Science and Traditions Unite: LTER-Bulgaria Engages Communities in Environmental and Cultural Festivals

In spring 2025, the Bulgarian Long-Term Ecosystem Research Network (LTER-BG) brought science beyond the laboratory and into local communities, combining ecological knowledge with cultural traditions. Through two vibrant festivals — “Let’s Go Green in the Podgorie” in April and “Srebarna Sings and Laughs” in May — researchers, citizens, and cultural groups came together to explore how scientific research can enrich daily life while celebrating Bulgaria’s rich heritage. From ecological hikes, citizen science workshops, and discussions on sustainable practices, to traditional foods, folklore, and educational exhibits, both events highlighted the power of collaboration in addressing environmental challenges and strengthening the bond between people, science, and nature.

Hundreds of people joined the "Let's Go Green in the Podgorie" to solve environmental problems and local traditions

Nearly 300 people and researchers joined the citizen science festival in support of solving local environmental problems and preserving traditional life - "Let's Go Green in the Podgorie" - from April 24 to 27, 2025.

The event is funded and organised by LTER-BG, led by IBER-BAS, in partnership with the associations "Biomatera" and Slow Food in Bulgaria.

About 50 ecologists, as well as local stakeholders from the business, agriculture and tourism sectors participated in the scientific part. Some of the discussed topics were:

- Can citizens enjoy waterfalls while also assisting in monitoring spring water flow in the mountains?;

- The role of the early spring plants in the Podgorie cuisine —folk taxonomy and cultural aspects;

- The Potential of Citizen Science as a Tool to Strengthen Ties Between Scientists and Local Communities and Address Current Environmental Issues in Podgorie;

- Examples of Successful Partnerships Between Scientists and Stakeholders in the LTER Network, Protected Areas, and Conservation Zones;

- Local Knowledge: Socio-Ecological Research in Bulgaria and Portugal;

- Socio-Ecological Platforms in Romania.

Nearly 300 visitors participated in the cultural part of the festival in the form of the Butima Sarma Festival in the Petrich village of Gabrene, which is being held for the third time with the support of LTER-BG. The dish is unique to the region and the plant is not known to be used elsewhere in Europe for culinary purposes.

Various folklore groups performed folk songs, and children from the “Young Mountaineer” association demonstrated “Games from the Neighborhood” to recall forgotten activities from the youth of older generations. The village community center opened the doors to its historical and ethnographic collection so that curious guests could learn more about the district.

Without a doubt, the focus was the food stands prepared according to traditional recipes by local women and using local products. Guests from the district and abroad had the chance to join the workshops on making sarma from butima and preparing “green” banitsa, as well as on recognising early spring plants.

Finally, members of the Bulgarian research network and visitors could join various ecological and scientific hikes to landmarks such as Sariev Stone, the old mill in the village of Belasitsa, one of the 14 waterfalls on the Belasitsa mountain, and others.

The festival was covered by the Bulgarian National Radio, Bulgarian National Television, Bulgarian Telegraph Agency and the local BATS TV.

LTER-Bulgaria participate in Srebarna lake-site festivities

Scientists from LTER-Bulgaria, part of IBER-BAS, took part in the festival "Srebarna sings and laughs" (17.05.2025), where they presented the biodiversity of the Srebarna nature reserve to the local community.

Two aquariums with aquatic inhabitants of the lake caused great interest: loach fish, mussels, water beetles, aquatic plants, shrimp, water fleas. The educational cards with various vertebrate and invertebrate inhabitants of the lake impressed both children and students, as well as adults.

Srebarna is one of the sites where LTER-Bulgaria operates under the project "Upgrading of distributed scientific infrastructure "Bulgarian Network for Long-term Ecosystem Research", part of the National Roadmap for Scientific Infrastructure 2020-2027. Various abiotic parameters of the lake and its biodiversity are monitored there.