State: SlivenArea: 15926,00 ха
Ownership: state - 76%; municipality - 13%; private - 11%;
Description:
The area is located in the Sliven Mountain, which is a part of the main Balkan Mountain chain. It covers a clearly outlined orographic unit with area 15926 ha, located amidst the southern slopes of the Eastern Balkan Mountain – Udvoy Mountain – Chatal Balkan, Stidovska Mountain and Grebenets Ridge. The western and south-western limit of the area is defined by Asenovets Reservoir and the Asenovska river. On the north it passes along a watershed ridge, which is practically the highest part of the area – over 1000 m. The northern slopes are steep, covered with beech forest. The area’s southern limit passes along the southern slopes of the mountain from the town of Sliven to the grounds of the villages of Sotirya, Topolchane, Kaloyanovo and Glushnik. The area includes the whole territory of Sinite Kamani Nature Park. A considerable part of it is covered by forests – 11,015.83 ha, 10,738.85 ha of which are broadleaved forest. The mixed oak forests of Quercus dalechampii, Quercus cerris, Q. frainetto and Q. pubescens prevail. Forests of Fagus moesiaca and Carpinus betulus, as well as Tilia tomentosa and Carpinus orientalis forests are also well represented. Shrub and grass associations on silicate base occupy 2% of the area and about 6% is covered by secondary steppe and dry calciphile grass associations. The grass formations have a secondary origin. They have been formed on the place of forests, destroyed in the past. Their floristic composition is poorer than that of the forest ones, but they are richer in rare species. The rock formations, which have given the name of the site, occupy about 7% of its total area. The rocks of Sinite Kamani are qualified as separate habitat type according Palearctic classification and the big number of birds of prey, which occur there are part of the biotope characteristic of the rock complex.
Birds:
The area of Sinite Kamani, Stidovska Mountain and Grebenets Ridge supports 170 bird species, 41 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985). Of the birds occurring there 69 species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 5 of them being listed in category SPEC 1 as globally threatened, 22 in SPEC 2 and 42 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. The area provides suitable habitats for 51 species, included in Annex 2 of the Biodiversity Act, which need special conservation measures, of which 44 are listed also in Annex I of the Birds Directive. The area includes some of the most valuable breeding and feeding habitats very rare and threatened diurnal birds of prey, like Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca, Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, Long-legged Buzzard Falco naumanni, Saker Falco cherrug, etc. The pastures near Topolchane, which hold numerous Souslick colonies, are particularly important for the feeding of these species. Sinite Kamani-Grebenets is of global importance for the Imperial Eagle both for breeding and for concentration of young birds for feeding after the breeding season. The area is one of the most important ones in the country on a European Union scale for the Saker Falcon Falco cherrug, Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius, the Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla and the Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata. The Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus is represented there with significant breeding population on a European scale. The area is one of the few places in the country where the Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva breeds. Sinite Kamani-Grebenets forms a kind of air passage in the relief of the Eastern Balkan Mountain and provides roosting and feeding conditions for the migrating birds of prey on their way south. The globally threatened Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus regularly occurs in the area during the migration. Another globally threatened species – the Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga overwinter there. The Steppe Eagle /Aquila nipalensis/ is also observed in Sinite-Kamani-Grebenets during the winter.
Threats:
Sinite Kamani-Grebenets is situated in densely populated area with well-developed infrastructure in vicinity to a big town – Sliven and the to the international road Sofia – Burgas. Thus the site is easy accessible in whole the area of southern slopes of the mountain, as well as in lowlands and it is very vulnerable to all human activities that take place there. The most serious threats to grassland habitats are the conversion of the pastures into arable lands and the development of wind turbine farms. Loss of grassland habitats lead to deny the raptors of their food base – the Souslik, as well as loss of breeding habitats for the Greater Short-toed Lark. The wind turbine farms will limit the access of the birds of prey to their hunting territories. They will cause also disturbed movement and direct persecution of birds. Existing electrical power lines are dangerous for raptors, especially for young birds. The reduction in domestic animals limits significantly the possibilities of vultures to find natural food. Poaching and use of poison against rodents directly affect raptors. Direct threats to birds are caused also by rock climbing, gliding, and hang-gliding, taking chicks and eggs from the nests. Forest habitats are threatened by overexploitation of forest resources, burning and natural fires and afforestation with non-indigenous species. Removal of old semi dead threes and those with halls limits the possibilities for woodpeckers and flycatchers to find proper breeding grounds and food. The tourism is intensively developed in the region. An inappropriate development of the park’s infrastructure, especially walking paths could redirect the tourist to the breeding areas for raptors and cause significant disturbance to them.
Legal protection:
About 70% of the territory of the Sinite Kamani-Grebenets is under legal protection through the designation of “Sinite Kamani” Nature Park in 1980 and its enlargement in 2002. The aim of the Nature Park is the protection of the typical for the region nature as well as rare and threatened plant and animal species. The Nature park includes one reserve – “Kutelka”, designated in 1983 to protect the rocky habitats and breeding grounds for rear and endangered raptor species. There are also six small protected areas designated mainly to protect the caves and landscapes. About 54% of the site covered by Sinite Kamani CORINE Site, which was designated in 1998 because of its European value for rare and threatened habitats, plant and animal species, including birds. In 2005 it was designated also as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
