Tsarevo municipality in southeastern Bulgaria called for a reconsideration of boundaries of Standzha nature park, Tsarevo mayor Perko Arnaoudov said on July 3, after an order of the Environment and Waters Minister was declared null and void by a three-member panel of the Supreme Administrative Court.

The decision can be appealed before a higher court but environmentalists worry that it presents the possibility for construction and development in the park.

Shortly after the court announced its ruling, environmentalists staged protest rallies. On July 2, they blocked a busy junction in Sofia for half an hour without having the required preliminary permit for a rally. The police detained 35 protesters. The Green Party voiced support to the protest rallies against the decision.

The Environment and Waters Ministry said already on Friday that it will appeal the ruling.

Sources from Tsarevo municipality claim that the court ruling will not allow construction in the park but instead shows the need for new boundaries. So far there has been no action following the decision. The case concerns the development of several population centres in the area and private interests.

The park contains about 40000 ha of farm land, which may be excluded from its territory.

Tsarevo municipality is considering the suspension of construction permits until the legal case is settled.

Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov discussed the issue at a meeting on July 3 attended by representatives of an environmentalist organization.