Guide to Western Stara Planina the Unknown Natural Wealth Authors: Lora Zhebril Zhivko Momchev
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
WORKING TOGETHER IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS GUIDE BG GUIDE TO WESTERN STARA PLANINA THE UNKNOWN NATURAL WEALTH AUTHORS: LORA ZHEBRIL ZHIVKO MOMCHEV EDITOR: VENCI GRADINAROV WWW.BGTEXT.BG GRAPHIC DESIGN: OILARIPI TREKKING ASSOCIATION WWW.OILARIPI.COM FRONT COVER: IVAN VELOV PUBLISHED BY WWF BULGARIA, SOFIA © 2017 WWF BULGARIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL MATERIALS IN THIS PUBLICATION ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT AND CAN BE REPRO- DUCED WITH PERMISSION. ANY REPRODUCTION IN FULL OR IN PART MUST MENTION THE TI- TLE AND CREDIT THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PUBLISHER (WWF BULGARIA) AS THE COPYRIGHT OWNER. THE DESIGNATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL ENTITIES IN THIS REPORT, AND THE PRE- SENTATION OF MATERIAL, DO NOT IMPLY THE EXPRESSION OF ANY OPINION WHATSOEVER ON THE PART OF WWF CONCERNING THE LEGAL STATUS OF ANY COUNTRY, TERRITORY, OR AREA, OR OF ITS AUTHORITIES, OR CONCERNING THE DELIMITATION OF ITS FRONTIERS OR BOUNDARIES. GUIDE TO WESTERN STARA PLANINA THE UNKNOWN NATURAL WEALTH © PLAMEN DIMITROV PLAMEN © THE GUIDEBOOK FOR WESTERN STARA PLANINA WAS DEVELOPED WITHIN THE “FOR THE BALKAN AND THE PEOPLE”PROJECT, AN INITIATIVE OF SIX BULGARIAN AND FOUR SWISS ORGANIZATIONS. IT WILL GIVE YOU A HINT ABOUT SOME REMARKABLE PLACES TO VISIT IN THE AREA AND IT WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT SUCCESSFUL RESULTS OF THE PROJECT OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. IT WILL TELL YOU HOW THE IMPOSSIBLE SOMETIMES BECOMES POSSIBLE AT PLACES WHERE NOBODY EXPECTED. WITH THE HELP OF THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE BULGARIAN-SWISS COOPERATION PROGRAM AND THE EFFORTS OF ALL THE EXPERTS FROM THE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, SEVERAL FARMERS FROM NORTH-WEST BULGARIA MANAGED TO SUCCESSFULLY COM- PLETE ALL PROCEDURES FOR REGISTRATION AS PRODUCERS , COMPLETELY OUT OF THE GREY SECTOR. DURING THESE FIVE YEARS, INFORMATION CENTERS WERE OPENED, MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS WERE DEVELOPED AND HIKING TRAILS WERE MARKED. EACH SUCCESSFUL STEP WAS A RESULT OF THE UNDERSTANDING THAT BUSINESS AND NATURE COMPLEMENT AND DON NOT CONTRADICT EACH OTHER. AN EXAMPLE IS THAT OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF LOCAL BUSINESSES WHO SUPPORTED VARIOUS CONSERVATION INITIATIVES IN THE AREA. WWF BULGARIA EXPRESSES SINCERE THANKS TO: ASSOCIATION OF THE PARKS IN BULGARIA BULGARIAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS FOUNDATION FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE BIOSELENA BULGARIAN BIODIVERSITY FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE AGENCY FOR SELECTION AND REPRODUCTION IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. PRO NATURA/FRIENDS OF THE EARTH SWITZERLAND BIRDLIFE SWITZERLAND SAVE FOUNDATION REDD BALKAN INSTITUTE FOR LABOUR AND SOCIAL POLICY BULGARIAN-SWISS COOPERATION PROGRAMME ALL THE PEOPLE FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHO SUPPORTED US! WE THANK THE TEAM WHO MADE THIS GUIDEBOOK REALITY LORA JIBREEL MAGDALENA MADZHAROVA VIOLETA STAVROVA ZHIVKO MOMCHEV WELCOME TO NORTHWEST BULGARIA! Guide to Western Stara planina 2 © IVAN VELOV IVAN © Welcome to Western Stara Planina! This guidebook will take you to some Statistics show that this is the poor- of the most beautiful natural wonders est region in the EU. However, its in Western Stara Planina - from the people are rich at heart and famous beautiful alpine peaks to secretive for their delicious cuisine, peppery waterfalls hidden in river valleys. You humour and a knack for merrymak- will discover breath-taking views, old ing. Development of sustainable virgin forests and a unique wealth tourism is among the few livelihood of wild flora and fauna. It is not by alternatives for the local population, chance that this region is part of the and visitors can be sure of a friendly European environmental network reception, natural food and home NATURA 2000, which is the largest comforts. network of protected areas in the world. Have a nice trip! Guide to Western Stara planina 3 © IVAN VELOV IVAN © The location The Stara Planina mountains are part of the Alpine-Himalayas mountain chain and they are Bulgaria’s longest mountain range. It spans the entire length of the country from west to east, between the border with Serbia and the Black Sea. People have named these mountains with many names over the years, but the Turkish one - Balkan is the origin of the name of the entire Balkan Peninsula. In broad terms, Stara Planina can be divided into three sections - Western, Middle, and Eastern. The Western part is the second highest and despite its relative proximity to the capital city Sofia, has remained outside the busy transport corridors and away from industrial zones. Its boundaries span between the Vrashka Chuka Pass to the west and the Zlatishki Pass (Kashana) to the east. Its highest peak is Midzhur (2,168 m). Guide to Western Stara planina 4 Nature under protection A range of laws and other legislation protect Bulgaria’s natural wealth by defining the types and boundaries of various protected areas and specify the different economic activities that can be carried out there. The use of natural resources in these areas is also regulated by supranational European legislation and by international agreements to which Bulgaria is party and whose conditions it has accepted. This is how Bulgaria’s national ecological network is established to include protected areas designated in accordance DIMITROV PLAMEN © with the Protected Areas Act, and, Conservation of Wild Bird Species, also, protected areas from the of the European Parliament and of European eco-network NATURA the Council of Europe. The national 2000 established in accordance eco-network includes also sites with Directive 92/43/EEC on the categorised as CORINE, Ramsar Protection of Natural Habitats of sites, Important Plant Areas and the Wild Flora and Fauna, and Important Bird Areas. Directive 2009/147/EEC on the ●Protected Areas Protected areas are part of the Eu- ropean Ecological Network NATU- RA 2000. Presently, there are 114 protected areas designated for the protection of wild bird species and covering 20.3% of Bulgaria’s terri- tory, and 228 protected areas for protection of habitats and covering 29.5% of the country’s area. Some protected areas are included in both directives. Presently, the Council of Ministers has designated 342 NATURA 2000 areas on a total of © WWF BULGARIA WWF © 33.89% of the country’ area. Guide to Western Stara planina 5 ●Protected areas Consistent with the Protected Areas Act, presently Bulgaria has designated 955 protected areas occupying around 5.1% of the country’s area. These are divided into 6 categories: reserves (55), national parks (3), natural landmarks (349), maintained reserves (35), nature parks (11) and protected areas (563). © PLAMEN DIMITROV PLAMEN © Natura 2000 N2000 - NATURA 2000 is a pan-European network of protected areas with the aim of ensuring the long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable and endangered species and habitats in accordance with the main international agreements on protection of the environment and of biodiversity. Ramsar site A Ramsar site is a wetland of international importance, defined by the 1971 Ramsar Convention. Important Bird and Biodiversity Area Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) are areas critically important for birds around the globe. The IBA network was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International. As of 2005 the IBA sites in Bulgaria are 114 and take up 23% of the country’s territory. Guide to Western Stara planina 6 The wealth of the north-west Unique nature, beautiful waterfalls – an endangered species; the Dark and enormous biodiversity: these Purple Cornflower (Centaurea are the calling card of the “pre- atropurpurea) – a rare species; the served” north-western Bulgaria. Globe Flower (Trollius europaeus) It is a place where protection of – included in Bulgaria’s Red Data ecosystems and biodiversity conser- Book; the Martagon Lily (Lilium vation provide social and economic jankae) – included in Bulgaria’s Red benefits for actively involved local Data Book and in the IUCN Red communities. This area is home List; the Yellow Gentian (Genti- to ancient common chestnut ana lutea) – included in Bulgaria’s (Castanea sativa) forests, which Red Data Book and protected by are unique to Bulgaria. The moun- the Bio-diversity Act; the Narcis- tainous parts of the area provide sus-flowered Anemone (Anemo- habitats to valuable plant species ne narcissiflora) – a species endemic such as: the Balkan Mountain to the Balkan peninsula, included Violet (Viola balcanica) – a rare in Bulgaria’s Red Data Book and species endemic to Bulgaria; the in the IUCN Red List; the Serbi- Kovachev Broom (Chamaecytisus an Phoenix Flower (Ramonda kovacevii) – a species endemic to serbica); the Angelica (Angelica Bulgaria; the Bulgarian Eranthis pančičii) – a species endemic to (Eranthis bulgaricus) – a species the Balkan peninsula, included in endemic to the Balkan peninsula; Bulgaria’s Red Data Book under the the Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) ‘Rare Species’ category. © SVETOSLAV SPASOV, NATUREIMAGES.EU SPASOV, SVETOSLAV © Guide to Western Stara planina 7 Ecosystem services Nature provides people with many tangible and intangible benefits, with the collective name of ‘ecosystem services’. The most obvious tangible benefits are: food, timber, and water. Furthermore, nature provides us with extremely important ‘hidden’ services such as purification of water and air, storage of greenhouse gases, maintenance of soil fertility and natural pollination. The recreational possibilities in forests, mountains and rivers such as sports, light walks and even just being surrounded by nature, are endless and extremely favourable for the human mental and physical condition. The developing technological world and increasing severance of human society from its natural environment have made the demand for and value of nature’s invigorating properties even more desired. © IVO DANCHEV IVO © Guide to Western Stara planina 8 PAYMENT BUYER PROVIDER The user of the Contributes to the ecosystem service preservation or restoration is the buyer. He pays of ecosystems the supplier to maintain the quantity and quality of water, soil fertility etc. ECOSYSTEM SERVICES The people and the companies they manage depend on natural resources; the survival and success of these businesses are directly related to the preservation of the ecosystem services.