Plovdiv in support of protected areas

The protest was triggered by numerous problems related to nature conservation, in particular the protected areas.

The protected areas in Bulgaria currently occupy a bit over 5% of the territory of the country, compared to an average of 16% in Europe. Despite their relatively small size, activities such as logging, construction and investment projects are still carried out in the protected areas and lead to their destruction. These contradict Bulgarian legislation, in particular the Protected Areas Act, where Art. 2, para. 2 states that “nature conservation in protected areas takes precedence over all other activities”.

The protesters called attention not only to the legal issues but also to the fact that the state of the environment affects every citizen. They gave examples with the impact logging and deforestation have on flooding, erosion or extreme drought.

Among the key messages of the protesters are the following:
- Protected areas to be managed in a way that ensures their long-term preservation.
- The State to ensure compliance with environmental legislation and to prevent damage to the protected areas.
- The State to strengthen and develop the network of protected areas in the country.

The protesters spread a petition with specific demands regarding the protected areas.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Do_ministrpredsedatelya_na_Republika_Blgariya_Do_predsedatelya_na_Narodnoto_DA_ZAShchITIM_ZAShchITENITE_TERITORII_V_BLGA/?slwXGhb

The environmentalists said that their next steps will be new protests, proposals for specific legislative measures, control over the work of the institutions and the government. They expressed their readiness to continue their actions until the state ensures nationally responsible management and long-term conservation of Bulgaria’s nature.