Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan - part - usaid

February 2004
2.3 Limitations
The lack of precedent and prior experience in collaborative management of a
Nature Park in Bulgaria
About 77% of the territory of Rila Monastery Nature Park has been restituted to its
owner, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. So far, there is no known precedent or prior
experience of an operational model of collaborative management of nature parks in
Bulgaria, especially in a situation where such a considerable portion of the protected
area is held by a single private landowner. The biggest challenge to the Park remains
finding a way to balance the rights, role and responsibilities of the State and the
Bulgarian Orthodox Church in implementing the first Management Plan for the
territory. The Nature Park should be managed in compliance with the provisions of
the government act by which it was designated, namely Decree # RD-310/26.06.2000
(State Gazette, # 56/11.06.2000), by applying the regimes prescribe as per Art. 21 of
the Protected Areas Act, whereby RMNP is to be treated as a National Park.
Significance: critical
Insufficient staffing and provision of material and financial resources and
equipment to the institutions relevant to the Park management
The role and responsibilities of the State and the Church in financing the activities
pertinent to managing the Nature Park are as yet insufficiently clear. In the absence of
clarity, a large proportion of the provisions of the Management Plan and the longterm
(ideal) goals laid down in it are in danger of remaining unfulfilled. The present
level of financing the activities carried out in RMNP through the Park Directorate is
insufficient to endure the implementation of the Management Plan. It is critically
important to clarify the issue of the future financing of Park-related activities.
On the other hand, the fact that the Park Directorate is understaffed and/or poorly
organized in terms of assignment of functions and responsibilities, as well as short on
office space, equipment and supplies, further diminishes the State’s chances of
carrying out its duties in ensuring the effective implementation of the Management
Plan. Although this does not apply solely or specifically to Rila Monastery Nature
Park, the implementation of the Plan will be seriously compromised if the necessary
resources for protection, control and management of the tourist flow in RMNP are not
provided.
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church, notably Rila Monastery, are likewise lacking in
specialized and properly trained staff for managing its property within RMNP, for
maintaining liaison with the institutions and protection of the territory as a Nature
Park.
Significance: very high
Rila Monastery Nature Park
Management Plan - Draft
2004 - 2013
170