site.btaEnvironmentalists in Sofia Protest Against Territorial Reduction of Sinite Kamani Nature Park

Environmentalists gathered on Thursday in front of the Environment and Waters Ministry in Sofia demanding the preservation of the Sinite Kamani Nature Park (The Blue Stones) in Sliven and demanding a halt to the reduction of the park's territory.

Two procedures threaten the integrity of the nature park, Executive Director Yordanka Dineva told BTA. She specified that one is the decision of the Sliven Municipal Council to exclude two areas in the park, while the other is the exclusion of a specific property at the foot of the park, which is being considered by a commission from the Sliven Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water.

Dineva noted that the report of findings attached to the documentation for the exclusion of the property states that there are no natural plants, forests or rivers within the boundaries of this property, which is not true. "In reality, it is located in the natural environment. A small stream passes through it and I do not understand how, if there was a field inspection, it was not taken into account," she pointed out.

On November 14, the Sliven Municipal Council decided to transform two emblematic areas of the nature park into settlement formations. Environmentalists stressed that this would allow territories of the park to be privatized. "I read the protocol for the exclusion of a property from the Sinite Kamani Nature Park, according to which the property is in fact used as private property by Balkan Residence EOOD and that is why it would not be a great loss to exclude it," wrote Green Movement Leader Toma Belev on his Facebook page, adding that he demands to know who allowed the public property to be fenced off and used as private property.

"Is this the idea of ​​rule of law of the Environment and Water Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry? That a rich man can come along, illegally fence off (...) public state property and (...) then simply own it?" Belev asked.

A positive expert opinion on the territorial reduction of the nature park was provided by the Sofia Forestry University, the Sliven Regional Directorate for Forestry, the Sinite Kamani Nature Park and the Agriculture and Food Ministry. The Stara Zagora Regional Environmental and Water Inspectorate also carried out an analysis, concluding that the territorial reduction of the park will not lead to a deterioration of the nature conservation status and is unlikely to have a negative impact on protected species and habitats.

Senior Assistant Professor Nikolay Dolapchiev, expert at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, has been conducting research on the territory of the nature park for several years, specifically studying the mammals in the park. "We are worried about the species that inhabit the park. The park is inhabited by many protected species, including the red deer", he stressed, adding that protected areas are increasing everywhere, while in Sliven they are decreasing.

The Sinite Kamani Nature Park is located in the Sliven Mountains and abounds in streams, waterfalls, caves, bizarre rocks and spacious meadows with flowers and forest animals. Dozens of protected plant and animal species live in the nature park. According to the park's official website, its name comes from the large massif of gray-blue to violet-coloured rocks, which are the largest deposit of this type on the Balkan Peninsula.