Signed memorandum for cooperation between Association “Renewable Energy Sources Cluster” (RES Cluster) and Southwest University “Neofit Rilski” – Blagoevgrad

As part of the activities that ensure the sustainability of the project “Identification and monitoring of contaminated soils through the application of innovative methodology (MCSoil)” № CB006.1.11.023, as well as on the basis of the Plan for long-term soil monitoring developed within of the project, in June 2021, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Association “Renewable Energy Sources Cluster” (RES Cluster) and Southwest University “Neofit Rilski” – Blagoevgrad.

The signing of the memorandum is a sign of a strengthening partnership and development of mutual cooperation between the two parties. The main goal is to create a practical framework for cooperation between the participants and joining our efforts with regards to addressing some of the current soil pollution challenges.

The activities in the frame of the memorandum that are related to exploration, pilot tests and soil quality monitoring control are going to be carried out through the use of specialized equipment purchased by the project funds provided and used to carry out project activities. RES Cluster will provide the equipment to the Southwest University “Neofit Rilski” free of charge.

The activities, that are a part of the memorandum, cover the South-Western region of the Republic of Bulgaria, including the districts of Sofia – city, Sofia, Pernik, Kyustendil and Blagoevgrad.

The cooperation between the two parties will support the scientific and technical provision of practical classes in a number of disciplines, studied at the university, as mentioned the memorandum.

The use of innovative technological solutions to assess the ecological condition of the soil cover, as provided by the equipment described in the memorandum, would contribute to increasing the knowledge and skills of students studying in the relevant fields. Some of the priority indicative activities include monitoring of the magnetic susceptibility of the selected landfills, in accordance with the Long-Term Monitoring Plan developed within the MCSoil project, as well as monitoring of the magnetic susceptibility of river and lake sediments, undertaken during practical classes in the respective disciplines.

The cooperation, that is going to be realised through the activities within the memorandum framework, aims to support the promotion of initiatives for the successful waste management, environmental protection and fostering environmentally friendly attitudes and practices among young people and adolescents in the region.

 The project was successfully implemented in the period July 2019 – October 2020 by the Association “Renewable Energy Sources Cluster” in partnership with the Center for Medicinal Herbs and Berries – Ambrosia from Pehchevo, Northern Macedonia, within INTERREG-IPA Cross-border Cooperation Program Bulgaria – Northern Macedonia, CCI Number: 2014TC16I5CB006.

The aim of the project initiatives was to assess the current state and specific needs of the region regarding the existing and potential soil pollution. The project activities were focused on the development of a joint mechanism for environmental protection, by identifying and monitoring contaminated soil areas, through the application of innovative methodology. The pilot tool for soil sampling, processing, analysis and data presentation is based on innovative geophysical methods for cost-effective, sensitive and rapid assessment of soil quality in the environment. The main advantage of this innovative methodology is its high sensitivity and ability to adapt the method according to the specifics of the place and the existing problem. Also, the method works much faster and more economically than traditionally used chemical analysis.

The implemented project activities contributed to raising the awareness and knowledge of the representatives of the target groups and stakeholders of the project in connection with the condition of soil resources in the border region of Bulgaria and the Republic of Northern Macedonia, as well as improving the efficiency of soil resource management.