The restoration of the protection of Kamchiiski Sands is the greatest success of environmental civil organizations in Bulgaria over the past ten years. This was stated by Vera Staevska from “Green Laws” – an expert initiative of the Association for Research Practices. The proposal to declare the protected area was approved after many battles and negotiations by a commission from the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW) in Varna. According to Staevska, this is one of the steps to halt construction projects in this unique territory, which represents the largest dune complex combined with riparian forests.
The proposal for the protected area was made by non-governmental organizations and a procedure was conducted under the Law on Protected Territories. In 2006, the order for its establishment was declared null and void by a decision of the Supreme Administrative Court.
On April 5 of this year, the then Minister of Environment, Julian Popov, restored the status of “Kamchiiski Sands” with an order declaring it a protected area. The territory is located in the municipalities of Novo Oryahovo and Shkorpilovtsi, in Dolni Chiflik, and covers a total area of 4,538 decares.
