The Association is one of the first Bulgarian non-governmental organizations in the field of environmental protection. Scientists and public figures from 32 countries and 12 international organizations established it as Bulgarian branch of the United Nations’ “Ecoforum for Peace” International Movement in city of Varna in 1986. The United Nations awarded the Association with the high title “Peace Messenger” soon after that.

The participants in the Association, as people who shared same views on the matters of environment and sustainable development, had taken into consideration the new political conditions in the country and proceeded to Association’s legal registration in 1991. The Sofia City Court registered the Association by decision on company case No. 2482/91. The organization implemented its activities with the supports of its members - public figures, scientists, journalists and cultural figures with prominent authority in their field of work.

In July 2009 was held General Assembly, where amendments in the name and in the statute were adopted, new Managing Board was elected and it was decided the Association to be registered as acting in public benefit.

The Association’s main goals and assignments are:

• To implement activities for preservation of the environment and for sustainable development;
• To develop and to support of environmental activities in the fields of education, science and practice within the country and abroad;
• To establish contacts and business relations with similar national and international organizations and to develop active international cooperation.

The Association’s subject of activities is:

• To gather and to disseminate information related to ecologically threatened countries and regions;
• To support and to organize scientific researches related to the sustainable development on regional and global level, including as co-organizer in international programmes and projects, which have regard to environmental protection and sustainable development;
• To elaborate and to implement projects, funded by the European Union, by Bulgarian and foreign governmental and non-governmental sources;
• To develop education activities in the field of ecology;
• To perform consultancy, publishing and other lawful activities;
• To support and to initiate activities, aimed to strengthen the sustainable development in Bulgaria and abroad;
• To produce expert statements;
• To elaborate draft versions of legal documents for governmental and local authorities.

Currently the Managing Board has six members:

• Vladimir Gorbunov Ph.D. – chairman of the Managing Board; doctor in philosophy in the field of governmental administration; corresponding member of the World Academy of Sciences for Complex Security; deputy chairman of the Union of Bulgarian Commandos;
• Emiliya Palakarcheva – deputy chairwoman of the Managing Board; manager of company and expert in elaboration and implementation of EU funded projects;
• Overgas Inc. AD with authorized representative in the Association Stela Blagova – Ecology and Sustainable Development director in the company;
• Eng. Boris Tiholov – environmentalist and public figure;
• Prof. Eng. Bogdana Kumanova D.Sc. – lecturer in waste water purification and in waste management at the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy – Sofia;
• Assoc. Prof. Eng. Ivanka Mihailova Ph.D. – expert on water issues and project consultant.

Members of the Association are 13 physical entities and 2 legal entities.