The Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov declared four new protected areas and introduced changes to the area of two and the regime of one existing protected areas.

Three of the protected areas are in the "protected area" category - "Carniolska blatnitsa - Gintsi village", "Swamp Snowdrop site" and "Kovachevska koriya", and one is in the "natural landmark" category - "Provartenika". An increase in the area of the protected area "Urum tulip site in the Lalikoto area" and the natural landmark "Yew site in the Elenska glava area" has been announced. The area of the protected area "Red peony site" has been updated and the regime of the protected area has been changed.

The protected area "Carniolska blatnitsa - Gintsi village" is located in the land of the village of Gintsi, Godech municipality, Sofia region, with a total area of 55.234 decares. It was declared for the purpose of protecting the peat moss of the species Sphagnum cuspidatum and its habitat with high conservation importance and the category "endangered" in the Red Book of the Republic of Bulgaria; Carniolan bog moss (Eleocharis carniolica) with the category "endangered"; as well as suitable habitats for two other conservation-important species - alpine newt (Triturus alpestris) and round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), with the category "vulnerable".

The protected area "Swamp Snowdrop Site" is located in the land of the village of Manole, Maritsa Municipality, Plovdiv Region, with a total area of 15400 decares. The main purpose of the protection is to preserve the natural habitat of swamp snowdrop (Leucojum aestivum) and the riparian plain flooded forest along the Maritsa River.

The protected area "Kovachevska koriya" is located in the land of the village of Kovachevo, Septemvri municipality, Pazardzhik district, with a total area of 114051 decares. It was declared to preserve a flat centuries-old oak forest along the banks of the Maritsa River.

The natural landmark "Provartenika" is located in the land of the town of Lukovit, Lukovit municipality, Lovech district, with a total area of 46937 decares. It was declared to preserve rock formations - a vertical domed rock with an opening in the upper part, known as "Provartenika", and stone towers near it, due to their rarity, representativeness and aesthetics.

Within the boundaries of the newly declared protected areas, all activities that may lead to disturbance, damage or destruction of the object of protection are prohibited. The prohibitions have been introduced with the relevant orders.

The area of the protected area "Locality of Urum Tulip in the Lalikoto area" has been increased by 683.741 decares at the proposal of the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water - Burgas.

The area of the natural landmark "Locality of Yew in the Elenska Glava area" has been increased by 1223.364 decares at the proposal of the Association of Parks in Bulgaria.

The area of the protected area "Locality of Red Peony" in the land of the village of Pechenitsa, Isperih Municipality, Razgrad District has been updated - to 47.246 decares, at the proposal of the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water - Ruse. In order to improve the conditions in the habitat and the status of the population of the red peony species (Paeonia peregrina), the regime of the protected area has been changed.

The announcement of the new protected areas is an example of good cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and Water and a wide range of stakeholders. The protected area "Carniolska blatnitsa - Gintsi village" was declared at the proposal of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the protected area " Swamp Snowdrop site" - at the proposal of the Maritsa municipality, the protected area "Kovachevska koriya" - at the proposal of the Association of Parks in Bulgaria, and the natural landmark "Provratenika" - at the proposal of representatives of the National Cave House.

The orders were issued on the basis of the Protected Areas Act and are to be published in the State Gazette.