Private property included in the Natura 2000 ecological network was going to belong to its original owners and a full construction ban was not going to be imposed, the Environment and Water Affairs Ministry said.

Representatives of the ministry met owners of property in Bulgaria’s coastal region, protesting against the inclusion of their plots in the network and the previously imposed construction ban in the protected regions.

By the end of the year the ministry was going to approve a list with all land to be included in the network, Darik Radio reported.

The list also has to receive the approval of the European Commission. The limitations and regulations concerning the protected regions will be announced after public talks with all parties interested in the process.

Representatives of the ministry said that populated, industrial and resort areas would be excluded from Natura 2000.

Plans for investment within the protected regions will be environmentally inspected before they receive approval. Habitat protection will be the main evaluation criteria.

Property owners in the Irakli and Emona coastal regions started protesting after Environment and Water Affairs Minister Djevdet Chakurov imposed a ban on the construction within these areas.