BULGARIA: Country not yet decided on land it should preserve under European nature protection scheme

Ierakli Beach is one of the last remaining pristine beaches in Bulgaria, and it has been earmarked for protection under the Natura 2000 programme. The programme is part of Bulgaria's treaty obligations with the European Union, as it heads towards EU accession on January 1st. The Natura 2000 network consists of protected areas, containing animal and plant habitats which have wide-scale significance. They are not parts of existing nature reserves. Under Bulgaria's EU commitments, it is expected to come up with a list of areas to become part of the network as of January 1, 2007. But in the week before Christmas, the Bulgarian government put off their decision until January. Green activists were determined that the government would hear their point of view as they demonstrated on December 21st, the day a decision was supposed to have been made on the territories to be set aside for Natura 2000. Representatives of more than 40 organisations gathered to voice their support for the programme. They want to see larger numbers of areas added to the list of protected areas, in a bid to protect Bulgaria's natural biodiversity. "Natura 2000 for Bulgaria is a net of the most valuable areas with the best nature, where the most strategic resources of our country will be preserved - the water, he soil and all attempts of false representation, that it is a place for a few butterflies or birds are misleading for the public," said Peter Yankov, one of the protesters. "Unfortunately our government is under tremendous pressure from private and group interests, that are against Bulgarian national interests," he added. But landowners have resisted the calls to see their land protected, concerned that it would harm the future tourism potential of the land and result in a reduction in revenue. Protesters disagree. "Natura 2000 provides financing for the people who decide to develop ecological farming or ecological tourism within its borders. Moreover, the lands of Natura 2000 in Western Europe are more expensive. And even more, the truth is, that the owners of lands within borders of Nature 2000 don't know that they will profit more and that is why they are opposing this project," said Yana, also at the protest. As far back as June, landowners were voicing their concern with the project. "We are the real owners of Ierakli and we do not want somebody to tell us what to do with our land," said Dimitar Trolov, who has land in Ierakli. The government says it is this disparity of opinion which has caused a delay in the decision over which land should be included. "Actually the rising tensions in society and the psychosis about probable future regulations and restrictions for building in the protected areas are the reason for postponing the government's decision about Natura 2000" said the minister of environment and waters, Dzhevdet Chakarov. The Natura 2000 guidebook recently released by the European Commission shows that there is financing for a number of activities under the programme - including the avoidance of pesticides, the building of vistor centres and other projects related to sustainable tourism. The challenge for Bulgaria is to put this funding to the best use, which will require the government to launch a large scale education campaign encouraging people to apply for appropriate funding. The country has so far managed to protect much of its natural heritage, and it is likely that it will contribute more than others to the Natura 2000 network. The Black Sea coast, rare mountain habitats and large river ecosystems will all be valuable additions to Europe's natural wonders.

ITN Source | December 26, 2006

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