site.btaLivestock Breeders Protest against Grazing Restrictions with Tent Camp, Plan Road Blocks

Livestock breeders from Plovdiv Region symbolically protested on Tuesday with a tent camp near the Sofia-Burgas road at the eastern entrance to Kalofer. From Wednesday, the protests will become effective and the livestock farmers will stop traffic on that road every day for one hour from 1:00 pm.

The farmers demand changes in the regulations that limit the grazing of animals in the territories falling within the borders of the Central Balkan National Park. According to the farmers, the introduced restrictions affect livestock breeding in the whole of Central Bulgaria and threaten the sector, which will at least lead to a decrease in the number of cattle and sheep raised. 

The protesters have sent letters to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment and Water in which they have outlined the problem and their demands for its solution. There has not been a response from either Ministry yet.

The directorate of Central Balkan National Park came out with an official position on the matter, which states that these restrictions do not threaten the development of animal husbandry in Bulgaria. According to the National Park's management, in the last report on the condition of the grassland habitats by the European Commission, the condition was reported as unfavourable. 

"It is therefore imperative to take corrective actions regarding the load on these sensitive areas and limiting the number of grazing animals", reads the position of the National Park's directorate, concluding that nearly 39,000 animals will still be able to graze on the territory of Bulgaria's national parks.

According to the protesting animal breeders, this is extremely insufficient, because in the town of Kalofer alone there are 20 animal breeders who raise nearly 2,900 cattle and about 5,000 sheep. Farmers have announced that they are ready to even give up subsidies just to keep the pastures.