Council of Ministers Decision № 564/30.07.2021 amending the lists of protected areas of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna extended the territory of ​​protected areas BG0001001 “Ropotamo”, BG0000100 “Shkorpilovtsi Beach” and BG0000103 “Galata”.

The scientific community in Bulgaria and the National Council for Biodiversity supported the expansion of the areas for protection of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna, so as to ensure the protection of natural habitats  that are representative for the Republic of Bulgaria and the European Union, as well as habitats of endangered, rare, and endemic plants and animal species within the Natura 2000 ecological network.

The procedure continues according to the stages defined by the Biodiversity Act. The changes in the lists of protected areas are to be sent to the European Commission for approval, after which orders amending and supplementing the orders for declaring the three protected areas will be drafted.

The inclusion of a territory within a protected area of ​​the Natura 2000 ecological network does not result in direct prohibitions on the use of resources and/or construction works on its territory. Regimes in respect to these activities can be stipulated in notification orders and protected area management plans. The procedure for amending and supplementing the orders for declaring the protected areas includes holding a public hearing within one month, upon the publication of an announcement for the hearing on the website of the Ministry of Environment and Water.

Within one month after the deadline for public hearing, the Minister of Environment and Water makes a final decision on the opinions, objections, or proposals received during the public hearing and issues the order amending the initial order that declared the protected area.

Given the great public interest, the Ministry of Environment and Water will regularly inform the public about the progress with the procedure on its website.

As an institution we are guided by the conviction that the high criteria, balance and achieved status of protection of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna on the territory of Bulgaria will contribute in the long-term to achieving the ambitious goals of the Republic of Bulgaria in natural heritage protection, economic development, and protection of the rights to a healthy and favorable environment of every Bulgarian citizen and the generations to come.