National protest day in defense of the “protected” areas – 18 March 2015, Wednesday

By addressing the citizens, nature advocates state:

“The human mankind protects the most fascinating nature and landscapes through the protected areas. They occupy 16% of the European Union, but only 5,5% of the territory of Bulgaria. Our protected areas are source of potable water for the half of the Bulgarian citizens and are the main mean of recreation and open education.

2015 is a key year for the future of the protected areas. Their management plans shall be approved. felling, hunting and construction is foreseen in Pirin mountain. Century-old forests in nature parks as Strandhza, Balgarka, Belasitsa, Sinite kamani and others are ruthlessly cut down. Preserved areas are left unattended, whereas park administrations are left without financial resources. Tens of proposals for new preserved areas (in West Balkan, Rhodopes, Black sea area, etc.) are put on hold at the Ministry of Environment and Waters. Consequently, these territories are considered protected only on paper, which destroys the potential of their sustainable local and regional development.

We, the undersigned citizens are extremely worried for the national nature heritage. Therefore, we insist the following measures to be undertaken by the end of 2015:

1. All century-age forest to be protected; felling of trees to be forbidden in national parks, whereas the use of wood of other protected areas and zones of Natura 2000 to be performed only after forest certification.
2. Any additional construction and building in protected areas to be forbidden, if it is not related to traditional use of agriculture lands and forests. Concession of new territories in national parks to be prohibited.
3. Hunting in national parks to be prohibited. Hunting fences within the rest of the protected areas to be removed.
4. The financial resource for nature conservation to be increased: doubled the budget for protected areas and security in all reserves and parks to be assigned.
5. National parks to be kept free of vehicles, ATVs, motor sledges, motor flying aircrafts, except for the ones intended for rescue missions and parks’ protection.”

The protests events in the social media can be found here:
Varna: https://www.facebook.com/events/1553913444879510/
Vratsa: https://www.facebook.com/events/1575068866067354/
Plovdiv: https://www.facebook.com/events/400789336757859/
Russe: https://www.facebook.com/events/774770315951219/
Sliven: https://www.facebook.com/events/430719660424916/
Sofia: https://www.facebook.com/events/389943701178204/
Stara Zagora: https://www.facebook.com/events/1549222021995819/
The petition can be signed at http://tinyurl.com/ob37h5j