Area: 88883,76 ха
Ownership: state - 70%; municipality - 10%; private - 20%;
Description:
Kamchiyska Mountain forms the northern part of the easternmost share of the Balkan Mountain. On the east it borders on the Black Sea, on the north the Kamchia river valley, on the west and north-west it is limited by the Luda Kamchia River and on the south by the Dvoinitsa River and the saddle that separates it from Eminska Mountain. Its altitude is from 0 m at the seashore to 627 m in its western part (Kamenyak peak). The main habitat is forest, represented by pure oak and beech forests and mixed broadleaved forests, dominated by Quercus cerris, Q. frainetto, Q. dalechampii, Fagus orientalis, F. sylvatica, and Tilia tomentosa. About 40% of the forests are coppice. Amidst the forest massifs and around the settlements there are dispersed agricultural plots and meadows with xerothermal grass associations, with the prevalence of Dichantium ischaemum, Poa bulbosa, etc. (Bondev 1991). Single rock massifs rise in the mountain’s western part. The bigger rivers in the region are the Luda Kamchia, the Dvoinitsa and the Eleshnitsa. Reservoirs have been built on two of the rivers – Tsonevo Reservoir, with aquatic area about 300 ha, on the Luda Kamchia and Eleshnitsa Reservoir, with area about 100 ha, on the Eleshnitsa River.
Birds:
The region of Kamchiyska Mountain supports 189 bird species, 47 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985). Of the birds occurring there 81 species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 9 of them being listed in category SPEC 1 as globally threatened, 22 in SPEC 2 and 50 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. The area provides suitable habitats for 63 species, included in Annex 2 of the Biodiversity Act, which need special conservation measures, of which 56 are listed also in Annex I of the Birds Directive. Kamchiyska Mountain is located on the Via Pontica migration flyway and has international importance as a typical bottleneck migration site for the pelicans, storks and birds of prey that use it. Before crossing the Balkan Mountain the migrating birds concentrate in the region, as it is the lowest part of the mountain and the easiest obstacle to overcome. The forest is used by the migrants – mainly birds of prey – as a roosting and feeding place. The region of Tsonevo Reservoir is one of the few in Bulgaria where the Osprey Pandion haliaetus breeds. Kamchiyska Mountain is one of the most important areas in the country for the Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina, Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus, Saker Falcon Falco cherrug, Woodlark Lullula arborea, Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana, Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata, as well as for four species of woodpeckers – the Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius, Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus, Black Woodpecker Dryocopos martius and Grey Headed Woodpecker Picus canus. The reservoirs in the Kamchiyska Mountain hold significant numbers of waterbirds during the migration and winter as they use the wetlands on their way to southern wetlands. The globally threatened Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus has been recorded to stay in that area during the winter.
Threats:
Because settlements are situated in the territory of Kamchiyska mountain and an infrastructure related to them, there is an easy access to certain parts of the area. The forest habitats are affected to a large extend by the intensive forestry and unsustainable forest management. The forest management does not take into consideration the policy of preservation of the natural primary forests, as well as their nature conservation value. Clear felling and inappropriate main cuttings are still practice in the forest management. The forest habitats are fragmented by electrical power lines and international gas pipeline. Continuing urbanization and turning the grasslands to arable lands are the main reasons for fragmentation and loss of valuable habitats. Illegal waste deposits degrade the open habitats. Sand and stone pits situated along the rivers disturb the natural water regime and degrade the riverine habitats. The treasure hunting activities are common practice and cause destruction of nests, scaring of breeding birds, destruction of rocky habitats and change of landscape. The area is sensitive to human activities which cause disturbance to birds, especially to those which nest on the rocks – rock climbing, hang-gliding, tourism activities during the breeding season. Hunting activities and poaching also cause disturbance to birds. Development of tourism in the coastal areas during the last decade cause uncontrolled and rapid building up of the coast and loss of coastal habitats. Nevertheless the process is slower than in other parts of the Black Sea Coast it already has impact on the valuable habitats. An international road crosses the eastern part of the Kamchiyska Mountain and significantly affect the surrounding territories by pollution. Particularly dangerous for migratory birds are the plans for development of wind turbine farms in the coastal areas. The wind turbine farms will cause disturbed movement and fragmentation of the habitats used by migratory birds. They will be a barrier for thousands of migratory soaring birds and night migrants on their flyway to the south and north and will cause significant mortality of birds and further decline in their populations. The marine areas are subject to very intensive fishing, including stationary and floating nets.
Legal protection:
In Kamchiyska Mountain there are 7 protected areas but they cover only 0.5% of its territory. Four of the protected areas are designated to protect the mixed oak forests – the “Vurbov Dol” Reserve, “Kirov Dol Reserve” and “Vulchi Prohod” Reserve in 1968 and “Gorska Baraka” Protected Area in 1982. The remaining three protected areas are designated to protect the rocky landscapes. In 1997 Kamchiyska Mountain was designated as Important Bird Area by BirdLife international. About 5% of the territory of the Kamchiyska Mountain is appointed as CORINE Sites in 1998 because of its European value for rare and threatened habitats, plant and animal species.
