Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Emilia Toncheva and experts from the Directorate “National Service for Environmental Protection” met with representatives of the citizens from Byala Municipality (Varna region), who were protesting in front of the MOEW building. They asked questions related to the process of expanding the protected area for the habitats “Shkorpilovtsi Beach”.

The representatives of the local community were informed about the procedure. It was explained to them that the changes in the boundaries of protected areas are made in accordance with the Biodiversity Act. The procedure begins with a motivated proposal to the MOEW, which can be submitted both by state bodies and by scientific and public organizations.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Biodiversity Act, the proposal for the protected area “Shkorpilovtsi Beach” was considered at a meeting of the National Council for Biodiversity and was supported by a vote.

Deputy Minister Toncheva informed that the meeting of the National Council for Biodiversity was attended by representatives of the regional and municipal administrations upon invitation. Their opinions were presented at the Council meeting.

It was also clarified that the procedure for amending the borders of the protected area has not yet been completed. It was emphasized at the meeting that the issue of regimes and restrictions in protected areas is subject to a separate procedure, whereby public discussions/consultations are mandatory. However, these issues were not discussed at the National Council for Biodiversity meeting.

Deputy Minister Emilia Toncheva also drew attention to the fact that the extension of the borders of the protected area “Shkorpilovtsi Beach”, proposed and considered at the meeting of the Council, falls entirely within the boundaries of the protected area for wild birds “Kamchiyska Mountain” declared in 2012.