Bansko

Bansko: green factor

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Two Thirds of Construction at Bansko "Essentially Illegal"

A report by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) staff published in the Sofia Echo claiums that two thirds of construction in Bansko, the booming Bulgarian ski resort, is "essentially illegal" as building work has been carried out on National park land.

The authors site the example of a new holiday complex pre-sold near the village of Varvara on the Black Sea coast. 67 British nationals, 22 Irish, two Belgians and one Indian purchased holiday flats in the development, unaware it was being built within the Strandja Nature Park, without the agreement of the park authorities, nor any environmental impact assessment. The developers ignored a ruling from local government to stop construction, along with a second ruling from the Bulgarian Ministry of the Environment and in November the Bulgarian Supreme Court ordered the law must be obeyed. The complex now looks likely to be demolished, the investors lose their money.

"In the process, one of Bulgaria's and Europe's most beautiful natural jewels will sadly have been destroyed," said a WWF spokeswoman.

In Bansko ski resort, located in the Pirin National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, the report's authors claim two-thirds of the existing ski facilities built in the ski zone above the town have already been constructed within the area of the national park, essentially illegally, without approval from the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Waters. The report's authors claim that developers have ignored government warnings and chosen to pay fines levied for illegal construction due to the lucrative nature of the contracts, rather than obey the law.

"Developers have breached nearly every requirement of the environmental impact assessment," said the report. "Encouraged by such a precedent, two companies recently announced plans to build new ski resorts in Pirin National Park - one above the town of Dobrinishte, close to Bezbog peak (2645m), and the other above the town of Razlog - even though the construction of new sport facilities is banned in the national park."

"Similar plans are being made in Rila National Park, the largest national park in Bulgaria, some 100km south of the capital, Sofia. The municipality of Sapareva Banya and other developers have already drafted a master plan for Panichishte-Ezerata-Kabul, which includes a large ski resort above the town of Sapareva Banya. Two-thirds of the resort are planned to be inside the national park, again despite clear laws forbidding such developments within the protected area."

"When it comes to nature protection, nothing in Bulgaria is sacred. From paper to practiceIn Bulgaria, especially when it comes to environmental protection, laws on paper still clearly mean little in practice. Lack of capacity, will or even corruption on the part of authorities and political decision makers are allowing individual interests to ransack Bulgaria's, as well as Europe's, greatest natural treasures. In all too many cases, foreign investors from Great Britain and other countries are silent accomplices," said Michael Baltzer, director of WWF's Danube-Carpathian Programme.


The report concludes that the situation is beginning to change, citing growing public concern in the country leading to more action from government and the courts, membership of the EC which began on 1st January meaning laws are more likely to be toughened to pan-European standards and enforced. There is also a collection of signatures for a petition, so far nearly 30,000 signatures strong that calls on government authorities to improve the legislative, administrative and judicial conditions needed to stop the destruction of the country's natural heritage.

"The country has much to offer, including many of Europe's last great wilderness areas and rich cultural landscapes. It also desperately needs foreign investment, but not the kind that destroys more than it brings." said Baltzer. "Buying real estate or vacationing in Bulgaria can be a good investment. But make sure you take a good look at where you put your money. Otherwise, you could be cutting a bad deal, both for your pocket book and the environment."

2005

The following comments were received by a concerned Bulgarian citizen in November 2006. If we receive feedback from Bulgarian ski resort management we’ll post that also.

“There are further plans for ski developments in Rila and Pirin National Parks in Bulgaria, fueled by the expectation that many foreigners, especially from Britain, will buy holiday homes there.”

“The construction of a ski zone above the town of Bansko in Pirin National Park has lead to wide-scale environmental disruption in one of the wildest and most strictly preserved areas in the country. The analysis of local environmental organizations has shown that nine international and six national legal acts were breached in the Bansko Ski Zone construction. Two thirds of the ski facilities constructed have not been approved by the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Waters. The investor has also breached nearly every requirement included in the Environmental Impact Assessment decisions.”

“The landscape of a 1,000 hectare territory is seriously modified by the construction of ski slopes and facilities. As a result of tree trunks uprooting, climate factors, high altitude and intense excavation work undertaken, wind and rainwater have started to wash away the soil layers. The depth of crevices formed along the “Tomba” ski run is more than two metres high.”

“Over 2,500 ha of centuries old and protected forest was logged. Brown bears
were chased away from Bunderitsa Valley. A socio-economic poll carried out among random citizens of Bansko demonstrates that the quality of life for the majority of Bansko citizens has not improved as a result of the project. The public infrastructure is of poor and deteriorating state”

“Pirin National Park is inscribed as a World Natural Heritage Site under UNESCO’s Convention on the conservation of world cultural and natural monuments. Currently the World Heritage Centre is considering whether or not to sign the park as World Natural Heritage in danger.”

“Meanwhile, the state-owned Bulgarian Investment Agency has already given a first-degree investment certificate to “Dobrinishte Ski” company planning to build a ski resort between Dobrinishte village and Bezbog peak in Pirin National Park. Construction of new sport facilities is not allowed in National Parks by the Bulgarian Protected Areas Act. The maintenance of existing infrastructure is allowed only. Currently, a single ski run, which is 3 km long, exists near Bezbog peak, but “Dobrinishte Ski” plans to build many more. Dobrinishte village is close to the town of Bansko.”

“Another company, Balkanstroy, has also received a first-degree investment certificate to build a ski resort above the town of Razlog, near Bansko, in Pirin National Park. As in the case with Dobrinishte the construction of new sport facilities is not allowed in National Parks by the Bulgarian Protected Areas Act. The maintenance of existing infrastructure is allowed only. Currently, a single very short ski piste exists near Razlog.”

“The municipality of Sapareva Banya and other investors have developed a master plan for a large ski resort above the town. Two thirds of the resort are planned to be inside Rila National Park, the highest mountain in Bulgaria and the Balkans, verified according to PAN Parks standards in 2005.”

“Construction of new sport facilities is not allowed in National Parks by the Bulgarian Protected Areas Act. None of the four management zones of the Rila National Park allow construction of ski facilities either. The park is a potential Natura 2000 site, and as such it requires specific protection measures in order to comply with the EC requirements.”

“I hope this information gives a better impression as to what may happen to Bulgaria’s national parks soon due to ski development. I am a keen skier myself, but also think that nature should be respected as much as possible.”

Environmentalist Protest
In May 2005, residents from Bulgaria's Pirin area gathered in front of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Sofia to protest against the banks financial backing of Bansko ski area expansion. The EBRD have 20% equity in Bulgaria's First Investment Bank which is the main financier of the project.

According to protestors from various ecological organisations, the project breaches Bulgarian and international law, as well as with the EBRD's Environmental Procedures. They fear the major investment and urbanization of the mountainous area will affect the natural balance, pollution and shortage of water, cause erosion and destroy woodland resulting in the loss of local biodiversity.

Since resorts are continuously increasing and improving their environmental practices, we update the Green Resort Guide throughout the year. If you have any information about new resort environmental policies/practices or anything that you think we may have missed, please email greenresortguide@skiclub.co.uk.

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