Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) – 2009-2012 version Available for download from http://www.ramsar.org/ris/key_ris_index.htm. Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 (1990), as amended by Resolution VIII.13 of the 8 th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2002) and Resolutions IX.1 Annex B, IX.6, IX.21 and IX. 22 of the 9 th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2005). Notes for compilers: 1. The RIS should be completed in accordance with the attached Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. Compilers are strongly advised to read this guidance before filling in the RIS. 2. Further information and guidance in support of Ramsar site designations are provided in the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 7, 2 nd edition, as amended by COP9 Resolution IX.1 Annex B). A 3rd edition of the Handbook, incorporating these amendments, is in preparation and will be available in 2006. 3. Once completed, the RIS (and accompanying map(s)) should be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat. Compilers should provide an electronic (MS Word) copy of the RIS and, where possible, digital copies of all maps. 1. Name and address of the compiler of this form: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY . Andrey Ralev, BALKANI Wildlife Society, DD MM YY 67V Tsanko Tserkovski str, Sofia 1421, BULGARIA Phone/fax: +359 2 9631470 E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected] Designation date Site Reference Number www.balkani.org 2. Date this sheet was completed/updated: 11 April 2011 3. Country: BULGARIA 4. Name of the Ramsar site: The precise name of the designated site in one of the three official languages (English, French or Spanish) of the Convention. Alternative names, including in local language(s), should be given in parentheses after the precise name. Dragoman Marsh Karst Complex 5. Designation of new Ramsar site or update of existing site: This RIS is for (tick one box only) : a) Designation of a new Ramsar site ⌧; or b) Updated information on an existing Ramsar site 6. For RIS updates only, changes to the site since its designation or earlier update: a) Site boundary and area The Ramsar site boundary and site area are unchanged: Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 2 or If the site boundary has changed: i) the boundary has been delineated more accurately ; or ii) the boundary has been extended ; or iii) the boundary has been restricted** and/or If the site area has changed: i) the area has been measured more accurately ; or ii) the area has been extended ; or iii) the area has been reduced** ** Important note : If the boundary and/or area of the designated site is being restricted/reduced, the Contracting Party should have followed the procedures established by the Conference of the Parties in the Annex to COP9 Resolution IX.6 and provided a report in line with paragraph 28 of that Annex, prior to the submission of an updated RIS. b) Describe briefly any major changes to the ecological character of the Ramsar site, including in the application of the Criteria, since the previous RIS for the site: 7. Map of site: Refer to Annex III of the Explanatory Note and Guidelines , for detailed guidance on provision of suitable maps, including digital maps. a) A map of the site, with clearly delineated boundaries, is included as: i) a hard copy (required for inclusion of site in the Ramsar List): ; ii ) an electronic format (e.g. a JPEG or ArcView image) ; iii) a GIS file providing geo-referenced site boundary vectors and attribute tables Shapefile: Coordinate system: WGS 84, projection: UTM 35N b) Describe briefly the type of boundary delineation applied: e.g. the boundary is the same as an existing protected area (nature reserve, national park, etc.), or follows a catchment boundary, or follows a geopolitical boundary such as a local government jurisdiction, follows physical boundaries such as roads, follows the shoreline of a waterbody, etc. Main part of the boundary of the Ramsar site is the same as the NATURA 2000 site BG0000322 “Dragoman” proposed under the Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora . The north part of the boundary follows the catchment boundary of the Dragoman Marsh and the Tsraklevtsi wet meadows – the crest of the Chepan Mountain. The southeast part of the boundary covers the Bezden Reservoirs, karst springs and Petarch Fishponds. The dry hills in the centre of the Ramsar site influence the ecological character of the wetlands through significant subterranean water flows. The eastern and southern parts of the boundary exclude two areas around Beledie Han village and Slivnitsa town included in the NATURA 2000 site. The excluded areas have no relation to the key wetlands. The area of the Ramsar site is almost completely included in the NATURA 2000 site BG000322 “Dragoman” and partially overlaps with the NATURA 2000 site BG0002001 “Rayanovtsi”, designated under the Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds. 8. Geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude, in degrees and minutes): Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 3 Provide the coordinates of the approximate centre of the site and/or the limits of the site. If the site is composed of more than one separate area, provide coordinates for each of these areas. WGS 84 - BL DRAGOMAN MARSH KARST COMPLEX - 42º56`N, 23º1`E Dragoman Marsh 42º 55`N, 22º 57`E Aldomirovtsi Marsh 42º 53`N, 22º 59`E Tsraklevtsi wet meadows 42º 56`N, 23º 9`E Petarch fishponds 42º 51`N, 23º 7`E Bezden Karst Springs 42º 52`N, 23º 5`E Chepan Mountain 42º 56`N, 22º 57`E 9. General location: Include in which part of the country and which large administrative region(s) the site lies and the location of the nearest large town. Dragoman Marsh Karst Complex lies in west Bulgaria, Sofia district, and in four municipalities: Dragoman, Godech, Slivnitsa and Kostinbrod. The site is situated about 30 km from the capital Sofia, about 1 km from the town of Dragoman and 2 km from the town of Slivnitsa. The site is in direct proximity to the Sofia – Belgrade international E80 motorway. 10. Elevation: (in metres: average and/or maximum & minimum) Mean elevation is 850 m a.s.l. (range 700 – 1206 metres) 11. Area: (in hectares) 14 967 ha . 12. General overview of the site: Provide a short paragraph giving a summary description of the principal ecological characteristics and importance of the wetland. The Dragoman Marsh Karst Complex is the only one of its kind in Bulgaria and one of the few on the Balkan Peninsula. It includes limestone hills with depressions between them where wetlands are formed. The whole karst complex is located south of the 20 km long ridge of the Chepan Mountain, which forms part of the Stara Planina Mountain range. The highest peak is Petrovski Krast (1206 m.a.s.l.). The Ramsar site is characterized by very rich biodiversity - includes nesting sites of rare and threatened birds and relict localities of marsh and bog plants. The wetlands include the large Dragoman and Aldomirovtsi marshes, wet meadows, some smaller wetlands and some human- made ones. Dragoman marsh is the biggest limestone marsh in Bulgaria - now its area covers about 400 ha. Aldomirovtsi Marsh (120 ha) is linked to it through subterranean waters and was declared a protected area in 1989. Very specific is the region close to the village of Tsraklevtsi – a variety of different wet grasslands. Several karst springs close to Bezden village provide water to two artificial lakes and the Blato River. In the southeast part of the site next to the Blato River are located the Petarch Fishponds, which provides very good conditions during bird migration and has a great potential for wetland restoration. The area around the wetlands is mainly agricultural land (arable land, meadows and pastures), part of which is temporarily flooded by the spring rains and melting snow. In the 1930-50s drainage channels and pump stations were built to drain part of the wetlands. The life in the Dragoman Marsh disappeared for decades. But in the 90s these facilities stopped working and the wetlands have been quickly restored. Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 4 In the whole proposed area 256 species of birds (61% of Bulgarian avifauna) are registered, 9 amphibians, 9 reptiles, 23 mammals and 180 vascular plants. In the Chepan Mountain and surrounding karst hills there are many rare, Bulgarian and Balkan endemic plant species. The area has many butterfly and dragonfly species of European and world importance. 13. Ramsar Criteria: Tick the box under each Criterion applied to the designation of the Ramsar site. See Annex II of the Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for the Criteria and guidelines for their application (adopted by Resolution VII.11). All Criteria which apply should be ticked. 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 8 • 9 14. Justification for the application of each Criterion listed in 13 above: Provide justification for each Criterion in turn, clearly identifying to which Criterion the justification applies (see Annex II for guidance on acceptable forms of justification). Criterion 1 The Dragoman Marsh Karst Complex contains the last conserved karst marshes in Bulgaria and one of the few on the Balkan Peninsula – Dragoman and Aldomirovtsi Marshes. The vast wet grasslands around the marshes and also in the eastern part of the complex are unique because of their natural flooding regime and their relict flora - one of the best examples in the Continental biogeographic region.