Sun, Nov 22 2009

Ski zone expansion in Vitosha discussed on July 14

Tue, Jul 14 2009 10:45 CET byNick Iliev 798 Views 6 Comments
Ski zone expansion in Vitosha discussed on July 14

Photo: Nick Iliev

Ski zone expansion in Vitosha discussed on July 14

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.

Comments

Anonymous U. Wed, Jul 15 2009 12:37 CET
Inappropriate comment?

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.

Anonymous Des Purcell Wed, Jul 15 2009 12:06 CET
Inappropriate comment?

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 & mountain walks in the summer in Bulgaria because of ski resort developments, why dont you try skiing?

Anonymous marie Wed, Jul 15 2009 10:14 CET
Inappropriate comment?

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.

Anonymous John Muir Tue, Jul 14 2009 21:19 CET
Inappropriate comment?

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.

Anonymous Ivan Gabel Tue, Jul 14 2009 21:15 CET
Inappropriate comment?

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.

Anonymous Dianne Hatton Tue, Jul 14 2009 21:07 CET
Inappropriate comment?

There goes the Vitosha beauty. Some people never learn.

Write comment

Name:Comment:

Generate new code
Send your comment
Ski season on Vitosha Mountain approaching its start - amid heated controversy

The ski season is approaching its start but the controversy and discontent surrounding it, have reached unprecedented levels.

Vitosha Park requests an end to construction

The decision for the construction of a ski lift in the Vitosha park was in violation of the management plan of the park.

Save the Bulgarian mountains

The organisation fears that with the arrival of the next Government, the systematic destruction of natural habitat will continue.

Unesco might take Pirin National Park under its protection

Pirin National Park was included in the World Heritage list of Unesco in 1983, but the organisation had expressed its concerns repeatedly after the construction of the Bansko ski resort centre was initiated.

More in this category

EC suing Bulgaria for Sofia waste disposal failure

The European Commission is taking Bulgaria to court for delays in providing Sofia with adequate waste disposal facilities.

US ambassador-designate Warlick addresses senate confirmation hearing

James Warlick is the spouse of Mary Warlick, director of the office of Russian affairs at the US state department, who has been nominated to serve as ambassador to Serbia

Bulgaria declares flu epidemic at an end

Bulgaria’s Health Ministry announced on November 20 2009 that the flu epidemic declared two weeks earlier is at an end as rates of infection decline. The announcement coincides with reports of two deaths from A (H1N1) flu in Bulgaria.

Bulgarian prosecutors to investigate Dogan’s real estate deals

Acting on allegations by Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria leader Ivan Kostov, prosecutors and Government officials are to probe deals by which Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Ahmed Dogan acquired various properties.

Sofia prosecutors charge Bulgaria’s former defence minister Nikolai Tsonev

Prosecutors allege that a deal agreed by the former defence minister caused losses of 12.9 million leva.

© 2000-2009, Sofia Echo Media Ltd.

Web Design by RIZN

Sofia Echo Media is part of the Economedia Group.
The news and information content on this website is provided by our editorial team and is copyrighted. Any unauthorised reproduction or use of it is strictly forbidden. Reproduction of this website's content is permitted only with prior written permission from the Editor-in-Chief, should be propertly acredited and provide an active link back to our site. Comments posted by the website's visitors are independent of the editorial materials and do not represent the views of sofiaecho.com. Sofia Echo Media cannot be held responsible for the statements contained in visitor comments. The percentаge change in the shares' prices are based on the price of the last transaction of the current session compared to the price of the last transaction of the previous session. Bulgarian Stock Exchange data is not real-time, but updated every 15 minutes, and should not be used as a basis for decisions about buying or selling stock options.