Representatives of mountain organisations from the village of Trigrad said they disagreed with the exclusion of the village from Natura 2000 European ecological network.

The unique nature of the region and some rare species could disappear if protective measures are not introduced, the organisation said.

Trigrad residents will start protesting soon, Focus news agency reported. A number of people from the region make their living as mountain guides and nearly 25 hotels function there.

Other Bulgarian municipalities protested that the inclusion of too many terrains in the network will drive away investors.

Villages in the Smolyan region want reconsideration of the Natura 2000 plan. Nearly 30 per cent of the Smolyan region territory is to become part of the network.

Inclusion in the environmental network will make people leave their villages, a protest declaration said. In addition, municipalities there already approved plans for tourism development until 2013.

Tourism is prioritised for the development of the region, the declaration said. Some of the planned activities become impossible if nearly 30 per cent of the region enters Natura 2000.