The „ActivitiesforSustainable ManagementofNatureParkVitosha“ isfinanced bythe 1303, ,17 AntimIStr., ,Tel: (+3592)9885841,Fax:9895377 Balkan Chamois( European RegionalDevelopment FundandthestatebudgetofRepublicBulgaria e-mail: [email protected],www.park-.org; www.bg-parks.net EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND Investing inyourfuture EUROPEAN UNION through theOperational Programme„Environment 2007–2013“ Executive Forestry Agency, Ministryof Agriculture andFood Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica rupicapra Rupicapra Vitosha Nature Park Directorate www.ope.moew.government.bg Oportunities for better life ), photo: Angel Dugmedjiev 2007 -2013 REFERENCE FRAMEWORK STRATEGIC NATIONAL

Stone river, photo: Jordan Damyanov Mountain Apollo (Parnassius apollo), photo: Asen Ignatov Dragalevtsi „Assumption“ Monastery, photo: Julia Mihaylova pine and rock communities. 453 species of favourite recreation spot of the inhabitants of higher plants can be found here, 34 of which Sofia and Pernik - in spring and summer with are included in the Bulgarian Red Data its pleasant coolness and rich green vegeta- Book. Among them are protected and beau- tion, and in winter with its wonderful oppor- tiful plants like the European globe-flower, tunities for skiing. narcissus anemone, Jankae’s lily, bitter root Vitosha Nature Park is the most visited pro- etc. The reserve has been announced a tected area in Bulgaria with over 2,5 million Globe Flower (Trollius europaeus), photo: Jordan Damyanov Biosphere reserve under UNESCO’S Man visitors every year. and Biosphere Programme. The Torpheno Boyana Waterfall, photo: Jordan Damyanov branishte reserve protects communities of Vitosha - the oldest park on the sphagnous mosses, sedges, rushes and low willows, which have exceptional water or thousands of years the livelihood occur on the territory of the park. The park retaining qualities. of people at the foot of Vitosha has is a home of 59 species of higher plants in- Douhlata - a natural monument is situated F been connected with the mountain. cluded in the Bulgarian Red Data Book. at the foot of the southern mountain slopes, Old records reveal that a few centuries ago The diversity of the animal world is also rich. in the Bosneshki Karst area. It is the longest Vitosha was covered with remnants of the 10 species of amphibians, 12 species of and one of the most beautiful caves in Bul- impenetrable Magna silva bulgarorum (the reptiles, 236 bird species and 49 species of garia. It has 7 floors and 6 underground riv- Great Forest of Bulgarians). Today, part of mammals can be found in the park. Despite ers. this ancient forest have remained only in few of the immediate vicinity of the one million Vitosha Nature Park is part of the European places in the park — along the upper cur- capital, the park provides conditions neces- ecological network NATURA 2000. rents of Bistrishka, Yanchovska and Vladay- sary for the existence of carnivores like the Climbing up Vitosha was the aim of the first ska rivers. wolf and the bear. Red deer, wild boar, fox, organised tourists in Bulgaria. The tourist In 1934 due to the active involvement of the common marten, beech marten, badger can movement in the country has its onset in the Bulgarian conservation community, part of also be found. Several rare and interesting eminent climbing of Cherni Vrah (the Balck the Vitosha mountain (6 600 hectares) was birds nest here: Short-toed eagle, Golden Peak) on 27.08.1895 initiated by the promi- declared a Park. This is the first park not only eagle, Goshhawk, Tengmalm’s Owl, Long- nent Bulgarian writer Aleko Konstantinov. In in Bulgaria, but on the Balkan peninsula as eared owl, black woodpecker etc. 1901 the first tourist track signs were put, well. Park boundaries have been changed Two of the first nature reserves in Bulgaria marking the path form the village of Draga- numerous times and today they enclose the have been declared along with the estab- levtzi to Cherni Vrah. Today the park has a whole of the mountain covering an area of lishment of the park — well established tourist infrastructure. The 27 079 ha. Forested areas cover about 60% reserve and the Torpheno branishte (peat mountain offers good conditions for tracking, of the mountain Studies show that more than bog) reserve. The most significant landmark skiing, rock climbing, hang-gliding and other 1 500 species of higher plants, 500 fungi, of the Bistrishko branishte reserve are the types of sports. 500 algae, 326 mosses, 360 lichen species representative spruce ecosystems, subal- Attractive in all seasons the mountain is the