A mural depicting an eastern imperial eagle nest, with two chicks and an adult soaring above, now greets visitors to the southeastern Bulgarian town of Topolovgrad. The town lies within the Sakar protected area, part of the Natura 2000 network and one of Europe’s biodiversity hotspots. This striking artwork is the initiative of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and forms part of the project Iron Curtain to Green Belt, funded by the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme. The mural was created by British artist Sarah Yates (Faunagraphic), who lives locally and is internationally recognised for her conservation-themed graffiti.
Why the eastern imperial eagle matters
The eastern imperial eagle is more than a regional symbol; it is a key indicator of grassland health. These ecosystems, among Bulgaria’s most valuable and threatened, support high biodiversity and underpin the cultural identity of the Sakar landscape. The area hosts 10 of Bulgaria’s 47 known breeding territories for this globally threatened species, making its conservation critical.
Restoring habitats and building connections
For over two decades, BSPB has worked to improve breeding and feeding habitats through grassland restoration, insulating dangerous power lines, installing artificial nests, supplementary feeding, afforestation with native trees, and collaborating with local communities.
With support from the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, these efforts are being scaled up to restore ecological networks across southeastern Bulgaria. The project is replacing conifer plantations with native oak and riverine forests, restoring grasslands and water sources, and creating wildlife corridors to reconnect fragmented habitats. By equipping nurseries to propagate native species and demonstrating best practices for pasture management, the project is building resilience to climate change and supporting species recovery over an 810,000-hectare landscape.
Celebrating nature through art and culture
The mural draws attention to Sakar’s natural wealth in an accessible and visually impactful way. Such initiatives help connect local people with the unique species and landscapes of their region, inspiring collective action for conservation.
Community engagement goes beyond art. Each October, BSPB and the Municipality of Topolovgrad host the Imperial Eagle Festival, attracting visitors from across Bulgaria and abroad. The event celebrates nature and culture through local organic produce, crafts, music and dance, while raising awareness of the importance of protecting species and landscapes.
A shared vision for the future
By combining creative expression, cultural traditions and ecological restoration, the project demonstrates how conservation can be woven into the fabric of community life. This is a step toward reversing biodiversity loss and building resilient landscapes for the future.
To find out more about Iron Curtain to Green Belt, visit their project page.
