The RSPB is the UK partner within BirdLife International and we’ve been supporting our colleagues in the Bulgarian partner organisation – BSPB (the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds). In particular, we’ve been supporting their campaign to get key sites designated and protected under European and Bulgarian law.
So we were delighted to here the other day that the Bulgarian government has confirmed Special Protection Area (SPA) extensions for four key Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Bulgaria.
For three letter acronym enthusiasts – the SPAs are designated under the terms of the European Birds Directive and mean that they are officially part of the network of the best sites in the EU for birds. IBAs are indentified by BirdLife International according to internationally accepted scientific criteria.
The extensions of Lomovete, Central Balkan, Pirin and Western Rhodopes protection areas will provide protection for key breeding populations of endangered species such as the Egyptian vulture and saker falcon, along with a host of forest species.
Lovomete from the air
BSBP’s campaign resulted in an official complaint to the European Commission which was an important part of getting these important sites designated.
Irina Mateeva, BSPB’s EU Policy Officer said ‘We’re delighted that these special sites will now be fully protected under EU and Bulgarian law. However, a decision to extend a further key site, Rila Mountain, has yet to be made, and we are very concerned that the government continues to refuse to fully designate the Kaliakra peninsula, wintering site for the globally threatened red-breasted goose and an important stopping-off point for thousands of birds on the Via Pontica migration route.’
RSPB will continue to help BSPB in the campaign to ensure the designation and protection of the Kaliakra peninsula, and the rigorous protection of all Bulgaria’s important areas for birds.
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