BULGARIA: Environmentalists say extension of construction ban at pristine beach unlikely to prevent building going ahead

One of Bulgaria's last remaining pristine beaches remains at the centre of a dispute between environmentalists and investors, as the government protects it from construction for another year. Irakli Beach is one of the country's last wild beach areas. It is the place where the Stara Planina mountain meets the Black Sea and is still intact today due to its lack of roads, water or electricity. But it is also the focus of big companies and small land owners who want to make profits by investing in new buildings, such as hotel resorts. The area has also been earmarked for protection under the Natura 2000 programme - a network consisting of protected areas, containing animal and plant habitats which have wide-scale significance. They are not parts of existing nature reserves. Under Bulgaria's European Union commitments, it was expected to come up with a list of areas to become part of the network as of January 1, 2007. This has been delayed until September or October 2007, because of the debate between the two interest groups. They delay has resulted in the Bulgarian government extending a construction ban, put in place last year. "I extended my order from last year in view of the new perspective for this region to be included in Nature 2000 as a protected area," environment minister Dzhevdet Chakarov said. But environmentalists say the new ban does not include 1000 decare (1 square kilometre) of prime beach area, which faces the sea. This is land which was earmarked for construction in 1997. "The fact that the area protected by the new order of the ministry is smaller, with 1000 decare protected by last year's order now removed, is a concern for us," said Yordanka Dineva from the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation. "The new order actually gives the green light to most of the investors' intentions," she added. Chakarov said that all 17 investors' plans in the area would need to pass new ecological assessments for Natura 2000 compliance before any permission for construction work is given. Dineva has other concerns about the legislation, and the approval process. "The company which is intending to build needs an ecological assessment. Under Bulgarian law the firm hires another company to do it and pays for it. Naturally, the assessment is always positive, allowing construction, because if it was negative then there would not be any further work for the company specialising in ecological assessments," she said. But the government says the process will be transparent. "The minister promised to provide access for all eco-activists, NGO organisations and citizens, to all procedures. This looks good, but only if this promise becomes a reality," said Andrei Kovachev from the Balkani Wildlife Society. Bulgarian media is reporting on Tuesday that investment companies intend to go ahead with construction. The Sofia Echo reports Swiss Properties saying the ban has already cost the company huge losses and construction will begin in Autumn 2007. Landowners are reportedly considering court action against the Bulgarian state for lost opportunities.

ITN Source | August 7, 2007

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