A national workshop on the CASRI project (Collaborative Action coordinating and enhancing systemic, actionable and transversal Sustainability Research and Innovation) was held at the Botanical Garden of the BAS. The project is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme, launched in January 2024. BAS is a full member in a consortium of 13 European countries, including the European Environment Agency. Assoc. Prof. Ina Aneva (project leader for the country) and Corr. Mem. Prof. Dimitar Ivanov presented the results of the project to stakeholders. The aim of CASRI is to improve cooperation between European environmental agencies and to promote innovative research and solutions in the field of sustainability. CASRI uses an approach that involves collecting and analysing information from participating countries, identifying common [...]

A new publication in the European Journal of Wildlife Research reports the discovery of the largest nursing colony of the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) and the Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus) worldwide. It is located in the Eastern Rhodopes, near the town of Madzharovo. The study is a collaborative work of a team of Bulgarian and Czech researchers, with lead author Dr Heliana Dundarova  of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.     Dr Heliana Dundarova during field studies Fig. 2. Lesser horseshoe bats from the colony near Madzarovo Bulgaria has a rich bat fauna and large colonies recorded in caves, mines and other underground shelters. Only a small proportion of nursing colonies of bats has been found [...]