“For us, Vitosha is a cause.” With these words, Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova outlined the Ministry of Environment and Water’s vision for the mountain’s future during a joint meeting dedicated to the development of Vitosha Nature Park and the legislative changes needed for its sustainable management.

Participants in the discussion included Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Shishkov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Prof. Ivan Paligorov, representatives of institutions, civil society organizations, the expert community, and other stakeholders.

“Unfortunately, in the past, Vitosha has always been viewed in extremes – either as an environmental issue or as an infrastructure problem. In fact, this is a governance issue,” stated Minister Karamfilova. She emphasized that it is precisely the lack of a long-term vision that has led to the paradox of Sofia having a mountain with enormous potential right next to it, one that is gradually becoming increasingly difficult to access and whose infrastructure is becoming increasingly dilapidated.

The minister stressed that piecemeal efforts have proven short-sighted, and today it is necessary to establish a clear strategic framework for the development of Vitosha. The mountain must be preserved, made accessible, and managed as a public good that provides year-round access to nature, sports, education, and tourism without compromising environmental protection goals.

“For us, this vision must be based on three equally important principles—nature conservation, public access, and quality of life, as well as economic sustainability and modern infrastructure,” Karamfilova stated.

Minister Karamfilova also emphasized the need to implement continuous monitoring of Vitosha in the broadest sense—as a tool for tracking the condition of ecosystems, water bodies, forests, and biodiversity, as well as for assessing the effects of climate change. She is adamant that the sustainable development of the nature park must be based on scientific data, expert analysis, and modern monitoring systems that ensure timely and informed management decisions.

Rositsa Karamfilova is adamant that the long-term approach should include restoring access via a modern cable car system as an environmentally friendly way to reach the mountain, developing Vitosha as a year-round destination for sports, tourism, and education; the restoration of tourism infrastructure; and the implementation of modern management and monitoring models.

“The goal is to strike a balance between the various interests. Citizens must have easy access and high-quality infrastructure; nature must have guarantees for protection and oversight; and the state must ensure effective management of this national resource,” stated the Minister of Environment and Water.

Ivan Shishkov, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, emphasized the need to end the long-standing postponement of decisions regarding Vitosha and for joint action by the institutions to create a clear legislative and administrative framework for the mountain’s development. According to him, the meeting is the first concrete step toward overcoming the problems that have accumulated over the years and toward creating conditions for Vitosha to once again be accessible to the public.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Prof. Ivan Paligorov emphasized the need for all future decisions to be guided by the principle of environmental sustainability. He recalled that Vitosha is the oldest nature park in the Balkans and emphasized the responsibility of institutions to preserve its natural wealth for future generations through clear rules and a sustainable management model.

During the meeting, the future of the Management Plan for Vitosha Nature Park was discussed. The participants agreed on the need to restart the process of drafting the plan from scratch, with full transparency, broad public dialogue, and active participation from the scientific and expert communities.

“Vitosha is a cause that each and every one of us must take care of. We owe the mountain a strategic vision—one that works simultaneously for the benefit of both nature and society,” stated Minister Karamfilova.