Taking informed action to Taking informed action to preserve the commons in preserve the commons in

the environmentthe environment

The case of ski lifts on Vitosha The case of ski lifts on Vitosha Mountain in BulgariaMountain in Bulgaria

Vitosha MountainVitosha Mountain

This is Vitosha, a mountain massif rising just This is Vitosha, a mountain massif rising just above Sofia, capital and biggest city of Bulgaria.above Sofia, capital and biggest city of Bulgaria.

Vitosha MountainVitosha Mountain

Vitosha is located very close to the city and it’s a Vitosha is located very close to the city and it’s a favorite for many people of Sofia who go there favorite for many people of Sofia who go there on weekends to enjoy the beautiful landscapes on weekends to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and fresh air.and fresh air.

Voluntary developmentVoluntary development Almost 120 years ago, Aleko Almost 120 years ago, Aleko

Konstantinov, a famous Konstantinov, a famous Bulgarian writer and public Bulgarian writer and public figure, invited Sofia’s nature figure, invited Sofia’s nature enthusiasts to found a clubenthusiasts to found a club

It would be modeled after It would be modeled after alpine clubs in Europe, so that alpine clubs in Europe, so that its members would help each its members would help each other and enjoy their hobby other and enjoy their hobby togethertogether

The founders’ meeting was set The founders’ meeting was set up in the summer of 1895 on up in the summer of 1895 on the highest peak of Vitosha the highest peak of Vitosha MountainMountain

More than 300 people of More than 300 people of different age and social status different age and social status showed upshowed up

Voluntary developmentVoluntary development In the early 20In the early 20thth century, the new Bulgarian century, the new Bulgarian

tourist association formed branches all over the tourist association formed branches all over the country to promote tourist activities:country to promote tourist activities: Planting trees and protecting the environmentPlanting trees and protecting the environment Marking trailsMarking trails Building mountain huts, mostly with volunteer labor, Building mountain huts, mostly with volunteer labor,

materials and financial donationsmaterials and financial donations Organizing hikesOrganizing hikes Creating mountain rescue teamsCreating mountain rescue teams Issuing magazines, newspapers, guidebooksIssuing magazines, newspapers, guidebooks Holding lectures, organizing art and photographic Holding lectures, organizing art and photographic

exhibitionsexhibitions

Public developmentPublic development

In 1934, Vitosha was officially declared a national park – In 1934, Vitosha was officially declared a national park – the first one in the country.the first one in the country.

Starting in the 1950s, the city of Sofia built roads and ski Starting in the 1950s, the city of Sofia built roads and ski lifts to allow people to easily reach the mountain. Bus lifts to allow people to easily reach the mountain. Bus lines would bring people up to the mountain for a cheap lines would bring people up to the mountain for a cheap fare.fare.

PrivatizationPrivatization However, sometimes there were periods of economic difficulty in the However, sometimes there were periods of economic difficulty in the

country. The city could not afford to continually finance maintenance country. The city could not afford to continually finance maintenance of the equipment.of the equipment.

In the 1990s, one of the ski lifts broke down and is still abandoned. In the 1990s, one of the ski lifts broke down and is still abandoned. The other ones need renovation too.The other ones need renovation too.

In 2007, the ski lifts on Vitosha were privatized. According to the In 2007, the ski lifts on Vitosha were privatized. According to the contract, the private company that bought them would have to invest contract, the private company that bought them would have to invest in renovation works.in renovation works.

PrivatizationPrivatization The company became a de facto monopolist, The company became a de facto monopolist,

and has since then doubled the prices for and has since then doubled the prices for using the ski lifts.using the ski lifts.

In 2011, in violation of the privatization In 2011, in violation of the privatization contract, they refused to pay for contract, they refused to pay for maintenance and renovation of the ski lifts maintenance and renovation of the ski lifts until they were allowed to expand business until they were allowed to expand business by building higher-capacity lifts and by by building higher-capacity lifts and by cutting trees to make new ski slopes.cutting trees to make new ski slopes.

Their lawyers and lobbyists pressured the Their lawyers and lobbyists pressured the central government to amend the forest law central government to amend the forest law to allow them to do so without having to go to allow them to do so without having to go through costly land acquisition procedures through costly land acquisition procedures and environmental impact assessments.and environmental impact assessments.

Public protestsPublic protests In June 2012, Parliament In June 2012, Parliament

quietly passed the law quietly passed the law amendments requested by the amendments requested by the company.company.

On the same day, thousands On the same day, thousands of people blocked one of the of people blocked one of the main roads in Sofia for an hour main roads in Sofia for an hour to protest against the decision.to protest against the decision.

The protest action was not The protest action was not announced in advance; it took announced in advance; it took only a few hours to organize it only a few hours to organize it on Facebook and the news on Facebook and the news spread quickly by word-of-spread quickly by word-of-mouth.mouth.

Public protestsPublic protests The government tried to The government tried to

convince people that the convince people that the amendments in the law were amendments in the law were beneficial, without any beneficial, without any success.success.

Protests continued every day. Protests continued every day. Four days later, the President Four days later, the President vetoed the law.vetoed the law.

The ruling party soon backed The ruling party soon backed out and reversed the changes.out and reversed the changes.

Since then, the company Since then, the company operating the ski lifts has operating the ski lifts has restored service and stopped restored service and stopped hiking the prices.hiking the prices.

ImplicationsImplications Even though the ski lifts on Vitosha are no longer public Even though the ski lifts on Vitosha are no longer public

property, the mountain itself is still seen as a common, property, the mountain itself is still seen as a common, public good.public good.

The local community is not opposed to privatization and The local community is not opposed to privatization and free-market rules; it accepted private management of the free-market rules; it accepted private management of the ski lifts, but refused attempts to unjustly appropriate ski lifts, but refused attempts to unjustly appropriate larger portions of the Vitosha Mountain nature park for larger portions of the Vitosha Mountain nature park for private financial gain.private financial gain.

The June 2012 protests were an example of this sense The June 2012 protests were an example of this sense of community created by the commons, and the action of of community created by the commons, and the action of “beating the bounds”, making it clear what’s acceptable “beating the bounds”, making it clear what’s acceptable and what’s not.and what’s not.

Lightning fast community actionLightning fast community action Modern technologies allow us Modern technologies allow us

to spread news quickly, in a to spread news quickly, in a matter of minutes.matter of minutes.

One of the main reasons this One of the main reasons this action was successful was that action was successful was that it was lightning fast. The it was lightning fast. The corporate lobbyists and their corporate lobbyists and their friends in government were friends in government were unprepared.unprepared.

If you believe you’ve noticed If you believe you’ve noticed an unjustified invasion of a an unjustified invasion of a common good, start by telling common good, start by telling all your friends right away. all your friends right away. Sometimes, this may be all Sometimes, this may be all that it takes to tip the scales that it takes to tip the scales the other way.the other way.