Balgarianovinite.com Caretaker Environment and Water Minister Julian Popov has banned a number of activities in a conservation-significant area near the village of Gornoslav in order to protect the protected plant species Rhodope haberlea, also known as Orpheus flower (Haberlea rhodopensis), the Ministry of Environment and Water said on Tuesday.
The ban covers changes in land designation and permanent land use of agricultural and forest areas, construction activities, as well as prospecting, exploration and extraction of underground resources. Other activities that could lead to damage or destruction of the species’ population and habitat are also prohibited.
The measure aims to prevent risks to the habitat of the Rhodope haberlea, a protected plant species of high conservation value.
The order will remain in force until the protected site “Habitat of Rhodope Haberlea (Haberlea rhodopensis Friv.)” is officially declared, following a proposal by the NGO Green Balkans. The caretaker minister ruled on the proposal’s expediency in March, and the procedure for declaring the protected area has already started under the Protected Areas Act.
The ban was imposed after the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water in Plovdiv received an investment proposal for marble extraction and primary processing in the same area. The ministry said the project would lead to the complete and irreversible destruction of the species’ habitat and population.
On Tuesday, the ministry and the Plovdiv environmental inspectorate also received a report of serious destruction affecting part of the Rhodope haberlea habitat. This involved uprooting all mature plants in the lower part of the ravine, with preliminary data showing that at least 400 plants were destroyed.
An immediate on-site inspection was ordered to establish the facts and assess the extent of the damage.
The competent prosecutor’s office will be notified, as the Rhodope haberlea is a protected species. In cases of unlawful destruction or damage to protected species, those responsible may face criminal liability under the Penal Code, including up to three years in prison or probation, as well as a fine ranging from EUR 1,023 to EUR 5,113.
The ministry said it will continue the procedure for declaring the protected area because of its importance as a natural habitat of the Rhodope haberlea, one of the rarest species in Bulgarian flora, a Balkan endemic and Tertiary relic included in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The population in the area of Gornoslav exceeds 5,000 individuals and is considered representative for the country.
In February 2026, the Administrative Court in Plovdiv ruled in favour of the company Zapryanovi – 03, which had challenged the refusal of the Municipal Council in Asenovgrad to allow amendments to a detailed development plan in forest territory. The amendment is needed by the company, which holds the concession for a marble and ballast quarry in the “Delchevo-2” concession area located in the land of Gornoslav. Caretaker Environment Minister Bans Activities Threatening Rhodope Haberlea near Gornoslav 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-04-28 18:27:58 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law