Save Krumovitsa Special Protection Area! No wind turbines in the vultures’ home!

Petition addressed to: Ministry of Environment and Water of Bulgaria, Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water – Haskovo, Municipality of Krumovgrad, Ministry of Energy

Will SPA “Krumovitsa”, part of the European Natura 2000 network, be transformed into an industrial zone with 26 wind turbines as tall as a 70-storey skyscraper? We have very little time to prevent this and act.
Let us preserve the skies of eagles and vultures, protect the unique natural landscape, and safeguard biodiversity, pastoral livestock farming, and sustainable tourism opportunities in the region.
Sign the petition now.
Why is this area so valuable?
The Eastern Rhodopes and the Krumovitsa River valley near Krumovgrad are among the most biodiversity-rich and well-preserved natural areas in Bulgaria and Europe.
SPA Krumovitsa hosts an exceptional diversity of animal and plant species — including birds, bats, reptiles, mammals, and rare plants — many of which are protected and globally threatened.
As part of the Natura 2000 network, SPA Krumovitsa is one of the key sites in Bulgaria for the conservation of the threatened vulture species. 
In the area you can see:

• The globally Endangered Egyptian vulture, whose population is slowly stabilising after decades of international conservation efforts along its flyway;
• The Cinereous vulture, which until recently was extinct in Bulgaria and is now returning as a result of population reinforcement and target conservation actions.
• The Griffon vulture, a symbol of the Eastern Rhodopes, has survived only in this region after disappearing from the rest of the country during the last century.

This is not just a protected area — it is a place where nature and people coexist in balance.
Thanks to its rich biodiversity and cultural-historical significance, the region attracts tourists, nature enthusiasts, photographers, and researchers from Bulgaria and abroad. Truly intact natural areas of this kind are becoming increasingly rare.
Krumovitsa is one of them — yet today it faces a real and immediate threat.
What is happening?
A wind energy project for the construction of 26 wind turbines and associated power infrastructure is planned in the region, directly within the SPA “Krumovitsa”.
Each turbine is expected to reach a height of approximately 250 metres — exceeding that of a 70-storey building. This represents large-scale industrial development in one of the most valuable natural areas in Bulgaria and Europe.
The project poses a serious risk not only to biodiversity but also to tourism, the local economy, and the region's overall character. It would permanently alter the iconic natural landscape — one of the primary reasons people visit the area.
What is the concern?
Wind turbines in areas of high conservation value cause serious impact::

• Causes collisions and mortality among birds and bats;
• Create barrier effects that disrupt bird migration routes;
• Displace wildlife from key habitats and nesting areas;
• Generate noise disturbance;
• Alter the natural landscape.

Vultures fly at the height of turbine blades and rely on the ridges where the turbines will be built as a critical area for feeding, movement, and gaining altitude.
There are places that cannot be replaced once lost!
What would happen if the project is implemented?

• More than 20% of SPA Krumovitsa would be affected.
• Direct mortality of globally threatened species will be provoked.

The following species would suffer the most:

• Nearly 60% of Bulgaria’s Egyptian vulture population (only around 35 breeding pairs remain in the country);
• The Griffon vulture, whose successful recovery in the last decades could be reversed;
• The first Cinereous vultures breeding again in the Eastern Rhodopes after decades, as part of an ongoing reintroduction programme;
• Decades of conservation efforts dedicated to restoring vulture populations and ecosystems in the Eastern Rhodopes;
• The natural integrity of yet another Special Protection Area as part of Nature 2000 network in Bulgaria.

The impacts would extend beyond wildlife:

• Local livelihoods, such as pastoral livestock farming , will be affected;
• The region’s attractiveness for tourism would significantly decline;
• Opportunities for sustainable development would be reduced;
• Noise disturbance would affect nearby settlements.

At the same time, the generated electricity would be fed into the national grid, without providing direct economic benefits or reduced energy costs for local communities.
We support the development of renewable energy.
However:

• Not every location is suitable for such projects;
• Scientific evidence clearly indicates that certain areas must be preserved, as their loss would cause irreversible damage to nature and society.

Special Protection Area “Krumovitsa” is one such place.