Posted on February, 03 2015

Recently, the coalition of NGOs „For the Nature in Bulgaria“ that WWF belongs to sent letters to Bulgarian institutions to oppose a new golf course plan in the protected area Balchik. The area is on the Black Sea coast and is part of Natura 2000. Local citizens also formed groups to oppose the project and started a petition.

If built, "Momchil golf and golf course" will destroy rare steppes inhabited by many migratory and nesting bird species, including highly endangered ones like the red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) and the pallid harrier (Circus macrourus), as well as others like the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca), the blotched snake (Elaphe sauromates) and two types of polecat.

A big part of these habitats were already irreversibly destroyed in the neighboring protected area Belite Skali (The White Rocks) after the construction of two other golf courses. They completely replaced natural habitats with artificial grass, non-native species, buildings, roads and swimming pools and interfered with the migration of the area’s rare and protected species. In addition, the grass mixtures the golf courses use are aggressive to local species. The grass mixtures are irrigated to prevent drying up and treated with chemicals against unwanted grass type growth.

Currently, Bulgaria risks paying high penalties for failing to respect EU environmental legislation in the protected area Belite skali, including through the construction of those golf courses. The European Court of Justice has an open file against Bulgaria on the issue.

Bulgaria also has a case file  open in the Bern Convention for its plans to construct wind turbines in the protected area Balchik. The investor is fully aware of the fact that the Bern Convention and the European Commission consider such plans illegal because they deteriorate bird habitats. A golf course and a holiday village would put Bulgaria at further risk of financial losses because of failure to comply with European environmental legislation.

If built, the new golf course would destroy 40% of dry grasslands in the protected area Balchik.  Golf course construction causes the same harm as mining, reforestation of pastures and meadows or their conversion into arable land and permanent crops, which  is prohibited under Bulgarian law. The harm is the same because  a golf course destroys habitats completely, permanently and irreversibly.

Rare steppe habitats can only be found in Northeast Bulgaria. The protected area Balchik is the only place along the Black Sea coast where the steppes can be protected.

The Balchik area is also a bio-corridor that connects two other Natura 2000 protected zones -- Batova River Valley and Kaliakra Complex.