News

Bansko municipality plans to construct 8 new neighbourhoods, allowing for an additional 40 000 beds

Aug. 26, 2016

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The threat of construction looms over National Park “Pirin”.

The coalition of NGOs and civic groups “For the Nature” issued a statement disclosing transgressions of the Forest management in relation to their decision to allow the construction of an additional 8 living complexes able to host an additional 40 000 beds without carrying out an environmental impact assessment (EIA). In doing so Bansko’s population would increase to a maximum of 60 000 at peak times. We stress this fact in light of the capacity of the new sanitation station of the city, which is an equivalent value of 30 000.

Andrey Kovachev and Boyan Petrov have fallen victim to a road incident in the Kresna gorge

Aug. 23, 2016

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Andrey Kovachev from Balkani Wildlife Society and the famous alpinist and biologist Boyan Petrov have fallen victim to a road incident in the Kresna gorge this morning at around 11:20 am. Dressed with light-reflector waistcoats, they had been walking by the road in the region of Osmanska Chesma. They have injuries, but are sociable and at the moment they are being transported to the Military Medical Academy in Sofia.

7% of the habitats in the Natura 2000 network have been determined as old-growth forests where logging is prohibited

Aug. 11, 2016

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Representatives of For the Nature Coalition attended a meeting organized by the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF) and the Executive Forest Agency (EFA); there it was announced that 7% of the habitats in the Natura 2000 network have been determined as old-growth forests in the state forest estates. This is the result of a project run by MAF and EFA, and aimed at the preservation of at least 10% of the old-growth forests.

The old-growth forests where the authorities propose a prohibition of logging can be seen here: http://www.iag.bg/docs/lang/1/cat/14/index

No endangered bird species have been injured in the fire near Madzarovo

Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds/BirdLife Partner

Aug. 01, 2016

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Yesterday at noon A major fire bursted out near the village of Madzharovo spreading to 8,000 decares. After an emergency situation was declared, the fire was contained and is no longer likely to grow. For now the disastrous situation remains, but if the situation develops favorably, the fire can be put out today.

Who will be responsible for the action against Bulgaria taken by the EC for “Rila buffer”?

Jul 25, 2016

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Despite the insistence of environmentalists, the institutions disregarded the EU rules.

Who will bear responsibility for the action against Bulgaria taken at the Court of the European Union for not providing of protected areas for the wild birds in Rila? This question is asked by the Coalition of nongovernmental organizations and civil groups “Let’s nature remains in Bulgaria” after the European Commission announced its decision at the end of last week to bring the matter to the court. Besides causing damages to nature the negligence of the institutions could be costly to the taxpayers.

Why the European Commission started a law case against Bulgaria regarding the missing protected zone “Rila Buffer”

Jul 25, 2016

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In relation to the decision of the European Commission (EC) today to start a lawsuit against Bulgaria at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) regarding the unprovided protected areas on wild birds in Rila mountain and the assertions of MoEW on the topic, we let ourselves to present you the specific view of the representative of the Sofia University (SU) “St. Kliment Ohridski”, assistant professor, Dr. Rosen Tsonev at the National Council for Biodiversity (NCB) with his permission. We believe that the statements of the Bulgarian academic minds should reach out to everyone, but not to be kept only in the files of the ministries, considering that it is obviously a preference of the government to consider the statements of few business companies and municipalities as an official national stand in the last 10 years.

Nature advocates insist for urgent forests reforms

Jul 18, 2016

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After the consecutive journalists’ investigation revealed the systematic problems regarding the management of Bulgarian forests, the Coalition of non-governmental organizations and civic groups “Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria” and the “Green Laws” Initiative insist the government to undertake urgent reforms of the forest management system. These changes should guarantee that the public forests will not any longer be used for the luxury lives of the ones, who manage them, whereas the income from logging to get concentrated in a limited circle of people and companies, serving political interests.

UNESCO enjoined Bulgaria to present for review the new Management Plan for Pirin National Park

Jul 15, 2016

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The current version of the Plan puts the world natural heritage site under threat

UNESCO’s world heritage Committee enjoined Bulgaria to present for review the new Management Plan for Pirin. As per the decision taken yesterday in Istanbul, the Plan shall undergo an environmental assessment and compliance assessment. Bulgaria shall have to inform UNESCO on all developments in Pirin, and not to allow any new constructions before the new Plan is adopted.

Bulgaria must not miss the chance to get international help for the protection of Pirin

Jul 14, 2016

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Government hurries to adopt a new Management plan to repeal the current one that protects the mountains from logging and construction.

Today or tomorrow UNESCO will announce its decision on Pirin

Jul 13, 2016

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Kazakhstan’s delegation has requested opening for discussion of the decision on Bulgarian national park, its motives are unclear

Today or tomorrow, during the 40th session of UNESCO’s Committee on World Natural Heritage, which takes place in Istanbul, the international organization will take a decision on Pirin National Park, which belongs to UNESCO’ list of world natural heritage, announces the Coalition of Non-Governmental and Civil Groups “Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria”.

UNESCO with a decision on Pirin at its annual session in Istanbul

Jul 11, 2016

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The Organisation’s natural heritage committee demands the draft Management Plan for Pirin National Park to be approved by it.

The state of the Bulgarian National Park Pirin is on the agenda at the starting today in Istanbul 40th session of UNESCO World Heritage Committee, announces the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations and Civil Groups “Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria”.

UNESCO has prepared a draft decision, in which it expresses its concern on account of the new draft Management Plan for Pirin National Park, and Bulgarian authorities are urged to not take any final decision on this Plan before it is subjected to a strategic ecological assessment and approved by the Committee itself and by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) .

Tourism is in coma – public institutions do not observe the laws

Jul 05, 2016

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We are publishing the story of the civil group “Keep Koral” – how and why they had to put themselves signs on the beach to call for responsible behavior on the beach Koral.

An awarded recipient declines a prize from Dimitar Berbatov’s charity, established to support young Bulgarians

Jul 04, 2016

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A week ago, on 10th of June, the annual ceremony of Dimitar Berbatov’s charity foundation named ‘The successful kids of Bulgaria’ took place. David Mavrodiev is one of the kids to be awarded for a third consecutive year by the charity. However, he decides to decline this year’s prize.

Over 80% of the supporters of leading parties in Bulgaria are in favour of a ban on construction plans in Karadere, Irakli and Koral

Jun 28, 2016

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A record portion from the supporters of leading parties both from the ruling coalition, as well as from the opposition parties, are in favour of the introduction of special measures for the protection of wild areas along the Black Sea Coast, as well as of the ban on construction plans in them; the measures were proposed by the citizens’ groups for the protection of Karadere, Irakli and Koral. The detailed information about the opinion of supporters of the political parties comes from a national representative survey carried out by Gallup International in May 2016 (http://www.gallup-international.bg/bg/%D0%9F%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B8/80-2016/287-Polling-on-%D0%B5nvironment-issues-and-hypotheses), that was kindly provided to Citizens’ Initiative Save Karadere.

The Giant “Holzindustrie Schweighofer” lost FSC certificate for illegal logging.

WWF Danube - Carpathian Programme in Bulgaria

Jun 27, 2016

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Twelve Bulgarian forestries are left temporary without international certificate because of irregularities.

The Austrian logging giant “Holzindustrie Schweighofer” lost its certificate for traceability, after the discovery that the company was involved in illegal logging in Romania. The FSC certificate of the company is suspended on 22 of June 2016, in response of signals from WWF and other environmental organizations for the revealed violations. The license of the certifying company “Quality Austria”, which worked with Shweighofer, was also suspended for six months at the end of May.

WWF and Muzeiko celebrate the International Danube Day together

WWF Danube - Carpathian Programme in Bulgaria

Jun 23, 2016

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The nature conservation organization WWF and the Children’s Science Centre Muzeiko will celebrate together the International Danube Day this Saturday.

Shot bird of the world endangered species Dalmatian Pelican was accepted for healing at the Wildlife Rescue Centre of Green Balkans

“GREEN BALKANS' Federation

Jun 23, 2016

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On Saturday evening at the Wildlife Rescue Centre of Green Balkans a signal was received for a pelican in an accident in the region of the Zhrebchevo dam.

Bulgaria is the third country in Europe to introduce the newest requirements for responsible forest management

WWF Danube - Carpathian Programme in Bulgaria

Jun 23, 2016

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Bulgaria deposited at the end of the last week the national standard for responsible forest management. Thus our country becomes only the third country in Europe (after Portugal and France) which adapts its national standards towards the newest requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The elaboration of the standard is a result of two-year work of a working group, which comprised representatives of various ministries, authorities and organizations, and which was coordinated by WWF.

Coalition for the climate – Bulgaria presented practical guidelines how everyone can put solar installations at home

Za zemiata (“For the Earth”) Association

Jun 23, 2016

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Despite the serious difficulties which are met by the people willing to get energy independence there are also such ones who successfully deal with the hard task. Iliyan Iliev from the Public centre for environment and sustainable development (PCESD) elaborated and described a detailed logbook – guidebook for the steps and procedures which he had passed in order to be able to install successfully a small 1- Kw solar installation on his flat in Kaspichan.

81% of Bulgarians want ban on construction at least within a kilometer from the shore – that is, at the areas not yet built-up

Jun 20, 2016

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At the start of the summer season, and along new wrangling for Black Sea coast, Karadere, Irakli and Coral, Gallup International has published a part of the data it has on the topics related to tourism, Black Sea and others. The data is independent and is part of the monthly research programme of the agency.