Second protest in three cities against destruction of Pirin, Vitosha and Rila

The environmental activists in Sofia will gather in front of the Ministry of Environment and Water on 22 Maria Luisa Str. at 16.30. They will be demonstrating to show that the society is losing patience with the lack of action by the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Government regarding the future of Pirin, Vitosha and Rila. The protest also calls for revision of the new management plans for Vitosha Nature Park and Rila and Pirin National Parks .

The largest gathering of people is going to be in front of the Ministry of Environment at 18.30, after the end of the work day. There is going to be a protest march with all participants.
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In Plovdiv people are going to gather at Kopchetata at 18.30 .
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In Ruse environmental activists will be protesting in front of the Courthouse at 17.00.
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In Varna the protest has been canceled due to police advice to the public to take precautions after the terrorist acts in Paris.

Last week “For the Nature in Bulgaria” Coalition sent an open letter to Prime Minister Boyko Borisov with a copy to President Rosen Plevneliev, the chairperson of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva and the Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov, which insists on urgent measures regarding Pirin and Rila National Parks and Vitosha Nature Park. Environmental activists point out that there is a great risk of losing unique protected areas in Bulgaria.

Areas in Vitosha Nature Park, which have been planted with saplings by volunteers as part of the Operational Programme Environment, have been illegally plowed. These areas surprisingly coincide with areas in the plan for expansion of the ski infrastructure around Aleko. The plan has been canceled by the Supreme Administrative Court and the Ministry of Environment and Water.

A lift not included in the concession contract for Bansko ski zone is under construction in Pirin National Park. The lift is not part of the management plan for the park, either. Thus, an offshore company, which is not a concessionaire, is about to acquire endless property rights in exclusive state property.

The draft management plans for Rila and Pirin National Parks and Vitosha Nature Park as well as their regimes threaten the future of the three protected areas. There has not been any adequate reaction from the institutions responsible for their protection.

Thousands of people protested in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Ruse, Pernik and Sliven on November 11, 2015 calling for protection of Rila, Pirin and Vitosha. They have clearly stated their determination to continue protesting until their four demands are satisfied:
1. Stop construction in Vitosha and Pirin IMMEDIATELY!
2. Remove the directors of Vitosha Nature Park and Pirin National Park as well as other responsible officials.
3. Return for complete revision the management plans for Vitosha, Rila and Pirin and preserve the existing bans on new construction.
4. The state should attack all construction within the concession in Pirin National Park, referring to it as state property as required by the law. This will stop further sales by the concessionaire, as it has happened in the case of Shiligarnika and Platoto lifts.

The environmental activists point out that they have used all legal actions and expressed their expert opinions regarding the management of the most valuable protected natural areas in Bulgaria. They have sent signals, organized meetings, sent letters and statements to the institutions, and have called for action from those directly responsible. Hundreds of people have also sent statements on the draft management plans.

The environmental activists insist that an emergency meeting should be organized to save the last undeveloped and unspoiled natural areas in Bulgaria. They demand responsible policy towards the natural heritage as well as towards the prospects for development of quality tourism product based on authentic natural and cultural heritage, and active local communities.