site.btaSpring Cleanup Campaigns to Take Place in Eastern Rhodope Mountains

Three volunteer initiatives aimed at preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the Eastern Rhodope Mountains will take place in April, the Rewilding Rhodope project said in a Facebook post. The events, designed for those interested in contributing to environmental improvement, will include a series of cleanup activities at key locations in the region.

The first is a cleanup of the Arda River Valley, scheduled for April 5-6 in the Madzharovo area, organized by Nature Madzharovo EOOD. Participants in the initiative will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities, including birdwatching, enjoying a campfire with guitar music, and participating in a kayaking tour. The camp will commence on the evening of April 4, with the cleanup itself starting at 9 am on April 5.

The Arda River, which stretches for 272 kilometers, 241 of which flow through Bulgaria, is the largest river in the Rhodope Mountains and one of the most water-rich in the country. It is a vital water resource, with the dams along its course - Kardzhali, Studen Kladenets, and Ivaylovgrad - playing a crucial role in electricity generation through hydroelectric power plants, agricultural irrigation, and fishing. 

The second cleanup will take place on April 12, at the Studen Kladenets Dam, located near Gnyazdovo. Attendees will have the possibility to experience a boat ride or a kayaking tour of the dam. The Kardzhali municipality will provide transportation for waste removal, gloves and trash bags to the participants. Part of the Arda cascade dams of the National Electric Company, Studen Kladenets is the third-largest dam in Bulgaria, covering 27.8 square kilometers, following the Mandra and Iskar dams. The event is organized by Adventures and Nature and is open to kayakers, nature lovers, and ecotourists. 

Scheduled from April 16 to 18, the third cleanup will take place in the village of Mandritsa, situated in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains, within the Ivaylovgrad municipality. The cleanup initiative is part of broader efforts to preserve the region's natural and cultural heritage. Organizers will provide necessary equipment, including gloves and trash bags, and for those wishing to stay overnight, tents will be available.

Located on the right bank of the Biala Reka, at the Bulgarian-Greek border, Mandritsa is the only Albanian-speaking village in Bulgaria, where the archaic Albanian language is still spoken. This event is organized by the local community in collaboration with the Ivaylovgrad Municipality, Eco-complex Bukor Shtepi, and the Eco Guest House Mandritsa. 

These initiatives offer an opportunity for individuals not only to participate in the preservation of the Eastern Rhodope Mountains’ natural and cultural heritage, but also to experience the region’s biodiversity, the organizers said.