News

Three-toed woodpecker is endangered in Bulgaria and Europe

Bulgarian “Biodiversity” Foundation

Aug. 25, 2015

2397

Urgent measures are needed to limit cutting in the few remained reserved centuries-old forests. Studies of experts from the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation found that without urgent measures the three-toed woodpecker could disappear within a decade from Bulgaria. Despite the extremely extensive research, the species was found only in a few places in Rila, Pirin and the Western Rhodope Mountains, "Batashki Snezhnik." It is assumed that its total number does not exceed a hundred nesting pairs.

Answer by Ministry of tourism on APIA for meeting in Paris with UNESCO regarding MP Pirin

Association of parks in Bulgaria

Aug. 21, 2015

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Answer from Albena Mihailova, General Secretary of Ministry of tourism, on APIA to Toma Belev for meeting in Paris with Kishore Rao, Director of UNESCO World Heritage Center, concerning the draft of MP Pirin.
The provided information is regarding:
Conduction of the meeting in city of Paris in July 2015
Official trip expenses at the amount of EURO 880.94
Position of the traveling employee
Lack of standpoints from MT regarding the draft for MP of NP Pirin due to the unfinished draft
Purpose of the official trip – informing the representative of MT regarding the draft of MP of NP Pirin.
http://www.ekoarhiv.bg/dokumenti/otgovor-ot-mt-po-zdoi-za-sreshta-v-parizh-s-yunesko-za-pu-pirin-avgust-2015

Answer by MFA on APIA with minutes of a meeting in Paris with UNESCO and developers of MP Pirin

Aug. 21, 2015

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Answer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the APIA in response to a request from Toma Belev, Chairman of BD of the Association of Parks in Bulgaria concerning a meeting in Paris between the delegation of the Bulgarian government and the company developing the project for MP of National Park "Pirin" with Kishore Rao, Director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the MEW for MP Pirin, held on July 15, 2015 in Paris.

Artificial reefs workshop scheduled

Bulgarian “Biodiversity” Foundation

Aug. 17, 2015

2178

If you love the Black Sea, if you care about it, about its marine life, and about what we can do in order to protect it, if you don’t know what artificial reefs are, but would like to know how they are made and installed and what is the use of them for the marine ecosystems and for people… we offer you to take part in a three-day workshop.

The workshop is organized by Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, and will be conducted in the period 11-13 September, 2015 at the village of Kranevo

Citizens appeal personally against the Minister’s decision to allow an offshore company to construct a new lift in Pirin National Park

Aug. 17, 2015

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The coalition of non-governmental organizations and civil groups “Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria” announces that five of its representatives have personally taken responsibility as citizens to appeal in court against the decision of ex-Minister of Environment and Water Stanislav Anastasov from DPS, with which in 2014 an offshore firm was allowed to build a new 6-seat lift in the place of the 3-seat lift under Todorka Peak in Pirin National Park.

Environmental Protection Team “Atanasovsko Lake 2015”

Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds/BirdLife Partner

Aug. 13, 2015

2369

It is going to take a hard work to improve the conditions in Atansovsko Lake and some of the other Natura zones around Bourgas, as habitats of rare birds species. The existing artificial nesting islands will be repaired, reed will be mowed down, embankments will be cleared, clams will be gathered for nesting material, the heaped island will be cleaned, and a number of other useful activities will be conducted.

The program of the team will include also observation of the autumn migration on the biggest migration way in East Europe – Via Pontica, and interesting evening presentations from the world of nature protection and biodiversity. Of course, all will happen under the keen eyes of the owners of the lakes, namely, the little tern, black-winged stilt, sea gull, pelican and other water loving birds.

National Construction Control Directorate sees no problem with the construction of a new lift in Pirin National Park

Aug. 12, 2015

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The coalition of non-governmental organizations and civil groups “Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria” is surprised by an announcement from the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW) in relation to the construction of a new 6-seat lift in Bansko ski zone, which is not included in the concession and is not even property of the concessionaire Yulen AD. Pirin National Park is exclusive state property of all Bulgarian citizens.

A management plan is being prepared secretly, which will allow construction in Vitosha Mountain

Aug. 12, 2015

1747

The coalition of non-governmental organisations and civil groups “Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria” warns that the fate of Vitosha, the oldest natural park in Bulgaria and on the Balkans, is being decided away from people’s eyes, deep in the forests of Vitoshko-Studena hunting estate, in the region of Pernik. The draft document is being presented to institutions, experts and stakeholders at a seminar today, which will to a great extent predetermine the future of the mountain.

A New Lift is Being Constructed at Bansko, outside the concession in Pirin National Park

Aug. 11, 2015

2381

The coalition of non-governmental and civil groups “Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria” warns that the construction of a new 6-seat lift in the place of the 3-seat Todorka lift has been kick-started in Pirin National Park by the offshore Maregno Trading. The firm isn’t even a concessionaire at Bansko ski zone.

In addition, the new lift does not exist in the concession of Bansko ski zone. Therefore the newly begun construction is a consecutive attempt at seizing of territories, including state property in Pirin National Park, while, in this case, this is undertaken not by the concessionaire, but by a related to it offshore company.

A Chronicle of One Substituted Inspection

Aug. 04, 2015

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As a follow-up to the consistent efforts of one so-called civil organization – National Association Bulgarian Black Sea (NABBS), which does a lot to manipulate public opinion through ordered journalistic materials, we would like to trace the facts back in time, so that it becomes clear how the policies of one state institution get debased, the object of one inspection substituted, and public resources are used to smear the cause of preserving the last natural corners at the Black Sea Coast.

New management plan for Nature Park “Vitosha” authorizes construction works in the mountain

Aug. 03, 2015

2673

The coalition of NGOs and civic groups "Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria" warns that the draft plan for the management of the Nature Park "Vitosha" provides dangerous trends for construction works in the park, which could deprive the park and respectively Sofia of its main treasure - the shelter of wildlife in close proximity to an European capital.

Who is the one 'pointing the thief'?

Jul 31, 2015

1209

We are posting the comment of the civil group "Save Coral" in relation with the media coverage of control on "illegal" campers.
State institutions are in service of private interests.

NGOs, experts and citizens are working together against the draft plan of 'Proles' for new management plan of Pirin

Jul 30, 2015

1159

Currently, authors of the project are preparing also a compromise plan for Nature Park "Vitosha".
The coalition of NGOs and civic groups "Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria", along with dozens of non-governmental organizations, experts and citizens gather together, trying to fight against the new draft management plan for Pirin, proposed by "Proles Engineering Ltd".

150 Safety guards – isolators will protect the rare birds in park “Strandja”

Association of parks in Bulgaria

Jul 28, 2015

2669

83 special safety guards have been placed on the pylons of the electrical network on the territory of NP “Strandja”during a o one year period of time. Thus the possibility of rare birds becoming victim of short circuits has been restricted and the a better protection of the populations of diurnal predatory birds and Stork-like birds in park “Strandja” has also been provided. The equipment has been installed in the region of Malko Tarnovo. The installation of 67 more safety guards in the area of Ahtopol as part of the implementation of the project “Sustainable management and arrangement of NP “Strandja” of OP “Environment 2007 – 2013” is forthcoming.

Environmentalists signal to the Eco-Minister about financial violations in public order “Development of a management plan for Pirin National Park for the period 2014-2023”

Jul 23, 2015

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How State and EU money pay for a product which does not correspond to the assignment

The Coalition of Non-governmental and civil groups “Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria” has put to the attention of Minister of Environment and Waters Ivelina Vasileva its opinion about a drastic failure of the firm Proles OOD to observe the assignment for development of a new management plan for Pirin National Park . The development of the plan is done through a public order within the framework of a EU project worth 1.7 million leva. The violations are in accepting the draft plan without some key and more costly activities and in the failure to implement substantial parts of the assignment, while in this way the contractor has saved expenditure worth 500 000 leva at the expense of the financial interests of the EU and Bulgarian taxpayers.

Youth Camp in Belasitsa, Republic of Macedonia

Bulgarian “Biodiversity” Foundation

Jul 21, 2015

2085

Are you ready for summer adventures in the skirts of Belasitsa, by the amazing Macedonian waterfalls? If so, enroll in the third youth camp “Belasitsa 2015”. The camp will last six days and will happen in the period 4-9th August 2015.
English will be the working language, and here you can find more information, the registration form and the preliminary programme.

Over 100 exhibitors this year at Green Ideas in Action EcoFest in the Uzana region

Jul 16, 2015

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Green Ideas in Action EcoFest is a continuation of Uzana Polyana Fest, and in 2015 it will happen for a fifth consecutive year in Uzana region above the town of Gabrovo, June 24-26. The festival is free for all – exhibitors and guests.

EcoFest is organised by TIME-Eco Projects Foundation with the financial assistance of the Ministry of Environment and Waters through its entity Enterprise for Management of. Environmental Protection activities and Gabrovo Municipality.

First working meeting on a new UNESCO nomination

Jul 15, 2015

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An expert from Central Balkan Park Directorate participated in the first working meeting on establishing the general nomination dossier of the first series site in UNESCO’s World Cultural and Natural Heritage list. The idea is this eventual future site to have representative massifs of natural beech forests from the whole of Europe. The meeting took place on July 7th in Vienna, and representatives from 12 countries from the Old Continent participated in it, who suggested a total of 32 components to be included in the site.

Bulgaria to undertake urgent measures for control over HPP in order to avoid sanctions from the EU

WWF Danube - Carpathian Programme in Bulgaria

Jul 15, 2015

2979

Bulgarian authorities need to undertake urgent measures for effective control over small hydro power plants, said on Tuesday representatives from environmental organisations and fisher and water sports clubs. EU Commission is acquainted with the problem through two appeals, prepared by non-governmental ogranisations and is very likely to open infringement proceedings against the State. According to the environmentalists, failure to comply with the management plans of water basins not only destroys life in the rivers and around them, but is among the reasons for floods. Engineer Dimitar Kumanov from Balkanka fisher club set as an example the hydro power plant by the village of Hairedin, which according to him is mainly responsible for the flooding of tens of houses in the spring of last year. Ironically, the project, by which the plant in question was built and several others are planned to be built in the region, is named “Measures for Reducing the Risk of Floods”.

The exceptionally rare lesser kestrels nest on the territory of the oil refinery in Burgas

“GREEN BALKANS' Federation

Jul 15, 2015

1935

This is confirmed also by field monitoring conducted by Green Balkans in the last couple of years. Joint research by experts from Green Balkans and Lukoil Neftochim Burgas AD show that the number of the colony amounts to three nesting couples of lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni). Detailed monitoring of the colony was conducted at the end of the month of May this year, when the little ones of the lesser kestrels had just hatched, and thus with a great precision could be traced the number of the formed couples and the nests they had occupied.