The National Council on Biodiversity approved on Thursday 47 sites for inclusion in the Natura 2000 EU-wide network of nature conservation sites, Deputy Environment and Water Minister Yordan Dardov told journalists.

Environment and Water Minister Djevdet Chakurov is expected to introduce the proposals for the new sites in the Council of Ministers, Bulgarian Telegraph Agency reported. They bring the Natura 2000 protected areas to 34 per cent of the country's territory, Dardov said.

Rila Buffer was excluded from the proposals because it comprises the investment projects Super Borovets, Panichishte and at least 100 smaller projects, said Hristo Nikolov from the Board of Trustees of the Green Balkans environmental organization. He said the Council voted 10-7, with three abstentions (including the representatives of environmental organizations), for the site's exclusion.

Two persons whose votes could have changed the final decision were absent, Nikolov said. Also, the proposal for the area's exclusion was made orally at the last moment. While Nikolov is satisfied with the Council's work and the good protection of nature, he will propose again that parts of Rila Buffer be reincluded.

The urbanized Super Borovets area could be excluded from the site, leaving the rest to be included in the network. Council members said Nikolov abstained from voting on the inclusion of Rila Buffer.

The Council approved the Central Balkan Buffer area put off in 2006 at the request of the National Forestry Board, as well as 42 sites (of which 16 for habitats and 26 for birds), whose inclusion in the network was postponed by the Council of Ministers in March.

The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences proposed four more areas: Taushan Tepe, Lyubash, Kroushe and Izvoro.

The Council excluded 2,206 hectares from the Emine area, 2,286 ha from the Kaliakra area and 75 ha from Palakaria. Wind generators will be built in some of the excluded parts, said Dimiter Peev, Director of the Institute of Botany, who heads the evaluation project.