The Supreme Administrative Prosecution is getting ready to challenge before higher instance a court decision taking away the preserved area status of Strandzha park.

Court recently announced that a decision of the Environment and Water Affairs Minister, which gave the park its status, would be declared void. The reason was ambiguity concerning the park’s borders.

The prosecution is also inspecting the legality of construction works ongoing in the Strandzha park. Strandzha’s status imposes some construction limitations and at the same time the setting up of a vacation village already began in the area.

Tsarevo municipality asked for the annulment of the Environment and Water Affairs Ministry’s ruling. The status of Strandzha hindered investment plans in the region.

Upon learning the court decision, environmentalists started staging protests in Sofia. They blocked traffic without having the permit to stage a demonstration. As a result a number of protesters were arrested.

On July 4 Tsarevo municipality asked the Environment and Water Affairs Ministry for negotiations and settlement of the issue outside court. Tsarevo wants the agriculture plots located close to urban areas to be taken out of the park’s territory.