After so many weeks, months, even years of hard work, environmentalists from eight ecological non-governmental organisations held the first free-of-charge four-day festival to celebrate their ability to unify forces and to, in some cases, successfully fight for the rights of a pristine natural environment in Bulgaria. Welcome to Beglika ‘08.

The festival took place near the artificial, but picturesque, Beglika Dam in Rhodope Mountain, and was attended by about 5000 people, who, in one way or another, were connected to the environmental protection movement, or just supported it. Beglika Fest also aimed to collect money for nature preservation and, in particular, the species of wood grouse (Tetrao urogallus) that inhabits the Rhodopes but whose population is threatened by excessive hunting. However, money raised at the festival ultimately only covered organisational costs. Still, organisers said that the result was positive, because all the people who visited Beglika Fest showed concern about the problems that nature in Bulgaria faced, and became informed about the endangered wood grouse.

According to organisers, the festival showed that it was, in fact, possible to hold events in protected areas, in this case, in the protected place Samodivska Polyana, without violating state law. They removed all rubbish and temporary wooden constructions upon leaving the place.

During the four days of August 7 to 10, attendees’ tents surrounded the whole dam. The rubbish disposal sites and the toilets were of particular interest – the organisers had placed big plastic bags of different colours at various locations around the dam and in the forests, and the guests had to dispose of their waste in the appropriate bag: plastic, metal or paper. The toilets were just holes in the ground and everyone who used them had to, afterwards, put a handful of sawdust in the hole. After the festival, the organisers levelled out the holes with soil, thus composting the remains in the most environmentally friendly way – by transforming it into manure.

Attracting a different type of attention was the bar with eco-beverages, such as an organic energy drink in which the most caffeine-containing ingredient was organic black tea, sold at a price of 2.50 leva. As something new to me, I concluded that it was was already sold in Bulgaria, but I still need to check the new bio-shop on Journalist Square in the Lozenets borough of Sofia. Food was all vegetarian, consisting of different fresh and tasty salads, some not-that-successful rice, and sandwiches with veggie ingredients on whole-grain bread.

The guests also created some nice items from the rubbish, such as attractive bracelets from plastic bottles, to show that materials can be re-used even before recycling them. Reduce, re-use, recycle, in this sequence.

But the most amazing thing was Beglika Dam itself and the wonderful untouched nature surrounding it. It turned out that many older couples and families had previously visited the dam each weekend with tents and caravans, spending splendid moments in nature, listening to the birds and crickets that inhabit the area. Other possible eco-friendly activities that can be done near Beglika Dam are cycling around it or going on a canoe/kayak excursion. Many guests enjoyed playing volleyball, badminton or football on the fields, as well.

But to reach Beglika, one should take a road that passes the largest dam in the area – Batak Dam, about 20km from Beglika. Not so pleasant developments have risen there, and a huge billboard advertises apartments for sale in euro a sq m, beckoning all driving that way.

“This is the real danger for this area,” our 41-year-old French friend who travelled with us said after seeing it.

So far, only a few new villa-houses have been built near Batak. But it is obvious: the threat has already nosed out this marvellous Rhodope area as well, and only God knows how developers have obtained construction permits.

Apparently, although they numbered about 5000, so many Bulgarian environmentalists were still not enough to prevent untamed construction in the attractive natural areas around Bulgaria, something that happens more often than it should.