrastructure facilities;
• Public attitudes and awareness in regard to the National Park;
• Collection and analysis of all general environmental and social data related to the project area.

• Population around the national park boundaries;
• Tourism: visitors and infrastructure;
• Gathering and use of natural products;
• Public attitudes and awareness with regard to the National Parks;
• Collection and analysis of all general environmental and social data related to the project area.