First sentence for illegal logging in relation to construction activities in Bankso ski zone within the territory of Pirion National park

According to the sentence during 2010 25 pine spruces and white firs which is 30 cubic metres wood were illegaly cut down. That was done for the replacement of 4seat lift with 6 seat lift at the area of Banderishka poliana. The concessioner of the ski zone in Bansko “Ulen”Ltd got a permission from the Minisry of Environment to replace the lift but with the promise that the new lift would follow the trace of the old one .Due to that promise the Environment ministry did not require a new assessment for the impact on the environment.

The sentence is for the technical leader of the building company “Balkanstroy” who managed 7 workers during the felling. He was sentenced on 6 months of probation with 3 years probation period and a fine of 1000 leva. A mitigating circumstance of his sentence is his juridical clean personal record.

Due to the illegal extension of the path for the lift at Banderishka poliana in 2010, the Ministry of the Environment fined the concessioner “Ulen” Ltd. with 20 000 leva - the highest fine per law violation for non-observance of the decision upon the Environmental impact assessment (EIA). The company paid the fine.

Meanwhile the coalition “For the nature in Bulgaria” warned the prosecutor’s office for the illegal felling in National Park Pirin. The conservationists pointed out that the sentenced chief technician could not act on his own and most probably he was executing the orders/doing his of the warrantor “Ulen” Ltd. The felling most likely continued during whole week, big tress had been pulled out and there is no way the concessioner to claim that he was not aware of what was going on.

In the same way another lift from the ski zone Bansko in the region of Chalin valog was built years ago before getting a permission.
The judgement of the Razlog’s court came soon after the county prosecutor’s office of Blagoevgrad refused the request of the Coalition “For the nature in Bulgaria” to investigate the violations in the ski zone Bansko for assumed crime for the prescription overdued.

The conservationists will continue to insist on obeying the law and chasing the violations in National park of Pirin which is exclusive state property of all Bulgarian citizens.

The protected territory conserves century old coniferous forests, species of plants which can not be found elsewhere as well there are unique landscapes. For these reasons National park Pirin is part of the world natural heritage of UNESCO.