Procession for Rila and Bulgarian nature on 23 January 2008 in Sofia and Blagoevgrad

Rila Hangs by a Thread!
International and Local Actions to save Bulgaria’s Biggest National Park

23/01/2008-Sofia. Eight international nature conservation and
mountaineering organisations sent a declaration to the Bulgarian
institutions demanding a halt to the illegal construction in Rila
National Park. They claimed that the Bulgarian government decided
against the inclusion of Rila Buffer into the Natura 2000 network of
protected territories in order to enhance developers’ interests in the area.

CEEWEB, BirdLife International, EUROPARKS Federation, European
Environmental Bureau, Scottish Natural Heritage, Mountain Protection
Commission, Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme,
Euronature and WWF urged the Bulgarian institutions to halt the
construction of a road, a chairlift and three ski pistes, disguised as
fire prevention corridors, and part of the illegal
‘Panichishte-Ezerata-Kabul’ ski resort. As of date the resort has not
obtained any of the necessary development permits. Three other projects
for major ski resorts - Super Borovets, Bodrost and Iskrovete threaten
Rila National Park and Rila Buffer.

Today, one thousand citizens from social and environmental movements and
outdoor clubs joined a march, calling on the Bulgarian Environmental
Ministry and parliamentarians to abide to the national and European
legislation and stop the illegal resort developments in Rila National
Park. Dressed as traditional “ghost chasers”, or “kouckeri”,
representatives of local culture clubs circled the Bulgarian parliament
to chase out the evil spirits. A large banner, saying “Rila Hangs by a
Thread” was hung next to the building of the Environmental Ministry [1">.

‘We carry headlights to bring light to Bulgarian authorities, who often
seem to make deals in the dark. We demand transparency and insist that
Rila Buffer is included in Natura 2000”, said Tsvetan Kosturkov, one
of the organisers.

“The hype for developing large-scale resorts persists in Bulgaria,
despite the stable decline in the demand for purchasing property along
the coast and in the winter resorts”, says Vera Petkanchin from
Citizens for Rila. “Uncontrolled over-construction and serious
infrastructure problems, for example, have chased investors away from
Bulgaria’s leading winter resort Bansko. Yet, other Bulgarian
municipalities endorse similar projects that will inflict major damages
on their natural resources and will have a negative long-term effect on
their tourist industry.

Notes for the editors:

1. Feel free to use the photographs of the action uploaded below.