Bulgaria’s building boom threatens Nature Park

Strandzha Natural Park on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast faces irreversible impacts by huge construction projects, threatening the unique natural treasures of this exceptional part of the Balkan Green Belt.

Strandzha Nature Park is threatened by massive construction projects.

© Gunther Willinger

In the end of January nature protection organizations, inter alia the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, partner of EuroNatur, set up street protests in Sofia as well as four other Bulgarian cities criticizing the decision of the highest administrative court in Bulgaria which legitimated the land use plan of the Municipality of Tsarevo and hence allowed construction in the valuable Strandzha Natural Park. The current decision counteracts a court decision from 2009 having stated that a former positive environmental impact assessment had been invalid following a conflict of interests, and thus putting a temporary stop to the construction plans. 

“With the current decision of the highest administrative court, the status ‘Nature Park’ remains a mere farce. The land use plan of the Municipality of Tsarevo is neither compatible with the Strandzha Natural Park management plan nor the status as a Natura 2000 site. An extraordinary diversity of habitats, plants and animals are in danger”, says EuroNatur Executive Director Gabriel Schwaderer.

Strandzha Natural Park is the largest protected area in Bulgaria and one of the last parts of Europe where you can still find large areas of very old oak forest. Furthermore the park is an important key stop for migrating birds flying along the so-called Via Pontica, the second biggest bird migration route in Europe. More than 260 bird species have been recorded at Strandzha Natural Park. At the same time its location on the Black Sea coast makes it a very interesting spot for building companies. The struggle for the park has begun long ago. EuroNatur supports the efforts of its Bulgarian partners and demands the immediate stop of the construction plans from the Municipality of Tsarevo.

 

How you can help

Donation

Future needs nature. EuroNatur cares for it. Please use your possibilities to help. With your donation you will make an effective contribution to a more livable environment.

Sustaining membership

EuroNatur focuses on long-term nature conservation projects instead of quick fixes. With your regular donations, you give us the planning security we need.

News

Skavica mega dam: Albanian court to scrutinise special law for U.S. contractor Bechtel

++ Constitutional complaint filed by NGOs accepted for trial ++ First milestone in fight against one of Europe’s largest reservoirs ++ Thousands of…

Growing opposition to Albanian airport

++ Bern Convention calls on Albania to stop airport construction near Narta Lagoon ++ Project in Vjosa Delta endangers thousands of migratory birds ++…

EU Commission targets the wolf

Ursula von der Leyen warns of allegedly "dangerous wolves" - nature conservation organisations criticise misleading statements and dubious data…

Romanian forests: EuroNatur calls for a logging moratorium

+++ Open letter to Commissioner Sinkevičius calls for a logging moratorium in protected areas to end destruction of Romanian forests +++ Fourth…

Controversial airport construction in Albanian protected area casts shadow as far as Munich

++ Operating company Munich Airport International (MAI) is linked to illegal Vlora airport ++ Construction to take place in protected area of special…

Swimming for the monk seal

The Croatian free water swimmer Dina Levačić has been swimming in potential monk seal territories. Her campaign is aimed at drawing attention to the…

Wolf Offspring confirmed in the Black Forest

++ Photo trap image from the community of Schluchsee provides evidence of offspring ++ First wolf pack in over 150 years in Baden-Württemberg ++

Stork Village meeting in Tykocin, Poland

It was an anniversary celebrated in style: For the 20th annual meeting, representatives of the European Stork Villages met for the first time in the…

A slight sigh of relief for the Dalmatian pelicans

The Dalmatian pelicans at Lake Skadar are breeding successfully. This is all the more gratifying because last year's breeding season was disastrous.