AGRI-ECOLOGICAL ZONING OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE KYUSTENDIL REGION

It has been done agroecological zoning of nine municipalities in Kyustendil area - Bobovdol, Boboshevo, Kocherinovo, Kyustendil, Nevestino, Rila, Sapareva bania, Dupnitza and Treklyano. Agroecological zoning is done based on certain environmental characteristics, basic of which are: prevailing soil type; an extreme manifestation of certain climatic factors; altitude; relief features and other. In the presented paper were analyzed and described: weather conditions; soil resources; agronomic suitability of land for organic growing of suitable for the region crops. There were considered the potential threats of soil erosion, acidification and compaction. It was prepared land evaluation regarding the potential for growing grape and fruit, vegetable crops, meadows and pastures. It was found that the areas with altitude above 800 m are unsuitable for cultivation with fruit crops, which can be planted in areas with an altitude of 1800 m. Vegetable crops are not suitable to be cultivated in areas with altitude above 800 m are with the exception of late potatoes which may be planted in places with an altitude of 1800 m. It was found that the areas with altitude above 800 m are unsuitable for growing vines. The territories with altitude above 2400m are unusable for grassland

An Interview Study of Consequences of Early-Career Unemployment in Bulgaria

The article examines the consequences of prolonged unemployment experienced in the beginning of the career in Bulgaria from a subjective point of view. The analysis is based on information obtained from in-depth interviews with people from three age groups who have entered the labor market in periods with high levels of unemployment. The negative consequences pointed out by the interviewed people include material deprivation, limited access to health services, low self-esteem, interruption of social contacts, postponement of creating a family and living in a home of one’s own, loss of hope for a better future. Along with the negative consequences, some positive ones were also identified, such as strengthening family ties, people’s enhanced motivation to deal with the arising difficulties and their striving for personal development

Sustainable energy transitions and social inequalities in energy access: A relational comparison of capabilities in three European countries

The influences of energy transitions on social inequity are multidimensional in their attributes and connections. For adequate accountability of their social correlates, policies aiming to implement a transition towards sustainable energy supply and demand have also to be evaluated regarding their influences on social inequalities, namely in terms of energy access and consumption. A capability-based and relational approach is used to monitor the social correlates of the governance of energy transitions. This accountability model is applied to three different European countries: Austria, Belgium, and Bulgaria. They have different characteristics in terms of levels and inequalities regarding material deprivation and energy access as well as patterns of energy transitions. The proposition here is that the capability approach could be usefully adopted to evaluate future implementation of energy transitions and to assess how they could influence inequalities in various aspects of citizen’s daily life. In such a framework, the focus is on potential links between energy transitions and energy inequalities that can be channelled by their respective relations to the capabilities. Data used to quantify the inequalities regarding various capabilities are from the Generations and Gender Programme (GGP)