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A report by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) staff published in the Sofia Echo claims that two thirds of construction in Bansko, the booming Bulgarian ski resort, is “essentially illegal” as building work has been carried out on National park land.

The authors site the example of a new holiday complex pre-sold near the village of Varvara on the Black Sea coast. 67 British nationals, 22 Irish, two Belgians and one Indian purchased holiday flats in the development, unaware it was being built within the Strandja Nature Park, without the agreement of the park authorities, nor any environmental impact assessment. The developers ignored a ruling from local government to stop construction, along with a second ruling from the Bulgarian Ministry of the Environment and in November the Bulgarian Supreme Court ordered the law must be obeyed. The complex now looks likely to be demolished, the investors lose their money.

“In the process, one of Bulgaria’s and Europe’s most beautiful natural jewels will sadly have been destroyed,” said a WWF spokeswoman.

In Bansko ski resort, located in the Pirin National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, the report’s authors claim two-thirds of the existing ski facilities built in the ski zone above the town have already been constructed within the area of the national park, essentially illegally, without approval from the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Waters. The report’s authors claim that developers have ignored government warnings and chosen to pay fines levied for illegal construction due to the lucrative nature of the contracts, rather than obey the law.

“Developers have breached nearly every requirement of the environmental impact assessment,” said the report. “Encouraged by such a precedent, two companies recently announced plans to build new ski resorts in Pirin National Park – one above the town of Dobrinishte, close to Bezbog peak (2645m), and the other above the town of Razlog – even though the construction of new sport facilities is banned in the national park.”

“Similar plans are being made in Rila National Park, the largest national park in Bulgaria, some 100km south of the capital, Sofia. The municipality of Sapareva Banya and other developers have already drafted a master plan for Panichishte-Ezerata-Kabul, which includes a large ski resort above the town of Sapareva Banya. Two-thirds of the resort are planned to be inside the national park, again despite clear laws forbidding such developments within the protected area.”

“When it comes to nature protection, nothing in Bulgaria is sacred. From paper to practice in Bulgaria, especially when it comes to environmental protection, laws on paper still clearly mean little in practice. Lack of capacity, will or even corruption on the part of authorities and political decision makers are allowing individual interests to ransack Bulgaria’s, as well as Europe’s, greatest natural treasures. In all too many cases, foreign investors from Great Britain and other countries are silent accomplices,” said Michael Baltzer, director of WWF’s Danube-Carpathian Programme.

The report concludes that the situation is beginning to change, citing growing public concern in the country leading to more action from government and the courts, membership of the EC which began on 1st January meaning laws are more likely to be toughened to pan-European standards and enforced. There is also a collection of signatures for a petition, so far nearly 30,000 signatures strong that calls on government authorities to improve the legislative, administrative and judicial conditions needed to stop the destruction of the country’s natural heritage.

“The country has much to offer, including many of Europe’s last great wilderness areas and rich cultural landscapes. It also desperately needs foreign investment, but not the kind that destroys more than it brings.” said Baltzer. “Buying real estate or vacationing in Bulgaria can be a good investment. But make sure you take a good look at where you put your money. Otherwise, you could be cutting a bad deal, both for your pocket book and the environment.”