Ecozone

Local Model
for Sustainable Development and European Integration – Sofia East Ecozone

Introduction

The Local Model for Sustainable Development and European Integration – Sofia East Ecozone covers an area located in the eastern part of the City of Sofia and the Sofia Basin. The idea was first put forward in 1989. A draft project to this effect was developed by a consortium between ESBI of Ireland and STALKER-KM EOOD of Bulgaria in 1996-97 under Phare (Environment and Waters Ministry).

The code of the project is BG 9310-03-05-05.

The project put forward an environmental management plan of the Sofia East Ecozone, defined six basic pilot projects and a structure for their implementation.

A structural scheme for integrated management was developed in 1998, commissioned by the Architecture and Town-planning Directorate of the Sofia Town Hall. The scheme sets out the spatial development framework for the development of the model, defines the local indicators of sustainable development, the structural zones and the specific status of the area as "a region for development". The structural scheme also defines 14 basic pilot projects and the mechanisms for their implementation.

Project Brief

The Ecozone is on an area of 207 square kilometres and has a population of 115,000. The area was selected in such a way so as to include all basic components of the big city, farmland with small villages, woodland stock and mountain meadows. The area has diverse spatial development characteristics: high-rise residential blocks of flats, suburbs, industrial plants, engineering facilities, transport networks, farm and wood lands, quarries and landfills. Within the boundaries of the area are also the Sofia Airport, the botanical gardens, the Vrana residence, the Sofia East Thermoelectric Power Plant, and sections of the Iskur and Lesnovska rivers.

The Kremikovtsi Metallurgical Works has a strong negative impact on the environment. Air, water, soil and noise pollution is observed in a considerable portion of the area. The infrastructure and public amenities are in an unsatisfactory state of repair which will continue to get worse unless urgent measures are taken.

The key objective of the model is to introduce integrated management, i.e.:

• Coordinated activities of the central power, local powers and the civil society, with a strengthened role of the local self-government and control by the NGOs;
• Introduction of special rules and regulations in line with the mechanisms for sustainable development of the triad nature-society-economy, including such with regard to the economic and social sphere;
• Quick implementation on the local level of the requirements arising from the EU accession process.

The Ecozone has considerable economic and resource potential, e.g. an international airport, key international rail and road connections, large industrial zone, part of the national power grid, fertile farm land, quarries where aggregates are extracted.

Additional potential for development of the Ecozone is present in its mineral water springs, the Vrana botanical gardens which are unique in the Balkans, the Vrana residence, part of the numerous monasteries of the so-called Sofia’s Mt Athos, the woods of the Lozen Mountain, the Pancharevo Pond.

The information collected about the Ecozone is used to describe the present state of its environment, to define the aims, the identified conflicts and the activities that need to be undertaken to solve them. The review and analysis have focused on: population; land ownership and land use; industry; energy generation; infrastructure; rest and recreation; tourism; transport; ecosystems; cultural heritage; ambient air quality; surface waters quality; subsoil waters quality; soils; geology; seismology and hydro-geology; waste management; noise; radiation and non-ionized radiation.

The legislative and administrative framework underpinning the model have been set out, as well as the regulations and mechanisms for management that need to be aligned with the relevant EU requirements.

The model was developed taking into account the requirements of the new General Plan of Sofia. In the absence of indicators for sustainable development at the local level, the general indicators of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) were used as baseline indicators. A process is underway to develop definitions of the basic indicators of sustainable development and the main functional units of the Ecozone (i.e. structural scheme for functional zoning of Sofia East Ecozone). The indicators will be checked by the introduction of the suggested mechanism for management and the implementation of the pilot projects. The indicators are expected to be used in the new General Plan of Sofia.

The activities within the Ecozone are based on:

• Assessment of the present state of the environment;
• Previously proposed rehabilitation, spatial development and conservation measures;
• Appropriate mechanism for their implementation and control.

Thematic programmes have been proposed in the following key directions:

• Information system; creation of a regional centre for urban environment; environmental monitoring;
• Energy efficiency and new technologies;
• Waste management;
• Public opinion and civil society;
• Public health;
• EU integration and investment strategy.

The above working programmes need to be developed with the direct involvement of the local powers, NGOs and external partners. The basis for the preparation of the Local Model for Sustainable Development and European Integration and the selection of management decisions and projects for implementation will be the creation of an information system, subject of a basic pilot project, which will be developed in direct partnership with the relevant unit of the Architecture and Town-planning Directorate of the Sofia Town Hall and the information centres with the relevant ministries.

The model also proposes realistic measures for introducing EU environmental standards and limiting pollution in the Ecozone.

A questionnaire for environmental review for industrial plants, approved by the Environment and Waters Ministry, has been proposed. Environmental impact assessments need to be carried out in the enterprises in the Ecozone.

Between 40 and 50 per cent of the Bulgarians say they breathe polluted air and noxious gases, drink and use in their homes polluted water, live surrounded by noxious waste and are exposed to constant noise, so that the project includes a programme for measuring public opinion and interest. The environmental management plan also includes a programme of training seminars for three target audiences: administrators; experts; and members of the public.

The plan also envisages the introduction of a mechanism for public control of both the state of the environment for living as well as of proposed municipal projects or the quality of goods offered for sale.

The creation of a public non-profit association, Agency for Sustainable Development and European Integration – Sofia Ecozone, was envisaged with the purpose of implementing the plan and its future development. The association was set up in October 1997.