site.btaEnvironment Ministry Denies Authorization for Tree Felling for Expansion of Chair Lift Clearing

Environment Ministry Denies Authorization for Tree Felling for Expansion of Chair Lift Clearing

Sofia, November 2 (BTA) - The Environment Ministry said Monday
it has denied authorization for the logging of 88 conifers to
broaden the clearing for a chair lift in the Bansko skiing area
in Pirin Nature Park.

The wider clearing is needed by the concessionaire of the Bansko
 skiing zone, Ulen, to replace the 25-year-old 3-chair lift with
 a new 6-chair lift.

The Ministry believes that the investor can go ahead with the
project without cutting the trees.

In august 2015, the For the Nature coalition of NGOs said that
Marengo Trading Company (which they allege is an offshore
company linked to the Bansko ski area concessionaire Ulen)  had
marked centuries-old trees for logging in preparations for
broadening the chairlift clearing.

In 2014, then Environment Minister Stanislav Anastasov
determined that there was no problem with the trees because
there were plans to fell only 88 white pines and spruces that
had sprouted along the derelict chairlift route. Pictures taken
by environmentalists now, however, show that large trees are
being earmarked for felling, including a spruce that is an
estimated 100 years old.

For the Nature also argue that the works launched by the Marengo
 Trading Company breach the concession agreement between the
Environment Ministry and Ulen.

The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works has said
that the works in the Pirin National Park concern redevelopment
of a 25-year-old facility without a change of the route within
the existing servitude strip. (For the Nature insist that the
servitude strip used for the construction and installation works
 now is 3.4 hectares, or double the 1.93 hectare servitude strip
 under the concession agreement). "An ex officio check conducted
 by the National Construction Control Directorate found that the
 project is compatible with the Pirin Park Management Plan and
with the effective spatial development plan," the Ministry said.