Bulgaria’s Environment and Water Affairs Minister Djevdet Chakurov has said a “more precise evaluation” of the areas of the country to be included in Natura 2000, the European ecological conservation network, had led to a decision to exclude three areas from the network, while 19 others would be reduced in size.

Bulgarian news agency mediapool.bg said that the country had failed to present to the European Commission (EC) a complete list of the areas to be included in Natura 2000. Bulgaria was at risk of being penalised for being late with its list, the agency said.

Chakurov said that the country’s National Forest Administration (NFA) was ready with its opinion on 29 areas. It was proposed that these areas be included in Natura 2000, but Bulgaria’s National Council on Biodiversity had in November 2006 postponed proposing their inclusion. At the time, the NFA had asked for further information.

The Cabinet had in March 2007 postponed the inclusion of a further 32 territories. This was the point when it approved a Natura 2000 list that was presented to the EC, mediapool.bg said.

The NFA’s stand on the postponed territories was that seven could be included in the network, while 19 would be reduced in size. Three areas were to be excluded.

Chakurov refused to name the areas to be excluded from the list. The reason for the exclusion was that the total area exceeded the amount required by the EC.

More areas under the EC directive for birds and the directive for habitats were expected to be excluded, mediapool.bg said.

All territories that are external borders of urbanised areas would also be excluded from Natura 2000.

The Cabinet is expected to discuss the final list in October 2007 and to present it to the EC.