Bulgarian National Trust Study Tour Resounding Success

By the initiative of World Learning the World Land trust (WLT) organised a study tour to the UK in November for nine Bulgarian representatives of the National Trust EcoFund (NTEF). The delegation sought guidance for the best practice to manage an endowment and administer funds provided under debt-for-environment swaps for environmental protection in Bulgaria.

During the week-long study tour, the delegation met with representatives of a number of UK and overseas based conservation organisations including:

• The World Land Trust
• Programme for Belize
• The National Trust
• RSPB
• Suffolk Wildlife Trust
• The World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC).

Presentations covered topics such as:

• Fundraising
• Accessing EU grants
• Benefits and pitfalls of endowment funds
• Advertising & marketing
• The use of the Web for PR and fundraising

Field trips provided the delegates with an opportunity to witness first hand how UK conservation organisations manage and fund their protected areas and between meetings other activities were also arranged by the World Land Trust. Perhaps the highlight was a private view of the Carl Von Linné’s collection held at the Linnean Society of London. The delegation also met with HE Mr. Dobrev the Bulgarian Ambassador in the UK.

This study tour was a resounding success and achieved its target of providing the NTEF with information and contacts to assist them in furthering the development of environmental work in Bulgaria.

More information

Read the full press release: Bulgarian National Trust seek advice from UK conservation organisation.