Fauna Assessment and management to safeguard Biodiversity in cross - border mountainous areas of Bulgaria and Greece: Innovative approaches to estimate monitor and protect biodiversity in local ecosystems

Acronym	BIO-INNOVATE
Project Number – MIS	5047319
Priority axis	2 - A Sustainable and Climate adaptable Cross-Border area
Investment priorities	6d - Protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services, including through Natura 2000, and green infrastructure
Intervention fields	085. Protection and enhancement of biodiversity, nature protection and green infrastructure
Call	2nd Call for proposals under priority axes 2 & 4
Lead Beneficiary	ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI - SPECIAL ACCOUNT FOR RESEARCH FUNDS - DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Beneficiaries	BULGARIAN BIODIVERSITY FOUNDATION - BRANCH EASTERN RHODOPES Municipality of Gotse Delchev Municipality of Prosotsani
Start Date	Jul 05, 2019
End Date	Aug 31, 2023
Budget	670.591,41 €
ERDF Contribution	570.002,70 €
National Contribution	100.588,71 €
Website	https://bio-innovate.eu/

Downloads

D.2.2.2_Project's main results presentations_EN
Bio-Innovate Centers Promo Video ENG / GR / BG

BIOKID_DEERS_EN / GR / BG
BIOKID_HORSES_EN / GR / BG
BIOKID_Thematic Leaflet_EN / GR / BG
D.5.4.4._Booklet for kids_BG
D.4.3.3_Thematic tourist trails (BG)

D.3.1.1_Survey of typical  important fauna species in the area (population size habitats use and migration corridors, major problems)_EN
D.3.3.1_Survey of typical  important fauna species in the BG area_BG (EN abstr)

D.3.1.2_Report on population size, food habits, characteristics and demography of wild horses_EN
D.3.3.2_Livestock_research_Report on population size, food habits, characteristics and demography of wild horses_ BG (EN abstr)

D.4.1.1_Strategies description_implementing innovative management systems for grass lands & forage supply strategies to protect mountainous shrub lands & soil erosion_EN
D.4.3.1_Analytical description of strategies for implementing innovative management systems for grass lands & forage supply strategies_BG (EN abstr)

D.4.3.2_GIS habitat for the management of the Fallow and Red Deer and wild horses (EN explanation & link)

APPLICATIONS (for Bio-innovate Centers) - report

QR exploration (QR Codes-prints): Printed illustrations covering the wall area of the centers, with QR Tags, providing multimedia information material (photos, videos, narration and mini games). This way, the visit to the centers is both educational (access to multimedia information about the animals, their behavior, their anatomy, etc) and entertaining with mini games, quizzes etc. Example of QR Tag with memory game:


Augmented reality card application: This application is designed to illustrate the interactions between the red deer and the wild horse, with humans and with their predators.
The application runs on tablets that are pointing to a flat surface. It consists also of 8 printed cards (12x12cm pvc) depicting: a wild horse, a red deer, a tourist, a farmer, a scientist, a wolf, a bear and a lynx. The application works by positioning one or two cards in the field of view of the tablet’s rear camera. When a single card is positioned, the 3d model of the “being” that is printed on the card, appears as an animated 3d model in the tablet’s screen. If two cards are positioned, and one of the cards depicts a red deer or wild horse, then the application explains the interaction between those “beings”. AR-app_demo video
 

Treasure hunting application: By utilizing the QR Tags and the smartphones, the users (mostly small teams of young children) can be involved in a treasure hunting game, as a fun way to learn more or to test their knowledge about the 2 species ( red deer and the wild horse). The users has to follow a scenario, where each step is a mission, solving a puzzle. The answer of the puzzle will be a specific QR Tag code, a multiple choice question (closed type) or an open type question in which the users have to type the answer.


Interactive windows: Stefanos and Latinka play and look after the animals. The user interface of the application displays in the lower part of the screen some buttons, numbered from 1 to 10. Each button invokes a different scenario where Stefanos or Latinka talk to the user and interact with the wild horses or with the red deer, creating an interactive learning experience.
 

Interactive storyteller: In this application a cartoon-like character of a horse named Menios has been created. The actual form of Menios has been created by using Artificial Intelligent algorithms to create a cartoon-like character, based on the characteristics of a real horse. The users can interact with Menios through a menu system projected on its body. Interactive StoryTeller_app_videos_GR



Virtual reality 360o presentation: This application gives visitors the ability to coexist with our species in their natural environment. By using a virtual reality mask the users can watch a 360 degree presentation, with photos and clips from where our species actually live. VR app_demo video_pico



Mobile application: This application is an emulation / role playing game that gives to the users the role of a wild horse, a red deer, or a predator. Because the application is mainly targeting to children of school age, the predator is a wolf cab. The user selects the animal he will play with. The application displays a natural environment that looks like a forest, or a plateau of the Menikio mountain.



D.5.4.5 – Small Infrastructure: Renovation of an existing building to set up a tourist information center in UPI I, quarter 30, Popovi livadi village (report)