Estado: BlagoevgradÁrea: 13579,14 ха
Propiedad: state - 50%; municipality - 34%; private - 16%;
Descripción:
The Melnik Pyramids cover the territory around the town of Melnik to the south of the villages Gorna Sushitsa and Paskarevo and to the north of the villages Katuntsi and Kalimantsi. It is a hilly-ridge area with heavily indented relief, well outlined short slopes with different orientation, favouring active erosion processes. The climate is transitory Mediterranean. The area is characterized by a great variety of mosaic habitats with significant Mediterranean influence. Most of the area is covered by pastures and shrubs, as well as broadleaved forests of Quercus pubescens, Quercus frainetto, Quercus cerris, and Carpinus orientalis. The Oriental Hornbeam Carpinus orientalis prevails, often forming pure forest and scrub formations or associations with Mediterranean elements of Red Juniper Juniperus oxycedris, etc. Typical for the region are the evergreen shrub communities of Phyllirea latifolia with xerothermal grass vegetation. There are small compact patches of Quercus coccifera forests as well.
Aves:
The region of the Melnik Pyramids supports 113 breeding bird species, 12 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985). Of the birds occurring there 49 species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 19 of them being listed in category SPEC 2 and 30 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. The area provides suitable habitats for 32 species, included in Annex 2 of the Biodiversity Act, which need special conservation measures, of which 26 are listed also in Annex I of the Birds Directive. The site is of global importance as a representative example of the Mediterranean biome. Five biome-restricted species, typical for the Mediterranean biome, occur there – Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala, Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum, Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica, Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans and Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala. For the Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra the region of the Melnik Pyramids is one of the most important sites in Bulgaria on a European Union level, where the species breed. The site supports considerable populations of Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus, Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla, Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria, Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum, Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio, Woodlark Lullula arborea and Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis on national level. In addition to the twelve species of birds of prey, which nest in the region, the raptors, which nests in Southern Pirin regularly, use the Melnik Pyramids as hunting area.
Amenazas:
The area is sensitive to the human activities related mainly to agriculture, forestry, water management and infrastructure. Amongst the most serious impacts related to agriculture is the removal of the natural vegetation and conversion of grasslands and shrub dominated habitats into arable land. Pastures further away from settlements are not used completely because of the smaller number of animals today compared with the past. This cause abandonment of the land and deterioration of key habitats. Pasture of goats into forest and shrub dominated habitats causes deterioration of these habitats. Clear-cut of forests and afforestation with non-indigenous species causes change of the natural habitats. Investment projects for construction of mcro hydro-power stations along the rivers of Melnishka, Pirinska Bistritsa and their tributaries ia an additional threat both to the existence of the riverine habitats and to the overall water balance of the area. Direct threats to birds are caused by poaching, taking chicks and eggs from the nests, gliding, hang-gliding, off road traffic of motor vehicles, unregulated movement of people, etc.
La protección legal:
There is only one protected area on the site’s territory – “Melnik pyramids” Nature Monument. It was designated in 1978, covers 8.5% of the site area and protects unique sandstone forms. In 1998 CORINE Site with the same name was designated because of its European value for rare and threatened habitats, plant and animal species, including birds. It covers 16.5% of the territory. In 2005 the site was designated also as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
