Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan 2004-2013
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The Minister of the Environment and Waters D. Arsenova Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan 2004-2013 DRAFT Adopted by Decision # ххх of the Council of Ministers dated хх.хх, 2004 Presented by ARD/BCEGP in fulfillment of Terms of Reference commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment and Waters, # хх-хх-хххх, March 2001 The drafting and publication of this Management Plan was made possible through the generous support of the Environment, Energy and Social Transition Department of the Europe and Eurasia Desk of the United States Agency for International Development, pursuant to Contract # LAG-I-00-99-00013-00. All opinions expressed herein are solely at the authors’ discretion and do not necessarily reflect the position of the United States Agency for International Development. February, 2004 Team of Authors The Core Planning Team which drafted the present Management Plan for Rila Monastery Nature Park comprises the following members: Dr. Petar Yankov D.Sc. (ecology/zoology), Dr. Dimitar Peev D.Sc. (ecology/botany), Eng. Ventsisval Velichkov (forest engineer), Mrs. Snezhana Kostadinova (sociologist), as well as the members of the Coordinating Team of the BCEG Project, as follows: Dr. Peter Hetz (team leader), Dimitrina Boteva, MSc. (biodiversity expert) and Gergana Pavlova (administrative support). The Extended Planning Team comprises the following members: Eng. Mihail Mihailov, Director of Rila Monastery Nature Park; Ms. Nikolina Georgieva, biodiversity expert with the Directorate Rila Monastery NP, Eng. Vassil Petrov, acting Director of Rila NP, His Eminence Gabriel, Metropolitan Bishop of Lovech, representative of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church; the Most Reverend Bishop John, Abbot of Rila Monastery, Eng. Stella Todorova, head of department Earth Bowles, Protected Areas and Biodiversity with the Regional Inspectorate for the Environment and Waters – Sofia, Eng. Nina Dimitrova, forestry expert with the Regional Forestry Board, Kyustendil; Architect Maria Karazlateva, Expert-in-Chief of the Department of Investments Policy, State Property Management and Cultural Monuments Conservation of the Ministry of Culture;Architect Pencho Dimitrov, State Expert with the Territorial and Urban Development Directorate of the Ministry of Territorial Development and Public Works; Architect Nevyana Negrevska, senior inspector with the Administrative Control, Regional Development and State Property Directorate of the Regional Administration, Kyustendil, Mr. Krassimir Bozhkov, Director of the Blagoevgrad branch of Dams and Cascades National Energy Complex PLC; Ms. Aneta Angelova, junior ecology expert with Rila Municipality; Dr. Petya Radovanova, Union of Park and Landscape Designers and Architects in Bulgaria; and Mr. Toma Belev, of the Vitosha Nature Park Foundation; The Management Plan is based on studies and reports of experts in various fields; special acknowledgment is due to the following contributors: Dr. Dimitar Peev, D.Sc.; Eng. Ventsislav Velichkov; Mr. Zheko Spiridonov; Dr, Hristo Delchev; Prof. Dr. Boyan Rosnev, Ph.D.; Dr. Petya Radovanova; Dr. Maria Samardjieva; Maurice Waterhouse, Mrs. Snezhana Kostadinova; Dr. Petar Yankov D.Sc., Dr. Veska Russakova D.Sc., Dr. Melania Gyosheva D.Sc.; Dr. Lyuba Evstatieva; Dr. Anna Ganeva; Ms. Natalia Valyovska, pharmacist; Ms. Sonya Tzoneva, biology specialist; Mr. Krassimor Bozhkov; Mr. Angel Lukanov, senior research associate; Svetoslav Petrosenko; Dr. Ventsisvlav Delov; Mr. Nikolai Simov, research assistant; Mr. Pavel Stoev, research assistant; Mr. Tihomir Stefanov, biology expert; Ms. Vera Antonova, biology specialist; Ms. Antoaneta Georgieva; Dr. Theodora Ivanova; Ms. Gergana Miladinova; Mr. Dimitar Sichanov. February 2004 i Contents List of Appendixes iv List of Maps vi List of Abbreviations and Acronyms vii Glossary of professional terms and explanations xi Preamble xviii Summary xxii Section I. Description and Evaluation 1.0 General information regarding Rila Monastery Nature Park 3 1.1 Location, boundaries and territory of the Park and the protected areas from other categories included in it 3 1.2 Zone and administrative affiliation 6 1.3 Legal status of the protected area and the cultural and historic sites within its under the applicable legislation 8 1.4 Ownership 9 1.5 Managerial structure 11 1.6. and 1.7 Current development plans, zoning and regimes 16 2.0 Description of Abiotic Factors 21 2.1 Climate 21 2.2 Geology and geomorphology 24 2.3 Hydrobiology 32 2.4 Soils and soil formation processes 39 3.0 Biological attributes 43 3.1 Ecosystems, habitats and communities 43 3.2 Vegetation 47 3.3 Flora 57 3.4 Fauna 66 4.0 Cultural and Socioeconomic Characteristics 83 4.1 Socioeconomic activities and existing trends regarding uses of the Park 83 4.2 The Nature Park in a regional context and the current use of the adjoining territories 114 4.3 Religious, cultural and historical sites in RMNP, Rila Monastery settlement and the territory neighboring the park 125 4.4 Structure and aesthetic merit of the landscape 129 Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan Draft 2004 - 2013 February 2004 ii 5.0 First assessment: Assessment of the significance of Rila Monastery Nature Park 135 5.1 Spiritual, religious and cultural-historical evaluation 135 5.2 Ecological evaluation 135 5.3 Social and economic evaluation 137 5.4 Potential value of the protected territory 138 Section II: Ideal Goals and Limitations 1.0 Ideal (long-term) goals 149 1.1 Conservation of religious and cultural heritage 149 1.2 Conservation of natural components 149 1.3 Management of natural resources 151 1.4 Management of tourism 152 1.5 Interpretation and education 153 1.6 Partnerships and local communities 153 1.7 Management of the Park 154 2.0 Threats and limitations 157 2.1 Natural threats 157 2.2 Anthropogenic threats 160 2.3 Limitations 170 3.0 The effect of threats and limitations on the long-term goals and potential of the protected area 173 4.0 Management (Operational) Objectives 175 4.1 Conservation of religious and cultural heritage 175 4.2 Conservation of natural components 176 4.3 Management of natural resources 178 4.4 Management of tourism 179 4.5 Interpretation and education 180 4.6 Partnerships and local communities 181 4.7 Management of the Park 182 Section III: Zoning, Regimes and Norms in Rila Monastery Nature Park 1.0 General principles 187 1.1 Regimes 187 1.2 Norms 190 1.3 Conditions 190 2.0 Zones, regimes and norms 191 2.1 Reserves Zone 191 2.2 High Conservation Significance Zone 194 2.3 Environmentally Sound Use Zone 196 2.4 Technical Infrastructure Zone 199 Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan Draft 2004 - 2013 February 2004 iii 2.5 Sustainable Forestry Zone 201 2.6 Holy Places and Cultural-Historical Heritage Zone 203 2.7 The Tourism Zone 205 Section IV: Operational / Work Plan 1.0 Priorities of theManagement Plan 215 1.1 Rila Monastery Nature Park Directorate structure development and improvement 215 1.2 Consultative Council within the Rila Monastery Nature Park Directorate 215 2.0 Programs and Projects 217 2.1 Conservation of religious and cultural-historical heritage 217 2.2 Conservation of natural components 219 2.3 Management of natural resources 225 2.4 Management of tourism 226 2.5 Interpretation and education 227 2.6 The Park in a regional context and the setting up of partnerships 229 2.7 Park Management and infrastructure 230 3.0 Three-year work plan and budget 235 Section V: Monitoring of the Implementation of Management Plan and Assessment Criteria 1.0 Monitoring the implementation of this Plan 245 1.1 Ongoing inspection and monitoring of the state of the Nature Park 245 1.2 Periodic reviews and revisions of the Management Plan 245 1.3 The ten-year Management Plan update 246 2.0 Recommendations and criteria for assessing the effectiveness of the completed activities and the attainment of goals 247 Bibliography 249 Appendices 257 Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan Draft 2004 - 2013 February 2004 iv List of Appendices 1. Order # 307/10.04.1986 of the Committee for Protection of the Environment under the Council of Ministers (SG # 34/1986), designating the Rila Monastery Forest Reserve; Order # 114/24.02.1992 of the Ministry of Environment, on the Declaration of the Rila People’s Park, the Central Rila Reserve and Expansion of the Area of Reserves in the Park 2. List of changed geographical names within the territory of Rila Monastery Nature Park 3. List of infrastructure in Rila Monastery NP, the Rila Monastery settlement and the territory along Rilska River in the nature park vicinity; List of abandoned, derelict and unusable infrastructure in Rila Monastery Nature Park, proposed for removal 4. List of designated monuments of culture in the Rila Holy Monastery area, issued by the Ministry of Culture (SG # 73/8.09.1992); Protocol dated 07.05.1992 of the Commission appointed with Decree # RD-19- 132 from 24.03.1992 of the Ministry of Culture 5. Order # RD-310/26.06.2000 of the Ministry of the Environment and Waters regarding the re-categorization of part of Rila National Park into Rila Monastery Nature Park 6. List of the Documents Restoring and Protecting the Rights of the Rila Monastery and its Property 7. Addresses and Phone Numbers of Interested Parties Responsible for the Protection and Management of the Nature Park 8. Table of Geological Eras and Periods and their Main Geological Manifestation in the Park 9. Types and Varieties of Minerals Established in the Rila Monastery Nature Park 10. List of Habitats in the Rila Monastery Nature Park according to the CORINE Habitats Classification 11. Characteristic and Evaluation of the Health Status of Forests in the RMNP Determined During the REA in 2001 12. List of sections and subsections of Rila Monastery NP according to the 2000 Forest Management Plan, affected by fire in 2000 13. List of higher plant species of conservation significance in Rila Monastery Nature Park 14.