Michigan Technological University Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open Reports 2011 An ethnobotanical survey of the economic and cultural significance of non-timber forest products in the southwest Rhodope Mountain region of Bulgaria Callie A. Bertsch Michigan Technological University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/etds Part of the Forest Sciences Commons Copyright 2011 Callie A. Bertsch Recommended Citation Bertsch, Callie A., "An ethnobotanical survey of the economic and cultural significance of non-timber forest products in the southwest Rhodope Mountain region of Bulgaria", Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2011. https://doi.org/10.37099/mtu.dc.etds/146 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/etds Part of the Forest Sciences Commons AN ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF THE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS IN THE SOUTHWEST RHODOPE MOUNTAIN REGION OF BULGARIA By Callie A. Bertsch A THESIS Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Forestry MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY 2011 ©2011 Callie A. Bertsch This thesis, “An Ethnobotanical Survey of the Economic and Cultural Significance of Non-Timber Forest Products in the Southwest Rhodope Mountain Region of Bulgaria,” is hereby approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN FORESTRY. School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science Signatures: Thesis Advisor _____________________________________ Dr. Blair D. Orr Dean ______________________________________ Dr. Margaret R. Gale Date ______________________________________ Table of Contents List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... vii Abstract .............................................................................................................................. ix Chapter One: Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 Chapter Two: Background Bulgaria ............................................................................................................................... 5 History ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Government ................................................................................................................................. 7 People........................................................................................................................................... 8 Health ........................................................................................................................................... 9 Economy .................................................................................................................................... 10 Geography .................................................................................................................................. 10 Environmental Issues and Policies ............................................................................................. 13 Chapter Three: Study Area Background Municipality of Garmen .................................................................................................... 15 Geography .................................................................................................................................. 15 People......................................................................................................................................... 17 Economy .................................................................................................................................... 20 Climate ....................................................................................................................................... 22 Forests ........................................................................................................................................ 23 Chapter Four: Methods ..................................................................................................... 24 Chapter Five: Results and Discussion............................................................................... 27 Ethnicities .................................................................................................................................. 27 Roma ...................................................................................................................................... 27 Bulgarian ................................................................................................................................ 30 Muslim ................................................................................................................................... 31 Species collected ........................................................................................................................ 32 Berries .................................................................................................................................... 32 Herbs ...................................................................................................................................... 36 iii Mushrooms ............................................................................................................................ 43 Changes in the past 20 years ...................................................................................................... 47 Problems among groups of people ............................................................................................. 51 Forest Management .................................................................................................................... 52 Chapter Six: Conclusion ................................................................................................... 56 Reference List ................................................................................................................... 60 Appendix A ....................................................................................................................... 64 Appendix B ....................................................................................................................... 68 iv List of Figures Figure 2.1: Ancient Thracian and Roman ruins ‘Nikopolus ad Nestum’ ........................... 7 Figure 2.2: Ethnicities in Bulgaria ...................................................................................... 8 Figure 2.3: Religions in Bulgaria ........................................................................................ 9 Figure 2.4: Topographic map of Bulgaria......................................................................... 11 Figure 2.5: Seven Rila Lakes in the Rila Mountains, Bulgaria ........................................ 12 Figure 2.6: Black Sea coast near Nessebar. ...................................................................... 13 Figure 3.1: River Kanina Gorge, Municipality of Garmen ............................................... 15 Figure 3.2: Stone head at ancient Thracian worship site in Garmen ................................ 16 Figure 3.3: Ethnicities in the municipality of Garmen ..................................................... 17 Figure 3.4: Age demographic in Municipality of Garmen. .............................................. 19 Figure 3.5: Age demographics of Bulgaria. ...................................................................... 19 Figure 3.6: Number of Residents in Garmen employed in the industry sectors ............... 20 Figure 3.7: Number of Residents in Garmen employed in non-industry sectors.............. 21 Figure 3.8: Fields of tobacco near the village of Garmen................................................. 22 Figure 5.1: Roma woman selling mushrooms to a Bulgarian ........................................... 29 Figure 5.2: Muslim woman collecting herbs while on a picnic ........................................ 31 Figure 5.3: Muslim woman sorting through bilberries to make a compote. ..................... 33 Figure 5.4: St. John’s Wort ............................................................................................... 39 Figure 5.5: Oregano .......................................................................................................... 39 Figure 5.6: Wild Thyme .................................................................................................... 40 Figure 5.7: Peppermint...................................................................................................... 40 Figure 5.8: Lemon Balm ................................................................................................... 41 Figure 5.9: Pirinski Chai ................................................................................................... 41 Figure 5.10: Common Yarrow .......................................................................................... 42 Figure 5.11: