As part of the MED-GIAHS project, the Regional Administration of Pazardzhik held two important activities on 19–20 May 2025, aimed at building local capacity and evaluating the potential of the Bulgarian Rose agroecosystem in Strelcha for future recognition as a GIAHS site.
On 19 May, a training for trainers was organised in the city of Pazardzhik, led by five lecturers from the University of Florence (Italy) – Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), under the UNESCO Chair “Landscapes of Agricultural Heritage”, headed by Prof. Dr. Mauro Agnoletti.
On the Bulgarian side, participants included lecturers from Plovdiv University (an associated partner of the project), the Technical University of Sofia – Plovdiv Branch, representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, the Land – a Source of Income Foundation, and the Regional Development Agency – Plovdiv.
The training focused on the GIAHS programme and the FAO application process, as well as marketing strategies for traditional agro-food systems and landscapes. The purpose was to transfer knowledge from the Italian experts to support the development of the required documents and action plan for a potential GIAHS nomination.
On 20 May, the Italian trainers visited the Strelcha region to explore its agricultural heritage in person. The field visit began at a private rose field, continued with a stop at the Old Rose Distillery, and concluded at the Strelcha Historical Museum, where new exhibitions highlighted the region’s rich cultural and agricultural traditions.
These two days of capacity-building and exchange mark a significant step toward a potential nomination of the “Bulgarian Rose” agroecosystem in the Rose Valley – Strelcha as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS), by assessing the compatibility of the local production system and cultural landscape with FAO’s criteria.
