While serving as Minister and Deputy Minister, Borislav Sandov and Toma Belev did not find the time to approve the protected area of Kamchiyski Piasatsi. The procedure to restore the protected area of Kamchiyski Piasatsi began in May 2021, following a proposal from several non-governmental organizations.
In December 2021, Sandov and Belev took over the management of the Ministry of Environment and Water. From that time until the end of the prematurely terminated Petkov cabinet's mandate in August 2022, the two green activists did not find time to protect Kamchiyski Piasatsi. The reason was that they were occupied with other, more important issues, such as signing a security contract for Natura 2000 zones or allowing construction in Arkutino.
They did, however, find the time and means, within just two months, to declare the marine area of Koral as protected, where the family of former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov could freely surf and kite.
The protection of Kamchiyski Piasatsi was ultimately carried out by the previous Minister of Ecology, Yulian Popov. As soon as Popov took office, environmentalists launched a campaign against him, and their party, "Green Movement," withdrew political support from him. These attacks were provoked by the fact that Borislav Sandov and Toma Belev were not reinstated at the head of the Ministry of Environment and Water, where they could continue to pursue the corporate and personal interests of green NGOs and allocate public funds to organizations close to them.
As Deputy Minister responsible for Biodiversity and Protected Areas, Toma Belev did not find time to issue an order protecting Kamchiyski Piasatsi but did manage to permit construction on one of the few remaining untouched beaches—Arkutino, located within the Ropotamo Reserve.
While the declaration of the protected area Kamchiyski Piasatsi is great news, the size of this area—over 4,500 decares (about 1,100 acres)—along with several Natura 2000 zones, hinders the selection of a route for the strategic Black Sea Motorway project.
According to Eco News, NGOs have appealed the order designating Kamchiyski Piasatsi as a protected area to the Supreme Administrative Court. They argue that there is not enough scientific evidence to prove the presence of unique plant and animal species across every square meter, as well as natural sand formations, that are unique to Europe and Bulgaria. The appellants believe that environmental protection should not conflict with the public interest and the rights of municipalities and property owners.
