Case study of Bourgas

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Institutional change for sustainable urban
development The challenges of urbanisation and
nature conservation in Bulgaria

• Case study of Bourgas
• Vanya Simeonova (M.Sc.)
• WUR

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Urbanization and Nature conservation Conditions
for development of recreation and tourism
LIVEABLE CITIES
Atanasovsko lake
Vaia Lake
Mandra Lake
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The Case Study Bourgas Atanasovsko Lake Area

• Natural connection between main urban area and
  the suburb
• Located next to nature reserve Atanasovsko Lake
  and the coast
• Good accessibility to infrastructure
• High economic private interests for developments
  in tourism
• Pristine bird habitat

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Factors influencing formal institutions in
planning and nature management in Bulgaria

• Progressive decentralization
• Political changes
• Development of land and estate market
• Restrictive financial policy
• Emergence of private actors in urban development
• Financial competition between local authorities
• Harmonization of the legislation to the EU

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- Statutory planning PROCEDURE- Environmental
assessment PROCEDURE
The local planning process within formal
institutional framework
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The local planning process within formal
institutional framework
The land use planning process -preparing a
planning assignment in conformity with the
General Spatial Plan and national legislation
-making formal agreements about the project
development -offering a planning
design -organizing stakeholders consultation
-submission of a new land use plan to the local
council
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The formal role of the Local authorities-elabo
rate the project idea -comply to the
development priorities of the municipality-to
provide information to all interested parties
-formally approve the plan
Organizations and the Rules of the Game
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Organizations and the Rules of the Game
The informal role of the Local authorities
-Stakeholder Consultation -Organizational
Communication -Initiation and leadership of the
planning process
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Balancing objectives for sustainable urban
development
Interests of the local actors -the interest of
the land owners to develop and increase the value
of their land -the interest of the municipality
to develop an attractive and functional urban
territory -the interest of the ecologists to
preserve the nature values and biodiversity
-the interest of the businesses to invest in
development -the interest of the local people
for quality of life
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Institutional Problems in the local planning
process

• - Problems of Capacity building knowledge,
  communication, practice
• - Organizational fragmentation
• - Lack of recognition of the actors
  interdependency
• - Unclear rules of the game (legislations,
  procedures)
• - Lack of vision and strong leadership

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Needs for an institutional change
Formal Transformations -Changing organizational
structures team building -Professional input
multidisciplinary approach of planning,
integrating knowledge -Achieving formal
commitments at the initial phase of the plan
identify and consider differences in development
interests -Considering ambitions and their
alternatives in decision making
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Needs for an institutional change

• Informal Transformations
• -Bring individual professionals together
  (Environmental experts planners)
• -Consult with land owners directly affected by
  the project
• -Inform local community about the project
• Consult with nature conservation organizations
• -Show openness to public and private organization
  interested in the project

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The Role of Institutional Change For Achieving
Sustainable Urban Development
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Institutional Change for an Integrated Urban
Development and Nature Conservation
The CHALENGE of inter-institutional communication
to balance interests !