Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan - part - usaid

February 2004
Insufficient information from and about the Park
The fact of this territory’s designation as a Nature Park on account of its conservation
significance is, more often than not, unknown to visitors, whether Bulgarian or
foreign. Although Rila Monastery is among the most popular tourist destinations with
Bulgarian as well as international tourists, little information is available about its
history, its connection with the surrounding natural scenery, or the importance of this
territory from the perspective of the international environmentalist community. While
Rila Monastery itself, being a World Heritage site, is a known symbol of Bulgaria’s
national pride and a major destination for foreign visitors, little is known of the Park’s
significance as one of the most valuable protected natural areas in the country.
The insufficient quantity of relevant information diminishes people’s understanding,
sensitivity and appreciation of the Park’s value, whether natural or spiritual. This fact
also reduces the Park’s potential to contribute towards making Bulgaria a leader in
harmonious collaborative management of sites of exceptional cultural, religious and
conservation significance located within the same territory.
In addition, there is limited support on behalf of the public sector for the progress and
accomplishments made in the sphere of nature protection within the Park territory.
The Directorate of RMNP operates in the absence of a coherent, coordinated strategy
of communication with the landowners. Whatever information is available from the
Directorate is limited to highlighting the natural values of the Park without any
relation to the cultural and spiritual treasures in its territory. There is practically no
support on behalf of the private sector in this respect. There is very little preliminary
information, whether in the form of educational materials or advertising, outside the
Park territory; while the information available within it is still insufficient. The
unavailability of advance information as to what visitors can and cannot do within the
Park territory makes management of the tourist flow extremely difficult, while
lowering the quality of tourist services and visitor experience during the actual visit.
Significance: high
Inefficient mechanisms of interaction, conflict resolution and harnessing support
by local communities and institutions
The new management models developed for protected areas require that their
management plans, as well as any activities envisioned in them, be attuned to the
livelihood and the general economic situation of the local communities. The Park
administration, in addition to being faced with the challenge of collaborating with a
major landowner, the only private holder of lands within the Park, should also interact
and cooperate with the local authorities and communities in the adjoining territories.
Mechanisms and public relations programs should therefore be identified to allow
that the needs and responsibilities of the local population become intertwined with the
needs and responsibilities pertinent to the management of the Park. In more specific
terms, it is necessary to seek methods and tools to deal with issues like gathering of
firewood, access to non-timber natural products, communication and water supply
systems, waste management, etc. All these activities should be organized in such a
way as to fully take into consideration the interests, role and responsibilities of the
Bulgarian Orthodox Church, since most of them are to be performed on its property.
Significance: high
Rila Monastery Nature Park
Management Plan - Draft
2004 - 2013
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