As many as 80% of Bulgarians oppose the construction of new hotels, ski runs and related facilities in the protected areas in high mountains of Rila, Pirin, Stara Planina, Vitosha, as well as the Rhodope Mountains, according to a poll conducted by Alpha Research at the request of leading environmental organisation WWF.
Over 50% of the respondents cite the poor quality of air and water as a primary environmental concern for the country, and according to the polling agency, the pollution of rivers and poor air quality in Bulgaria’s cities have made people more aware of environmental issues.
In 2008, three out of four respondents singled out tree felling as their most pressing concern, with more than 50% of respondents voicing fears over illegal building activities and over-construction in the Bulgarian mountains . “In 2008, forests were a hot topic because of the land swaps. The crisis reined in the construction boom and now this is not seen as such a serious problem,” Konstantin Ivanov from WWF told journalists.
However, a newly revived project for the construction of hundreds of kilometres of piste in the Bansko ski area in Pirin have revived public concerns, say the WWF.
