Persina Nature Park

Persina Nature Park was declared on December 4, 2000, with a total area of ​​21,762.2 ha. It is located on the territory of three municipalities: Nikopol, Belene and Svishtov and is the fifth largest of the ten nature parks in Bulgaria. Persina Nature Park is unique for Bulgaria and is the only one along the Bulgarian Danube. Its announcement aims to preserve and restore the Danube wetlands and preserve the natural state of the numerous islands. The islands that are part of the park are divided into two island groups – Nikopol Island Group and Belene Islands Complex. Here is the largest Bulgarian Danube island-Persin, which gave the name of the nature park. The uniqueness and great significance of the Belene Islands Complex is the reason why it has been declared the largest Ramsar site in Bulgaria. Persina Nature Park is one of the fifty ornithologically important places in Bulgaria, part of the European ecological network NATURA 2000, as a protected area under both directives: the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. The natural condition of the islands in the composition of the park, its unique location, the dynamics of the Danube River make Persina Nature Park one of the key founders and members of the Danube Parks Association. The international organization was founded in 2014 as a result of many years of work and joint international cooperation between 20 protected areas along the Danube. Currently, 12 organizations are members of the association.