Rila national park, biggest of the three national parks in Bulgaria is threatened by illegal construction work. A skiing lift and a road that are currently being built seem to be only the tip of the iceberg: both projects are achieved by the same company and municipality which is very heavily promoting a large scale ski zone inside the park. It is of great importance how this case is solved, because it will decide how the ski zone issue will move forward. The Regional Environmental Inspectorate has imposed a fine to the Mayor of Sapareva Banya town while other sanctions still are lacking. Despite that the construction still continues without up-to-date Environmental Impact Assessment.

EuroNatur and its Bulgarian partner nature conservation organisations realise an enormous pressure put by investors in ski projects around national park on the Bulgarian Ministry of the Environment as the buffer zone around Rila National Park is the only habitat site in Bulgaria which was discarded from the list of habitat sites forming the Natura 2000 network Bulgaria.

Together with a great number of international partner organisations EuroNatur insists Bulgarian Ministry of the Environment and Water and all other relevant authorities in Bulgaria to take all necessary steps to ensure that the law is observed. We support our colleagues from Bulgaria nature conservation organisations in their demand that construction in Rila National Park should stop until all breaches of law are removed and conservation of European natural heritage is ensured.

Rila National Park Website