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Fri, Feb 10 2012
Ski zone expansion in Vitosha discussed on July 14
Photo: Nick Iliev
Photo: Nick Iliev
On July 14 at 10am a conference will be held to assess the contemplated expansion of the ski zone in Vitosha Nature Park. The prodigious project, with the company Vitosha Ski as its main investor, has drawn considerable flak from the public and environmentalists alike, particularly from Zeleni Balkani and Sustaining Nature in Bulgaria.
The ambitious scheme envisages the construction of a vast new ski complex in Vitosha Nature Park, which, upon completion, will have increased the capacity of the ski resort, in terms of ski runs and lifts by as much as seven fold.
The deforestation of hundreds of ha of pine forest, the creation of an artificial lake, which will supply the facilities with artificial snow, the erection of new hotels and its affiliated infrastructure would mean that Vitosha will be transformed drastically, and irreversibly.
Environmentalists insist, however, that this construction is illegal, forbidden by the "Vitosha Park Management Plan", which was voted in action by Cabinet. The proposed building scheme is also in conflict with the Sofia Urban Management Plan.
Opponents of the construction have gone as far to say that, should it be given a green light, it could lead to individual prosecution in European courts. Moreover, it could lead to more European funding being blocked.
The ambitious scheme envisages the construction of a vast new ski complex in Vitosha Nature Park, which, upon completion, will have increased the capacity of the ski resort, in terms of ski runs and lifts by as much as seven fold.
The deforestation of hundreds of ha of pine forest, the creation of an artificial lake, which will supply the facilities with artificial snow, the erection of new hotels and its affiliated infrastructure would mean that Vitosha will be transformed drastically, and irreversibly.
Environmentalists insist, however, that this construction is illegal, forbidden by the "Vitosha Park Management Plan", which was voted in action by Cabinet. The proposed building scheme is also in conflict with the Sofia Urban Management Plan.
Opponents of the construction have gone as far to say that, should it be given a green light, it could lead to individual prosecution in European courts. Moreover, it could lead to more European funding being blocked.
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The good snow in Vitosha fell in late January 2009 and stayed until end of April. That's a 3-months season. The one in 2007/08 was worse, you know.
Hi, i would like to point out to you all that the ski resorts all over europe including Scotland have seem an early and sustained ski season last winter due to more snow than ever for years! Skiing is a wonderful family sport and we should be able to expose our children to it even if it means chopping some trees, they will grow again you know! its always been hit and miss to reley on snow cover below 1500m, but with todays tehcnology we can.come on you lot wake up to the fact that there are more forest & [...]
Read the full comment mountain walks in the summer in Bulgaria because of ski resort developments, why dont you try skiing?
People need a place to relax and green areas available for all to use from the city.
As long as people have an opportunity to enjoy skiing isn't that enough?
Ski enthusiasts can go to Bansko
Borovets or Pamporovo. By all accounts Bansko has been ruined. It
would be sad for all if Vitosha were to be spoiled as well.
Seems like this could be a tremendous waste of money -- not to mention a tremendous trashing of natural values. In the Alps, thanks to climate change, ski areas below 1500 meters are not considered viable and cannot get loans. Some Bulgarian ski areas are already suffering from lack of snow cover -- and this will only get worse in the next years.
Spain is beginning to learn some painful lessons related to killing the goose that lays the golden (tourist) eggs. Bulgarians would do well to learn from this experience.
There goes the Vitosha beauty. Some people never learn.