Environmentalists organise a rally and a concert on October 18 2007 in Sofia in support of the Bulgarian protected areas Irakli and Rila.

The rally starts at 5.30pm in front of the Environment and Water Affairs Ministry, through the Council of Ministers to Batenberg square, where the concert will be staged.

The show starts at 7pm at the square. Bulgarian bands Ostava, Balkandji, BGz, Dobri and Pitkin and performers of folk songs and dances will take part in the concert.

Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation organises the concert to award the citizens for the most successful eco campaign of 2007, the preservation of Strandja National Park.

After a series of protest, the Supreme Administrative Prosecutor’s Office revoked a ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court on June 29 2007, removing the protected area status of Strandja. After the court's decision, Parliament urgently approved a new Protected Areas Act, preventing decrees of protected areas from being vulnerable to appeals in court.

The organisers are now fighting to stop illegal construction in the protected areas of the Rila National Park and Irakli area, which are both part of Natura 2000.

They call on everyone intending to attend the events to dress in blue like the waters of the Seven Rila lakes and the sea.

Similar events will be held also on October 18 at 6pm in Varna, Plovdiv and Stara Zagora.