Citizens and Sofia mayor candidates discuss the future of Vitosha Nature Park

- From 17:00 to 18:00 Work meeting – discussion of the new draft management plan for Vitosha Nature Park with the participation of experts from non-governmental organizations and citizens.

- From 18:00 to 20:00 Debate with the candidates for local government elections 25 October 2015. Several Sofia mayor candidates have confirmed participation – Vili Lilkov the Reformist Bloc, Sylvia Trendafilova NFSB, Victor Lilov DEOS, Ivan Velkov Greens and Mila Vidina candidate for city councillor from “Serdika” Coalition (PP ABC and Bulgarian Social Democrats party). A GERB representative is also expected.

The journalist Prolet Velkova is moderator. Leading NGO experts attending the debate are Alexander Dunchev WWF and Toma Belev Association of Parks in Bulgaria.

The new draft management plan for Vitosha Nature Park will regulate what can and can not be done in the oldest nature protected area in Bulgaria.

Local elections are going to be held in just a month and it is good to know the opinion of the candidates for mayors and city councilors of Sofia Municipality regarding the proposal to allow new construction on 36,000 acres of the Sofia-part of Vitosha Nature Park.

In addition the following questions will be asked:

• Does Sofia Municipality have to be responsible for the maintenance of lifts and ski-lifts in the mountain?
• What type of tourism do citizens want and what do the tourist zones of the new draft management plan provide?
• How will citizen access to the mountain be ensured?
• How will Sofia’s drinking water in Vitosha Nature Park be preserved clean?
• Should woodcutting in municipal forests in Vitosha be allowed?

The new draft management plan for Vitosha Nature Park is being developed by “Proles Engineering” Ltd. The company developed the draft management plan for Pirin National Park, which has so far received more than 300 negative opinions.

The meeting will be broadcast via "Green laws" platform with the help of Binar internet radio of BNR - http://binar.bg/35615/bdeshheto-na-vitosha/