Sapareva Banya Municipality re-confirmed its support for the illegal ski zone near 7 Rila Lakes

Since the summer of 2007 the illegal ski zone is practically being constructed – in breach of the Bulgarian legislation and the European Directives for the Ecological Network Natura 2000. The project “Super Panichishte” is in direct contradiction with the accepted by the 12 municipalities surrounding National Park Rila, including Sapareva Banya Municipality, Strategy for development of sustainable tourism in the region of National Park Rila for 2008-2013. The main aim of the strategy is to increase the well-being of local people through development of sustainable tourism, as well as preservation of the current state and the biological diversity, landscape, historical heritage and the authentic local culture in and around Rila National Park.

Rila National Park is also a member of the prestigious network of protected areas PAN PARKS, which works for their sustainable development with the participation and for the benefit of local people. Among the people in Sapareva Banya and the region there are people who want to develop alternative and eco tourism. They are looking for but do not receive the support of the local and national authorities.

The violations in constructing the preliminary infrastructure for the ski zone “Super Panichishte” provoke doubts that the same will be repeated what happened in the ski zone Bansko in National Park Pirin during the last few years. If this happens, Bulgaria will bear the sanctions of the European Commission for the destruction of habitats from the European Network Natura 2000. The sanctions will be paid by all tax-payers, and not by the local or national authorities which allowed it to happen.

According to the environmentalists the Ministry of Environment and Water is responsible for the current situation. In 2005 the Ministry states in a letter to Sapareva Banya Municipality that it cannot look at the EIA for a Overall spatial plan of “Tourist and ski center Panichishte – Ezerata – Kabul”, because the project contradicts with the legislation due to the envisaged construction of facilities and ski runs in the national park.

The same Ministry, however, in 2007 starts a procedure for EIA for the Overall spatial plan of “Tourist and ski center Panichishte – Ezerata – Kabul”. Thus the Ministry gives hope to the municipality that the ski zone “Panichishte – Ezerata – Kabul” can be legalized and built.

For contacts:
- Cveta Hristova, Za Zemiata, +359 89 546 15 90
- Katerina Rakovska, WWF, krakovska@wwfdcp.bg, +359 2/8656130

Additional information:
- The construction of cable car not far from the 7 Rila Lakes is done with many violation, although it is in Rila National Park and the proposed zone “Rila Buffer” of the European Ecological Network Natura 2000. It is part of the planned ski zone “Panichishte – Ezerata – Kabul”, whose construction is not approved by any national institution.

ТRANSLATION by Nelly Papazova