Today in Strasbourg, Minister Borislav Sandov participated in a ministerial conference organized by the French Presidency of the EC Council, dedicated to the 30th anniversary since the NATURA 2000 network was established.

In his speech, Minister Sandov noted that the NATURA 2000 network has a key role in the conservation and sustainable management of areas and species important for biodiversity, but also performs an important social and economic functions.

He reminded that Bulgaria is among the countries with the highest percentage of protected areas in Europe - nearly 35% of the country’s territory are part of the NATURA 2000 network, which is not only evidence of our extremely rich biodiversity, but also testifies to our serious responsibility for its conservation and sustainable management. He stated that Bulgaria is already taking steps directly related to the goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy until 2030. As a specific example, the Minister noted the announcement of strict protection of 10% of forest habitats in NATURA 2000. This campaign, conducted in close cooperation with the non-governmental sector, received the European Citizens’ Award for NATURA 2000.

Minister Sandov also presented the national campaign for afforestation initiated by him for planting 100 million trees by 2030. “Thus, Bulgaria joins the European Commission’s campaign to plant 3 billion trees in the EU by 2030. Planting will be organized not only in forest areas, but also along roads, in cities and suburban areas, as well as in areas that are agricultural. This is an important step not only in the fight against climate change, but it is also part of our efforts to preserve and restore biodiversity and improve air quality,” said Minister Sandov.

During the Conference, the ministers adopted a declaration on “The Key to Success”, which focuses on the need to respond urgently to the global challenges we face, which are related to both biodiversity loss and the serious consequences of climate change. “In order to bring nature back to life and ensure that Europe’s biodiversity is on track to be restored by 2030, we need to improve the implementation of EU nature conservation legislation significantly, to reduce pressure on nature and support the introduction of practices compatible with the sustainable use of biodiversity,” the declaration states.

Ahead of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (Kunming, China, 2022), ministers called on national, regional and local authorities, NGOs, businesses, scientists, young people, and all citizens to join one of the world’s coalitions that work to raise awareness of the need to protect biodiversity – the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.