Area: 3416,32 ха
Ownership: state - 11%; municipality - 44%; private - 45%;
Description:
Meshtitsa meadows are located in south-western Bulgaria, in the Breznik kettle plain between the towns of Pernik and Breznik. It covers the southern slopes of the Viskyar mountain to the east of the town of Breznik in the region of the villages of Viskyar, Babitsa, Goz and Delyan, and the slightly sloping and flat terrain between the villages of Belkovtsi and Meshitsa. Its western and eastern limits are outlined by the two tributaries of the Konska river. Its north-eastern part is occupied by the Raduyska saddle, separating Viskyar mountain from the neighbouring Ljulin Mountain. The territory includes mainly open grasslands of mesophyte grass formations – meadows overgrown with mesophyle grass communities of Festuca pratensis, Poa sylvicola, Agrostis stolonifera and pastures overgrown with mesoxerothermal and xerotermal grass communities of Festuca valesiaca, F. stojanovii, F. dalmatica, Chrysopogon gryllus, Agrostis capilaris, etc. (Bondev, 1991). Its northern, hillier part is occupied by broadleaved coppice forests and shrubbery. The share of the agricultural lands – arable and abandoned – is also big.
Birds:
Meshtitsa 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 does not have legal protection by the national conservation legislation. In 2005 the area was designated as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
