Summary of the results of the held work meeting about updating of the River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) between the River Basin Directorates and environmental NGOs

All participants united around the necessity that urgent measures be taken for revival of life in rivers and recovery of their ecological balance. The following key problems were discussed:
• Measures for river management, methods for assessment of the status of waters in the rivers, monitoring and observation of the status of the rivers. During the meeting it was discussed how the Ministry of Environment and Water could include the citizens in the water management and the coordination of this process.
• The small Water power stations and how the problems should be solved, which they cause with draining or destroying the rivers. The discussed measures included stopping of building up of new water power stations and reducing the impact of the already built ones.
• Extraction of inert materials, which leads to digging watercourse, destroying biodiversity and infrastructure. Measures for full ban were discussed, as well as such measures for struggle with the illegal extraction.
• Destroying of riverside vegetation, protected river habitats and bank erosion.
• Protected river areas aimed at water tourism (kayak, rafting) and fishing.

It is forthcoming summarizing of all proposals received during the meeting and their announcing on the platform for civil participation www.prozrachniplanini.org with the purpose of public discussing with widest circle of people and opportunity for civil participation. The whole meeting was broadcast online. Video recording and all presentations could be seen in the blog of Transparent Mountains.

Transparent mountains (www.prozrachniplanini.org) is an initiative of Balkani Wildlife Society, Baykariya association – Velingrad and fishermen association Balkanka 2009. It is aimed at promoting civil participation in management of mountain resources. The team works in the sphere of management of protected areas, forests and waters in South-Western Bulgaria.