Area: 166678,21 ха
Ownership: state - 79%; municipality - 13%; private - 8%;
Description:
The Central Balkan covers the northern and southern slopes of the highest part of the Balkan Mountain chain (Zlatitsa – Teteven and Troyan – Kalofer) from 500 to 2,376 m altitude. The base rock is silicate and limestone, with canyons, caves, precipices, waterfalls, mighty massifs and cliffs. The bigger part of the territory is covered by forests (113,775 ha) and the high-mountain zone occupies about 42,000 ha. Mixed broadleaved forests of Fagus sylvatica L. subsp. moesiaca, Carpinus betulus, Quercus dalechampii, Ostrya carpinifolia, etc., at places mixed with Pinus nigra, cover the low-mountain belt. The natural forest of Fagus sylvatica is of age between 100 and 250 years. At places they are mixed with fir Abies alba. The belt of coniferous forests, composed mainly of spruce Picea abies and more rarely Macedonian Pine Pinus peuce - a Balkan endemic and Tertiary relict species – comes next. The highest mountain parts are covered by sub-alpine shrub vegetation of Siberian Juniper Juniperus communis nana, whortleberries Vaccinium spp. and alpine meadows.
Birds:
The ornithofauna of the Central Balkan is rich and includes rare, threatened bird species, and Balkan endemic subspecies. It supports 151 breeding species, 26 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985). Of the birds breeding on the park’s territory 56 species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 4 of them being included in category SPEC 1 as globally threatened, 21 in SPEC 2 and 31 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. Central Balkan is of international importance for three globally threatened species - Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca, Saker Falco cherrug and Corncrake Crex crex that breed there. Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni still occur in the area as breeding species in very low numbers. Central Balkan holds the biggest population in the country of the White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos. The species is represented by the glacial relict subspecies D. l. lilfordii, which is threatened by extiction within its range. Central Balkan is among the most valuable areas in the country on the level of European Union for a complex of 14 breeding species- White-backed Woodpecker, Saker Falcon, Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus, Hazel Grouse Bonasa bonasia, Tengmalm`s Owl Aegolius funereus, Ural Owl Strix uralensis, Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passerinum, Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius, Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata, Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva and European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus. The area is of global importance as a representative area for the Alpine biome. Three of the four biome–restricted species, typical for the Alpine biome and established in the country occur there – Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris, Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria and Yellow-billed Chough (Alpine) Pyrrhocorax graculus. The subspecies of the Alpine Accentor - Prunella collaris subalpinum - is a Balkan endemic species. Another Balkan endemic subspecies with numerous population in Central Balkan is the Horned Lark /Eremophila alpestris balkanica/. The Central Balkan is the most important area in the country for number of bird species, breeding there in very dense populations or in relatively good numbers: Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus, Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca, Little Owl Athene noctua, European Robin Erithacus rubecula, Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis, Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus, Blackbird T. mеrula, Song Thrush T. philomelos, Mistle Thrush T. viscivorus, Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, Goldcrest Regulus regulus, Blue Тit Parus caeruleus, Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs. It is one of the sites with greatest importance in Bulgaria for the Fieldfare Turdus pilaris, which winters there in good numbers.
Threats:
A significant part of the Central Balkan is easily accessible for visitors because of the relatively small width of its territory, existence of settlements on the borders of the area and even within it, as well as district centres situated close together. The forest habitats are highly affected by the intensive forestry out of the Central Balkan National Park. Coniferous forests are highly vulnerable to fairs. The natural succession of the Juniper in the high mountain meadows has negative impact on souslik Spermophilus sp. colonies, which are the most important food for the raptors there. Rocky habitats are threatened by the detonations of rocks made by treasure hunters. Direct threats to birds are caused by poaching (taking chicks and eggs from the nests, shooting of raptors and owls), rock climbing, gliding, hang gliding, off road traffic of motor vehicles, etc. Big investment projects for building of ski resorts put under the threat significant part of territory of the Central Balkan.
Legal protection:
About 57% of the territory of Central Balkan is under legal protection according to the national nature conservation law. One of the three national parks in Bulgaria – the “Central Balkan” National Park is situated there. It is established in 1991 for protection of typical sustainable ecosystem and the biodiversity relevant to them. The National park consist nine strict reserves with total area of about 20,000 ha. Four of them are also designated by UNESCO as Biosphere reserves in 1977. The second biggest protected area in Central Balkan SPA is the “Bulgarka” Nature Park that was designated in 2002 for protection, restoration and maintenance of typical beech forests. There are also other reserves, managed reserve, protected areas and natural monument in the territory of Central Balkan. In 1989 three of the reserves in the Central Balkan – “Boatin”, “Tsarichina” and “Steneto” are designated as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. In 1997 the whole area of the “Central Balkan” National Park was designated as IBA. In 2005 the area of the IBA is enlarged to the recent territory of the proposed SPA. In 1998 the area was designated also as CORINE Site because of its European value for habitats, rare and threatened plant and animal species, including birds.
