Send to Kindle
Източник: pixabay
Skiers are unwittingly contributing to the destruction of one of Europe’s last wildernesses, home to brown bears, grey wolves and the lesser spotted eagle, according to a conservation charity.
About 150,000 Britons a year ski in the relatively cheap resort of Bansko in Bulgaria’s Pirin National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site whose glacial lakes, ancient forests and alpine meadows support an array of wildlife, including 45 species of mammals. It costs about £2,000 for a family of four to ski in Bansko for a week, compared with £5,500 in Courchevel in France.
WWF, the conservation group, says that the Bulgarian government is planning a major expansion of the resort, including 333km of new slopes and 113km of ski lifts.
Bulgaria’s environment ministry says that the expansion is needed to boost winter tourism and amounts to construction in only two per cent of the 400sq km park.
WWF, however, claims that there would be a 12-fold increase in the area covered by skiing infrastructure. It says that more than 3,000 hectares of forest would need to be felled for lifts, pistes and buildings.
“The expansion would take place in some of the most pristine and valuable areas within the park, and would require cutting down old Macedonian and Bosnian pine trees,” a WWF report says. It adds that the plans would permit logging over 60 per cent of the national park.
WWF is urging members of the Unesco World Heritage Committee to include Pirin on its list of world heritage sites in danger if the Bulgarian government presses ahead with its plans. The charity is also calling for the International Ski Federation and other ski governing bodies to exclude the resort from the race calendar if the construction continues.
WWF accepts the need for development but says that the government should focus on year-round sustainable tourism, including wildlife tours and spa holidays.
The Times.co.uk
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to announce on Wednesday (2 June) the details of a project which aims to transform the island of Astypalaia in the southeastern Aegean Sea into Europe’s “Green Island”.
A protest entitled "Hands off Bulgarian nature" has gathered dozens of environmentalists in front of the Council of Ministers in the capital Sofia.
Seventy-five mayors in Bulgaria have been penalized for polluting environment with urban waste, shows the information of the Ministry of Environment and Water concerning the control activities of Ministry’s 15 regional inspectorates ensuing from the Waste
A “cleaning operation” for the removal of urban waste along the Strouma River near the village of Nevestino has started.
During the night, cloud cover will increase and thicken, with showers expected to develop from the southwest
Tomorrow, Bulgarians can expect a mix of sunshine and clouds as they step out into the springtime air
Over the next 24 hours, expect cloudy skies with rainfall across the eastern half of the country, where precipitation may be intense in some areas. Meanwhile, the western half will see clouds clearing during the day, becoming mostly sunny
Overnight, rainfall across the country will temporarily cease, with some areas experiencing breaks in the clouds
Overnight, the precipitation zone will gradually shift eastward, with significant amounts expected in parts of Central and Eastern Bulgaria, accompanied by thunderstorms
Romanian media outlets have reported that storm "Renata" has made landfall in Romania, bringing with it strong winds and heavy precipitation. Following two weeks of record high temperatures, the mercury has plummeted by 15-20 degrees Celsius, as reported
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022
