Bulgarian hunters marked the 130^th anniversary since the founding of the first hunting society back in 1884. It happened in the town of Veliko Tarnovo (Central North Bulgaria, the former capital) when fans of hunting realized that they had to join efforts to preserve nature and game. The anniversary was marked with an impressive procession of one hundred hunting flags and a rich program and a gathering at the picturesque locality near the Kapinovo Monastery. The festival was co-organized by the National Hunting and Fishing Association which includes Sokol 1884 Veliko Tarnovo hunting society. Later many hunting societies in almost all large Bulgarian towns and cities emerged. Today this organization has the reputation of the biggest environmental civil association with some 127,000 members from all parts of Bulgaria.

“Bulgarian hunters did a lot over these years, although this somehow remained underestimated on the part of society”, contends Chief Secretary of the National Hunting and Fishing Association Vassil Vassilev. “Perhaps we have failed to show what we have done for nature and game in this country. Few people know that hunters are committed to preserving animal species such as the bear for example. In 1931 they initiated the legislative amendments which later banned bear hunting in Bulgaria. The first game farms and reserves in the 1930’s were launched thanks to Bulgarian hunters. Hunters had a key role in the 1950’s and the 1960’s during the start of the massive forestation in Bulgaria. A large part of the Bulgarian forests which are now reason for national pride were planted during that period. Hunters are the ones who seek to come into contact with nature and have a personal contribution to its preservation. That is why we should not forget this long-lived tradition. People say that each organization which reaches its 100^th anniversary becomes eternal - let us hope that ours is one of them. That is why we must keep our well-deserved place in society as an organization which guarantees the preservation of the forests, the game and the nature as a whole.”

The National Hunting and Fishing Association was founded by volunteers only and the lack of state finance did not obstruct its members to join efforts and try to preserve the Bulgarian nature. Right after its establishment the organization had active contribution to the adoption of a hunting legislation which placed all useful animals and birds under protection. This was the first environmental law in Bulgaria which actually imposed given restrictions to hunting in this country. Being a partner of the state in the process of nature preservation, the National Hunting and Fishing Association sponsors a national program aimed at preserving the animal species and maintaining the game stock in Bulgaria. The organization spends money each year on planting the local water basins with fish and its members are among the most active volunteers who join forestation events and help fire brigades extinguish fires. Besides, the Bulgarian hunters and anglers helped the environmental organizations during the establishment of the NATURA 2000 environmental network. Bulgarian hunters are among the first ones in the EU who, to the recommendation of the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation, signed an agreement with the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds which is a national partner of BirdLife International.

“There are no hunting restrictions in any of the NATURA 2000 zones in Bulgaria. We are loyal partners of the state. That is why it respects our pledge that we would preserve the game stock in all zones of the NATURA 2000.”

Thanks to the efforts of all people at the National Hunting and Fishing Association, the organization was acknowledged by many European and World organizations. Its high authority is proved by the decision to host the General Assembly of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation in 2015.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov