Burgas environment inspectorate RIOSV marked International Biosphere Reserve Day on 3 November by launching a children's book, "Dragon Houses" ("Zmeyovi kashti"), the inspectorate said. In it, children tell mythical stories about the Strandzha mountains.

Children from three cultural centre clubs in Burgas and one in Malko Tarnovo made the book. The Burgas groups were the "Mythical Birds" literary studio and the "Trakiyche" folklore group of the Lyuben Karavelov 1940 chitalishte, and the drawing and applied arts studio of the Prosveta 1927 chitalishte. Children from the Georgi Popayanov 1914 chitalishte in Malko Tarnovo also worked on it.

During the project, the children learned about the traditions and customs of Strandzha. They sang local folk songs in traditional costumes, met local storytellers, and watched and drew wildlife in Strandzha Nature Park.

At the event, the inspectorate also presented the Uzunbudzhak biosphere reserve, which lies in the RIOSV-Burgas area. An advisory council runs the reserve. Its members include representatives of regional and local authorities, non-governmental organisations, non-profit groups, business, prominent public figures and others.

RIOSV says the idea behind declaring Uzunbudzhak a reserve was to let everyone with an interest take part in decisions, so that the linked parts of the area work better together. The inspectorate says the Seville Strategy requires open management that can change flexibly when something from outside threatens the normal work of the reserve.

Biosphere Reserve Day is a UNESCO initiative and is marked every year. RIOSV-Burgas calls these reserves a symbol that people and nature can live in harmony. They hold natural and cultural sites, but also crafts, traditions and customs that make the regions more attractive and help tourism that protects nature.

The inspectorate says the day invites everyone to take inspiration and learn from the solutions and good practice in these reserves. It says they show how a region can grow without harming nature.