State: KyustendilArea: 24125,09 ха
Ownership: state - 82%; municipality - 12%; private - 6%;
Description:
The site is located in south-western Bulgaria, to the south of Kjustendil. It covers the bigger part of the Osogovo Mountain. Its north-western and northern limits pass along the mountain slopes above the main road E871 (from Gjueshevo border check-point to Kjustendil) and beyond the town of Kjustendil. The Osogovo massif consists of two high flat mountain tops, directed from the north-west to the south-east and from the south-west to the north-east. The highest peak of the massif, Ruen (2251 m), rises at their crossing point. The deep valleys take the waters of the Bistritsa, the Novoselska and the Leshnitsa rivers, which form the right-hand tributary system of the Struma. At places on the tops and in the valleys there are isolated patches of exposed rocks, small rocky complexes and eroded terrain. Because of the harsher climatic conditions in the Osogovo and the greater abundance of water, the brown forest soils, related to the development of beech forest vegetation, prevail there. Dark-brown forest soils with coniferous forest vegetation cover the higher parts, while the mountain tops are occupied by mountain-meadow soils with well-developed grass associations. The biggest part of the area is covered by beech forests of Fagus sylvatica and mixed forest of beech and Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris. Smaller sections of oak Quercus dalechampii occurin the lower parts. There are patches of preserved old beech forests with high ecological value. The coniferous forests are mainly Scots pine Pinus sylvestris or mixed – Scots Pine and Beech. There are also small patches of Fir Abies alba and Spruce Pinus peuce. Siberian Juniper Juniperus communis nana, often in associations with secondary shrub and grass formations, occurs in the high-mountain belt.
Birds:
Osogovo supports 111 breeding bird species, 11 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985). Of the birds occurring there 35 species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 10 of them being listed in category SPEC 2 and 25 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. The area provides suitable habitats for 18 species, included in Annex 2 of the Biodiversity Act, which need special conservation measures, of which 17 are listed also in Annex I of the Birds Directive. The site is of European conservation concern for the Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca, whose breeding population in the region is considerable. The area holds representative populations of Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus and Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus. The Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus and the Eagle Owl Bubo bubo also breeds there.
Threats:
The region of Osogovo is relatively low populated, because it situated on the state border. It is sensitive to the human activities related to forestry, agriculture, water management and unsustainable exploitation of nature resources. There is no any activities allowed in the forests if “Tsurnata Reka” Reserve, but out of the protected area intensive forestry is going on, including clear cutting of forest. The removal of dead trees or those with holes limits the possibilities of woodpeckers and owls to find food or suitable nesting ground. Grazing is carried out on the pastures close to the villages. Pastures further away from settlements are not used completely because of the smaller number of animals today compared with the past. This together with the high level of emigration of people from the region cause abandonment of the land, succession of shrubs and forests and deterioration of key habitats for birds. In addition the conversion of pastures and meadows into arable land also and the expansion of mining activities cause of deterioration and loss of habitats. Direct threats to birds are caused by poaching, taking chicks and eggs from the nests, gliding, hang-gliding, unregulated movement of people, etc.
Legal protection:
Only one protected area is designated on the territory of Osogovo – “Tsarnata reka” Reserve. It covers less than 2% of the site area and protects typical forest ecosystem. A procedure for designation of a protected area along Bistritsa river, in northwest part of Osogovo is under execution. In 1998 the CORINE Site with the same name is appointed because of its European value for rare and threatened habitats, plant and animal species, including birds. It overlaps with the SPA. In 2005 it was designated also as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
