The future of Rila National Park will be discussed in Sofia on September 16

Representatives of the coalition “Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria” and the initiative “Transparent Mountains” participated in many discussions and the plan has significantly improved compared to the initial one. In spite of that, some important doors still need to be shut:

- A ban on construction for the whole of Rila National Park, with the exception of drinking water intakes, water treatment facilities, buildings and facilities belonging to the Directorate of the National Park and the Mountain Rescue Service, recreation centers and arbours, camping areas, underground communication, repair of existing buildings, roads, sports and other facilities, without change of purpose, is necessary. There should be absolute clarity about everything that will be allowed for construction in Rila National Park for the next 10 years. It is disturbing that in the draft management plan the only cited non-governmental organization is Rila Agency for Regional Development. Among its founders is Rila Regional Development EOOD, which works on the mega project Destination Rila, on account of which the forests from Govedartsi through Malyovitsa to the Seven Rila Lakes will be cut.

- The flow of people needs to be restricted, in order to halt the swamping and disappearance of the Seven Rila Lakes. Nature cannot recover by itself from erosion, contamination of the lakes and banishing of wild animals on account of high tourist flows. (In the summer, 3,300 people per day were recorded , most of them coming with the illegal gondola lift from Pionerska chalet to Rilski ezera chalet.)


- Not to allow intervention in the forests in 75% of the territory of Rila National Park, as is the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) standard for national parks. The purpose of national parks is not to admit logging. Even without sanitary logging, the forest in Rila renews itself. In the other 25% there can be only sustainability measures and recovery measures, which are needed for the protection of nature.

More information:
Information about the public discussion may be found at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1603688366562863/

The discussion will be broadcast live on the channel Transparent Mountains, which is open to the public for expressing opinions:
https://www.youtube.com/prozrachniplanini

On September 23, 2015 a public debate will be held on the draft management plan in Blagoevgrad. Till then, citizens can send their opinions on it. Here is how this can happen:
http://blog.prozrachniplanini.org/%d0%bf%d0%be%d0%b4%d0%b0%d0%b9-%d1%81%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b5%d1%82%d0%be-%d1%81%d1%82%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%b8%d1%89%d0%b5-%d0%b7%d0%b0-%d1%80%d0%b8%d0%bb%d0%b0-%d0%b1%d1%8a%d1%80%d0%b7%d0%be-%d0%b8/