State: MontanaArea: 2799,83 ха
Ownership: state - 19%; municipality - 34%; private - 47%;
Description:
Berkovitsa meadows are complex of mesophyte grass, shrub and broadleaved forest formations in a plain-hilly area in the catchment basin of the Burziya River, east of the town of Berkovitsa. The site is located to the south-east from the road to Montana, between the villages of Komarevo, Bokilovtsi, Pesochnitsa and Mezdrea to the north and Rakovitsa, Burziya, Yagodovo and Slatina to the south. Of the several types of habitats most valuable are the wet meadows and the flooded areas around the Burziya and its tributaries, as well as those on the surrounding hills.
Birds:
Berkovitsa meadows are of global importance for the conservation of the Corncrake Crex crex, which breeds there in numerous population.
Threats:
The area is very sensitive to the human activities related to traditional use of the meadows and pastures. The most serious threats are the haymaking activities, which do not take into account the breeding period of the Corncrake as well as the conversion of grasslands into arable land. The changes in the hydrological regime of the area cause negative changes in the humidity of the meadows. Poaching is a common practice in the region, which lead to disturbance and persecution to birds, including Corncrake.
Legal protection:
The area is not protected by the national nature conservation law. In 2005 it was designated also as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
