Protecting our national parks

We organized the first public campaign for preserving the borders of Bulgaria’s national parks – Rila, Pirin, Tsentralen Balkan. A series of actions included the first mailing campaign in Bulgaria – over 20 000 post cards were sent to members of the Bulgarian Parliament. An exhibition dedicated to the protection of the national parks was opened in the Bulgarian Parliament. The borders of Pirin and Tsentralen Balkan were preserved, and a strict regime was introduced to Rilski Manastir Nature Park which was cut off from Rila National Park.

Improving European legislation

Following a proposal by the BSPB the Bulgarian government made a proposition to the EU to include two more species – the semicollared flycatcher (indicator of state for old-growth forests), and the masked shrike in the list of the Wild Birds Directive. This action led to the declaration of new Natura 2000 areas in all the countries where the two species are found.