Representatives of more than 40 ecological organisations protested on December 21 in front of the Council of Ministers concerning the inclusion of Bulgarian territories in Natura 2000 ecological network.

The Council of Ministers is expected to approve today the list of areas to be included in the European environmental network, Focus news agency reported.

Protesters said that the number of protected areas should not be minimised because of commercial interests. Environmentalists suggested 225 areas for inclusion, representing 28.6 per cent of Bulgaria's territory.

Natura 2000 is a project aimed at protecting nature and bio-diversity. It consists of a protected areas network throughout Europe. It aims to maintain the eco balance of protected areas and preserve endangered species inhabiting these.

Currently Natura 2000 covers 18 per cent of the territories of the 15 oldest EU member states.

In Bulgaria, the views of environmentalists clashed with the views of property owners and investors. Inclusion of territories in the network will lead to the imposition of some construction limitations.

As a result, businesses demanded smaller number of areas to be included in the network.