A senior representative of the Bulgarian nature conservation agency presented strategic positions during an international forum dedicated to preserving global natural heritage. Deputy Minister Atanas Kostadinov led the official delegation, which included leading experts from various national institutions.
The Greenmachine forum, held at the Bulgarian Embassy in Paris on July 9, brought together over 150 international specialists from different countries and organizations. The event focused on challenges facing the modern ecological community – climate change, loss of biodiversity, and the need for collective action.
Ambassador Radka Balabanova opened the event, emphasizing the exceptional role of the World Heritage Convention as one of the most successful international mechanisms for protecting natural and cultural sites. Among the official guests were Minister Marian Bachev, Deputy Minister Todor Chobanov, and other high-ranking national representatives.
A key moment of the forum was the presentation of results from an expert working meeting held in November 2024 in Germany. Discussions were focused on the integration of the World Heritage Convention with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The Bulgarian delegation unequivocally stated the national commitment to preserving natural heritage. Representatives emphasized the need to mobilize international resources and coordinated actions to protect ecosystems and biodiversity.
The historical context of participation is linked to Bulgaria's UNESCO membership from May 17, 1956. The National UNESCO Commission, established the same year, continues to coordinate activities between Bulgarian institutions and the international organization.
The World Heritage Committee, composed of representatives from 21 countries elected from among 196 countries of the Convention, plays a critical role in global efforts to preserve natural and cultural heritage.
The forum in Paris demonstrated that modern nature conservation requires not just individual efforts, but the building of a global network of trust, creativity, and shared responsibility. Bulgaria positions itself as an active participant in these international processes.
Participants united around the understanding that protecting nature is a collective mission that transcends national borders and institutional differences. Every action, no matter how small it may seem, can contribute to preserving our shared planetary ecosystem.