Just as with the Temštica, Visočica and its tributaries were seen as a location for dozens of micro hydros, mini power plants and again, it caused problem with the environmentalists and local population. Construction of the proposed Pakleštica micro hydro was halted by the Ministry for environmental protection after "Srbijašume" state owned company reported that the power plant would disrupt the ecology of the area. Additionally, the region of Stara Planina is protected by the law. The Administrative Court then confirmed the investors' rights to build the plant, but the Ministry appealed to the Supreme Court of Cassation and announced the change of the Nature protection law, which will permanently forbid the construction of plants in protected areas. In order to prevent further degradation, the Nature Park Stara Planina was nominated for the UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme and for the world list of geoparks, while over 10,000 citizens signed petition against the micro hydros, including the deans of several faculties within the University of Belgrade (Biology, Forestry, Veterinary Medicine) and organized protests. In November 2018, in its final decision, the Supreme Court of Cassation overturned the Administrative Court's decision. The court also examined the report of the Institute for Natural Protection of Serbia, which described wildlife, including strictly protected plant and animal species in Visočica, and which differs greatly from the governmental study on the same issue.