Sustainable development of rural areas in protected territory – a case study from Strandzha, Bulgaria

Sustainable development is based on three pillars: sustainable economic growth, social well-being and environment protection. Sustainable rural development is regarded as a multidimensional concept including an equitable and balanced development within a rural area, an increased level of social cohesion and equitability, as well as the assuming of responsibility for using natural resources and revealing at environmental protection. The studied region is located into the Strandzha Mtn - the only Bulgarian territory included in the five priority territories for conservation in Central and Eastern Europe. We have identified some core problems that should be addressed aiming to achieve the sustainable development of this area. Some of them are as follows: the absence of developing projects and focus on the development of individual villages, the lack of willingness of local people to cooperate , local resources are not effectively used and the local community is not adequately involved.