Inclusion of regions in Natura 2000 ecologic network had no effect on land ownership, Environment and Water Affairs Minister Djevdet Chakurov said.

Chakurov attended on December 7 parliamentary talks on the percentage of Bulgarian lands to be included in the network.

Owners of property that would become part of the protected area are going to receive compensation, said Chakurov. Funds for such compensation were going to come from the EU, said he as quoted by Focus news agency.

Property owners previously protested against the construction ban to be enforced with the inclusion of territories in Natura 2000. At the same time environmentalists said that the percentage of terrains to be included was insufficient.

Chakurov said that information on Natura 2000 and its consequences was presented late and the time for taking a decision was short.

Two points of view had to be considered. Ecologists called for maximum inclusion while businesses feared that such decision would affect them negatively, he said.

At the same time Bulgaria had to meet EU ecological requirements, related to maintaining the country's bio-diversity, said Chakurov.

Photo courtesy of daspasimirakli.com