A celebration for the partners of the National Park “Rila” was held at the Regional History Museum in Blagoevgrad on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the protected territory. The event was attended by representatives of the Municipality of Blagoevgrad, the Directorate “National Park Pirin”, the Basin Directorate “Western Aegean Sea Region”, RIEW - Blagoevgrad, the Center for Personal and Creative Development of the Children of Blagoevgrad, many guests and friends.

In his opening speech, in front of the full hall, the director of the park Krasimir Andonov thanked the partners and employees for their commitment and engagement in the protection of the largest of the three national parks in Bulgaria.

The Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Petar Dimitrov welcomed the attendees on behalf of Minister Rositsa Karamfilova. “Today’s celebration is a great opportunity to thank you for your daily work and for proving with your actions that you are role-model professionals dedicated to a high cause. As the Minister of Environment and Water, I assure you that in me you have a reliable partner in our common strife to cater to the nature of the National Park “Rila” and preserve it for future generations!” states the letter from the Minister.

Petar Dimitrov noted that increasingly more care is given to the visitors of the park and this is visible, i.e. information signs and improved infrastructure. Less waste is already a fact, which is also a result from the team’s efforts, but also of visitors’ awareness. According to him, the “exceptional efforts of colleagues from the park for the protection of this natural wealth” are of great importance.

The festive program included the premiere of the film “A Walk through the Seasons in the Rila National Park”, a literary reading of works by winners within the National School Competition “The Rila National Park - known and unknown” by school children from the “P. Yavorov” school from the town of Petrich, and a presentation of poems about Rila by the poet Tsveti Yakimova from the town of Samokov. Students from the Language High School “Acad. Lyudmil Stoyanov” - Blagoevgrad, presented short videos from a botanic workshop held together with the park’s directorate, and children from the “Neofit Rilski” elementary school from the town of Dupnitsa greeted the guests with poems about Rila. The festive mood was also ensured by the folklore group “Pearls” led by Daniela Bogdanova from the Center for Personal and Creative Development of the Children of Blagoevgrad.

At the event, the two traditional annual student competitions held by the park management were announced - the 7^th  edition of the National Award for Nature Protection named after Mimi Pramatarova and the 19^th National Student Competition “Rila National Park - known and unknown”.