Total: 110,910 sq km
Land: 110,550 sq km
Coastline: 354 km
Population: 8,194,772 (July 1999 est.)
Source: CIA Worldfact Book (1999)
Bulgaria
Government of the Republic of Bulgaria
Ministry of
Environment and Water
Public Relations
Ekaterina Shavuleva - Head
67, "William Gladstone", str.
1000 Sofia
T. 9406231, F 9885913
Ministry of Regional and Urban Development
Public Relations
Polina Mihailova - Head
17-19, "Kiril & Metodii" str.,
1000 Sofia
tel. 9882954, fax 9875856
Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry
Press centre and Public Relations
Tatiana Vassilleva - Head
55, "Hristo Botev" blvd.,
1000 Sofia
tel.9809927, fax 9806256
(Source: CIA World Factbook 1999)
Many thanks to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the source of the following information. The information was taken from Bulgaria's submission to the 5th, 6th, and 7th Sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development (last update: April 1999). For further information on the Bulgaria's social and economic factors, natural resources, and institutional structures see the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information for Bulgaria at:
http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/bulgaria/index.htm
Integrated Decision-Making
The Ministry of Environment and Water and Ministry of
Regional Development and Public is responsible for
decision-making in the area of integrated coastal zone
management and sustainable development. The Ministry of
Environment and Water and
Ministry of Trade and Tourism are responsible for
decision-making in the area of marine environmental
protection. And the Ministry of Environment and Water and
Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Agricultural Reforms is
responsible for the area of sustainable use and conservation
of marine living resources.
The coordination is achieved within the framework of the activities included in BSEP (Black Sea Environmental Program)
Bulgaria has a project to develop a National Action Plan for the protection and rehabilitation of Black Sea and a National Strategy for Biodiversity.
Legislation in the area of integrated coastal zone
management and sustainable development includes the
following:
- Regulation act of Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works for Black Sea coastal structure.
- Procedure for Environmental Impact Assessment of Ministry of Environment and Water.
For marine environmental protection, the following
apply:
- Sea Areas Law of Republic of Bulgaria and its part "Protection of the sea environment".
- Regulation on standards and normative basis for determination of the quality of the sea waters.
With respect to the sustainable use and conservation of
marine living resources, the all-legislative basis is under
the actualization process. The National Action Plan for
Black Sea, the new Law of the Black Sea Coastal Structure
and Law of the Water are under procedure of endorsement by
the Parliament.
Status
The percentage of economy contributed by fishing is 0.03% of GDP of 1997.
The Ecological program for Black sea (GEF, PHARE, TACIS) includes protection activities for the control of biodiversity, control of pollution sources, ecological aspects of shipping, exploitation of marine resources.
Capacity-building, education, training and awareness-raising
Major projects in this area include:
- Rehabilitation of Waste water treatment plant in Varna, Bulgaria
- Implementation of unified system for state port control for the 6 Black Sea countries (Bulgaria is a coordinator).
- Construction and bring into use of the set of a smaller Wastewater treatment plants.
In addition, a number of workshops are organized within the
framework of Black Sea Environmental Program.
Constraints
The process of preparation and putting into force of the new legislation is too slow. There is a delay in the work of the new International Convention for the fishing in the Black Sea. There is a lack of enough financial resources.
Information
The National Centre of Environment and Sustainable Development publishes annual bulletins and reports about the National System of Environmental monitoring, pollution in the Black Sea region. The Minister of Environment and Water publishes annual reports on the subject as well. A set of publications is produced on the Black Sea Environmental Program. The Second National Communication on Climate Change, published by Ministry of Environment and Water in 1998, addresses issues related to critical uncertainties.
The Regional Environment and Water Inspectorates at Ministry of Environment and Water maintain a surveillance system in place to monitor implementation of relevant laws and regulations.
There is a Geographic Information System (GIS) for the integrated management of the coastal zone in National Center for Regional Development and Housing Policy at Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.
Financing
- The National Environmental Protection Fund usually has left grants for communities and short-term credits for industrial enterprises and has financed special monitoring for oil products in marine areas.
- The State Budget subsidizes the municipalities for environmentally sound projects including Wastewater treatment plants.
- Donations and projects are received from GEF, UNDP, WB, PHARE, Danish and Japanese Governments.
Cooperation
In Bulgaria, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was ratified in 1996.
The country is also party to the Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea Against Polluting.
In addition, Bulgaria is a party to:
- MARPOL 73/78
- Strategic Action Plan for Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea, signed in 1996 by 6 Black Sea coastal countries.
EUCC has compiled country files on Integrated Coastal
Management (ICM) for all coastal states of Europe and
Central Asia. Summaries for all countries will become
available in August.
This page provides a preliminary summary on the following
items for Bulgaria:
- Spatial planning
- Environment
- Nature Conservation
- Sectoral Development
- Framework for Development of ICZM
- National Achievements in the Field of ICZM
- Problems and Constraints for the Development of ICZM
1. Spatial
planning
1.1 Legislation and Regulations
- Law for Urban and Land-use Planning (for urban and territorial arrangement), (1973).
- Law for the Administrative and Territorial Division, (1995).
- Regulation no. 2 for the norms and rules for the land-use planning of the Black Sea, (1994).
- Regulation no. 5 for construction norms and rules, (1995). [2]
1.2 Administrative Competencies
The central administrative power for spatial planning is
the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction. This
Ministry is responsible for the urban and land-use planning
and the development and construction of the coast.
Two ICZM Offices, part of the Ministry, are responsible for
the ICZM implementation using the legislative and technical
planning tools.
1.3 Coastal Policy
At local level: Land-use plans of the Bulgarian coastal
municipalities. These plans are for the management and
development of the territory of the municipality.
[3]
2. Environment
2.1 Legislation and Regulations
- Water Law, (1961), (a new Water Law is on the way).
- Law for Protection of the Air, Waters and Soil, (1963).
- Law for the Environment, (1991).
- Law for the Purity of the Atmospheric Air, (1996).
- Law for the Solid Wastes Treatments, (1997).
- Law for the Bulgarian Maritime Territory, (1987).
- Regulation no. 8 for the parameters and norms for the quality of the coastal sea waters, (1987).
- Regulation no. 2 for the sanitary safeguarding zones around the water sources and facilities for potable water supply for the population, (1989). [4]
2.2 Administrative Competencies
The main central administrative power for environmental policy is the Ministry of the Environment (and Water). This Ministry is responsible for the environmental management of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. [5] The ministries of Health and Transport also play a small role.
2.3 Environmental Policy
No information received.
3. Nature
Conservation
3.1 Legislation and Regulations
- Law for Plants Protection, (1960).
- Law for the Protection of the Air, Waters and the Soil, (1963).
- Law for the Protection of the Nature, (1967).
- Regulation no. 4 for the buffer zones around the reserves, (1988).
- Law for the Environment, (1991). [6]
- Nature Protection Act, (amended and supplemented in 1998).
- The Protected Areas Act, (1998).
- Forestry Act, (1998). [7]
National policies:
- The coastal zone because of its values, resources and importance has priority in National Development Policies and Strategies especially those concerning the protection and preservation of the environment.
- The resources of the National coastal zone have to be preserved, protected, developed and where possible restored and enhanced for this and succeeding generations.
3.2 Administrative Competencies
Also in the field of nature protection, the Ministry of the Environment is the main central administrative power. [8]
3.3 System of Protected Areas
The new "Protected Areas Act" determines the following
categories of protected areas in Bulgaria: Reserves,
National Parks, Natural Monument, Maintained Reserve,
Natural Park and Protected Localities. All the groups are
legally defined in some of the environmental laws and
regulations as subject to special protection. In addition
there are legal provisions for the protection of valuable
forests and for the protection of monuments of culture,
including historic, archaeological and aesthetic heritage
and in the case of the town of Nessebar, it is
internationally declared by UNESCO as a moment of
culture.
4. Sectoral
Development
4.1 Coastal Defence
A programme for the protection of the high Danube banks along the entire Bulgarian stretch was prepared in 1996 and 1997. The surveys which were done identified seven active erosion zones 48 500 km in length. A National Programme for the Reinforcement of Landslides along the Black Sea Coast 1999-2003 and a National Programme against Erosion and for Reinforcement of the Danube River Banks were adopted in 1998. [9]
4.2 Recreation and Tourism
Ordinance no. 35 for the development of the tourism as
priority sector of the national economy, 1990.
No more information received.
4.3 Fisheries and Aquaculture
Law for fishery, 1982.
Fisheries are not an important sector because of a
relatively small catch of fish due to a number of reasons
but mainly environmental pollution.
No more information received.
4.4 Transport
- Law for the Bulgarian Marine Territory, 1987.
- Law for the road traffic, 1969.
- Commercial Navigation Code, 1970.
No more information received.
4.5 Harbours and Shipping
No information received.
4.6 Industry
No information received.
4.7 Agriculture
- Law for the property and use of the agricultural lands, 1991.
- Law for the protection of the agricultural lands, 1995.
- Law for the promotion of agricultural products, 1996
- Law for the renting of agricultural lands, 1996.
Agricultural lands represent the main part of the coastal
zone and this sector is very important for the economy.
5. Framework for Development of
ICZM
A number of documents that relate to the implementation
of ICZM, have been signed by Bulgaria and were adopted at
international and regional level. The leading documents in
the process of the definition and implementation of ICZM
related activities are the Rio de Janeiro Declaration on
Environment and Development with its ëAgenda
21í(1992), The Bucharest Convention (1992) and the
Odessa Ministerial Declaration (1993). The basic decision to
introduce the ICZM process in the Black Sea coastal zones
has been adopted by the Odessa Declaration. This decision
has been further elaborated in the Black Sea Strategic
Action Plan, (1996), and the comprehensive Transboundary
Diagnostic Analysis (TDA). These two plans are the basis for
further development of actions in the field of ICZM, as well
national as international. The United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Seas, MARPOL, the ECE Convention, the Danube
Convention and the Ramsar Convention have all been signed
and ratified as well.
6. National Achievements in the
Field of ICZM
- A public ICZM information campaign was organised and carried out including public hearings, seminars, and discussions with different levels of government and with all the stakeholders at the coast.
- The first legal steps towards the development of an ICZM programme were the approval of the Regulation no.3/1995 for the management of the Black Sea Coast and the Regulation no.2/1995 for Land-use Norms and Rules for the Black Sea Coast. The boundaries of the coastal zone were also established by these regulations.
- The establishment of an ICZM Network in the country on the national, regional and local level and horizontally among all the stakeholders in the coastal zone.
- The establishment of a prototype of an Auxiliary Commission with representatives of state agencies, regional governorsí administration, municipalities, NGOís, scientific and professional communities.
- Three pilot projects were prepared and one remained for the local ICZM plan of the area of Asparouhovo-Galata.
- A national ICZM Report was prepared in 1995; the report was presented to the coastal and national authorities and approved by the Ministry of the Environment.
- The development of a GIS and database was initiated, but the database has to be extended to include all the necessary information for the decision-making process on the municipal level. The new land-use plans of all the coastal municipalities have also been included in the GIS database. [10]
- The Black Sea Coastal Law is prepared and planned in the legislative program of the government for the spring of 2000. This Law introduces some of the principles of ICZM but mainly covers the problems of coastal planning.
- The ICZM implementation plan was prepared based on the document ëNational ICZM Policies and Strategiesí, and it was included in the Bulgarian National Strategic Action Plan prepared under BSEP. [11]
- A National Waste Management Programme was approved by the Council of Ministers in March 1999. The National Programme comprises an Action Plan and an Investment Programme for the period up to year 2002. It sets out specific institutional and investment measures that are to be initiated in the next four years. [12]
7. Problems and Constraints for the
Development of ICZM
- The results of the existing legal and administrative system of coastal management are negative because of the lack of co-ordination and ongoing negative behaviour towards the environment.
- An insufficient and ineffective definition of the responsibilities of the state agencies and other subjects of authority for different sectors and activities at the coasts, i.e. coastal beach strip, beaches and dunes, coastal lakes, fisheries and some tourism establishments.
- A need for improvement of the implementation and enforcement of the existing and well defined environmental legislation for the area.
- A strong need for new laws or amendments of existing laws, including a need of strengthening of local governments.
- Insufficient real instruments for public participation in the decision-making process for development projects of the coast.
- A need for an adequate planning and development of the environmental and technical infrastructure in the region.
- A need for a structural economical reform in all sectors.
- A need for new tools and procedures for the co-ordination of conflicting sectoral interests and the conflicting interests of all the parties involved in the coastal development and preservation.
Increased pollution or damage of natural
resources.
References
2
GEF BSEP:
ëNational ICZM Policies and Strategies:
Bulgariaí, 1997.
3
ëReport of the meeting of ICZM
co-ordinatorsí, Gelendzhik, Russia, 1999.
4
GEF BSEP: ëNational ICZM Policies and
Strategies: Bulgariaí, 1997.
5
ëReport of the meeting of ICZM
co-ordinatorsí, Gelendzhik, Russia, 1999.
6
GEF BSEP: ëNational ICZM Policies and
Strategies: Bulgariaí, 1997.
7
http://www.moew.govrn.bg/indexengl.htm
8
GEF BSEP: ëNational ICZM Policies and
Strategies: Bulgariaí, 1997.
9
http://www.moew.govrn.bg/indexengl.htm
10
GEF BSEP: ëNational ICZM Policies and
Strategies: Bulgariaí, 1997.
11
ëReport of the meeting of ICZM
co-ordinatorsí, Gelendzhik, Russia, 1999.
12
http://www.moew.govrn.bg/indexengl.htm.
13
GEF BSEP: ëNational ICZM Policies and
Strategies: Bulgariaí, 1997.
Prepared by Martijn Onderstal at EUCC International
Secretariat
© Copyright: European Union for Coastal Conservation
(EUCC), 2000
Black Sea Environmental Program
Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution and Protocols
Strategic
Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the
Black Sea