State: Kardzhali, HaskovoArea: 44623,98 ха
Ownership: state - 78%; municipality - 15%; private - 7%;
Description:
The area covers the Byala Reka watershed in the most south-eastern part of the Eastern Rhodopes, immediately next to the state border with Greece. It includes the Byala Reka valley and the surrounding mountain hills from the village of Chernichevo on the west to the spot where the river crosses the state border to the east. The region’s vegetation is quite diverse and heavily influenced by the Mediterranean climate. Because of the region’s low population density and border regime old forests of Fagus sylvatica L. subsp. moesiaca and Quercus dalechampii have been preserved there. Mixed oak forests of Q. dalechampii, Q. virgiliana, Q. frainetto and Q. pubescens, interspersed at places with Carpinus orientalis, are also widely distributed. The region supports also xerothermal shrub formations of Mediterranean type with considerable species diversity, dominated by Phyllirea latifolia and Juniperus oxycedrus, with the participation of Paliurus spina-christi, Fraxinus ornus, etc. (Bondev 1991). The river is comparatively deep and its waters are not polluted. The riverbed is sandy-stony. Its banks are overgrown with willows Salix spp. and shrubs. At certain places in the region there are single low cliffs. The farmlands occupy a comparatively small part of the total area, mainly around the settlements.
Birds:
The area of Byala Reka supports 167 bird species, 33 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985). Of the birds occurring there 67 species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 2 of them being listed in category SPEC 1 as globally threatened, 22 in SPEC 2 and 43 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. Byala Reka is a site with global importance as a representative area for the Mediterranean biome. Five of the 9 biome-restricted species, established in the country, that are typical for this biome, occur there: Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum, Sub-alpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans, Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala, Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus and Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala. Byala Reka provides suitable habitats for 51 species, included in Annex 2 of the Biodiversity Act, which need special conservation measures. Forty-six of them are listed also in Annex I of the Birds Directive and more than half of them breed in the region in significant populations. The region is of global importance as a permanent roosting and feeding site for the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus. Byala Reka is one of the most important sites in Bulgaria on a European Union scale for the species mentioned above, as well as for the breeding of the Black Stork Ciconia nigra, Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, Booted eagle Hieraaetus pennatus, Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus, Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes, Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum and Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus. Significant population on European scale of Woodlark Lullula arborea breeds in Byala Reka.
Threats:
Byala Reka is an area is sensitive to the human activities related mainly to traditional livestock in the region. Emigration of people followed by a decrease in domestic animals and also reduction in the dead animals in nature significantly limits the possibilities for vultures to find food. Poaching and use of poison against wolfs directly affect raptors, and especially vultures. Existing electrical power lines are dangerous for raptors, especially for young birds. Direct threats to birds are also caused by taking chicks and eggs from the nests. Forest habitats are threatened by burning and natural fires, afforestation with non-native species, as well as illegal cutting of trees especially along the rivers. A decrease in grazing as well as conversion of pastures to arable lands cause loss of grassland habitats for birds. One of the potential threats both to the habitats and to the birds in the area is the development of wind turbine farms. Such wind turbine farms are already built in Greece close to the Bulgarian border and cause disturbed movement and fragmentation of the habitats used by vultures of the two big colonies in the region – the one along the Arda River in Bulgaria and the one in Dadya, Greece. The fishery with nets and detonations, as well as the construction of micro-hydropower stations along the rivers have negative impact on the quality of riverine habitats. Investment projects related to gold mining industry are potential threat for the area, which could cause destruction and fragmentation of habitats at large scale, as well as pollution of the soils and rivers. During recent decades tourism has started to develop more intensively, which could cause negative impact on birds and habitats if the process is not regulated.
Legal protection:
About 4% of the area is under legal protection. The “Byala Reka meanders” Protected Area was designated to protect the threatened bird species, including the Egyptian Vulture and the Golden Eagle, as well as riverine habitats. In 1998 a big part of the area was appointed as CORINE Site with the same name because of its European value for habitats, rare and threatened plant and animal species, including birds. In 1997 the area was designated as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
