Kavarna mayor Tsonko Tsonkov said his municipality had saved up money to effect a second Natura 2000 survey, which will be carried out by an ecological NGO chosen in a transparent competition.

“No one is against Natura 2000, but against the way of defining the network territories,” he said in an interview, Focus news agency reported on February 7.

“A Bulgarian holds two things dear – his children and his property. In this case, his property is endangered and he has the right to react in this way,” said Tsonkov, referring to the protests of citizens whose lands are part of the Natura 2000 network.

Asked for comment, Tsveta Hristova of Za Zemyata told The Sofia Echo that the criteria to define Natura 2000 sites are clear – strictly scientific and based on the species and natural habitats in the zones. The criteria are available on the Natura 2000 website. “It is also clear to everybody that the inclusion in the protected-zones network does not restrict ownership rights of the proprietor, and a mayor is suppose to be aware of this fact,” Hristova said.

f, however, some restrictions on use are imposed, there will be compensation amounting to 60 to 200 euro a hectare, she said. “The moods encouraged by big estate investors through the local authorities, using the Ministry of Environment and Water Affairs’ silence and incorrect media portrayal, are trying to make out that there is nation-wide dissatisfaction with Natura 2000,” she said, giving as examples statements made by mayors of the hottest debates points, the towns of Kavarna, Shkorpilovtsi and Razlog.

On February 5, a national public hearing of Natura 2000 took place. The compensation for specific restrictions observation in some of the protected zones will be 20 to 200 euro a hectare annually, said Alexander Atanasov, a specialist from the Development of Rural Areas department in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), during the debate with municipalities and land owners.

The greatest compensations of 200 euro a hectare are for replanting of perennial crops. Land owners in unfavourable regions will be compensated 100 euro a hectare annually. Farmers who follow the restrictions not to use fertilisers in workable lands within Natura 2000 would receive about 60 euro a hectare. If they leave unharvested fields where some bird species nest or feed, the compensation is about 100 euro.
Natura 2000 land owners could receive up to 500 euro a hectare for large investments in means to preserve certain species or habitats or create environments favourable for birds and animals inhabiting the area. Similar compensation will be paid to owners who restore orchards or wetlands.

The ensuing restrictions will be controlled by the MAF’s Payment Agency, which will be created soon. In order to receive the compensations, people who own terrain in the Natura 2000 network will have to register at thei rregional agriculture directorates and identify the workable land on the agriculture lands digital map.