Área: 144,38 ха
Propiedad: state - 73%; municipality - 25%; private - 2%;
Descripción:
An artificial water basin with hygrophyte vegetation, located on the southern bank of the navigable canal that connects the lakes of Varna and Beloslav, immediately next to the town of Beloslav. The area includes also the adjacent pastures and hills with low rocky crests and a small valley in its southern part. It is a mosaic of diverse habitats, the most typical being the marshy areas. They have been formed mainly as a result of the constant deposing of waters from the water treatment plant of the town of Beloslav, located in close proximity. The so-formed wetland occupies about 13 of the site’s area and is divided by a dyke in two parts – southern, freshwater part, and northern, saline part. The banks of the freshwater basin are overgrown with hygrophyte vegetation, dominated by reed Phragmites australis and broadleaved reed mace Typha latifolia. Small plots around the saline basin are covered with Salicornia sp. And other halophyte vegetation. Open grasslands with meso-xerothermal vegetation, mainly Poa bulbosa, Lolium pеrenne, etc. stretch to the north and north-west. (Bondev 1991). The hill slopes on the east are covered by coppice forest of Quercus cerris, Carpinus orientalis and Ulmus minor. A small valley with grass and shrub vegetation, rocky crests and abandoned sand quarry add to the diversity of habitats.
Aves:
In spite of its small area, Yatata features high diversity of bird species during all seasons. Its territory supports 208 bird species, 62 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985). Of the birds occurring there 89 species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 7 of them being listed in category SPEC 1 as globally threatened, 20 in SPEC 2 and 62 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. The area provides suitable habitats for 71 species, included in Annex 2 of the Biodiversity Act, which need special conservation measures, of which 62 are listed also in Annex I of the Birds Directive. The site is of great importance for the breeding Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea. Yatata is one of the most important sites in the country for the breeding of the Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus and Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus. The Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta nests there too, but in small numbers. Three globally threatened species occur in the area on migration– the Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, and Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca - along with Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus and Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia. The Yatata is of global importance as a roosting site for the Pygmy Cormorant. Flocks of White and Black Storks Ciconia ciconia and C. nigra and different birds of prey pass through the area. It is also an important wintering site for a great number of waterfowl and waterbirds, including the Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus, the Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus and the Mute Swan C. olor, which form considerable concentrations. The Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis can also be observed in winter to overnight in the wetland.
Amenazas:
Yatata is a small territory situated in an urbanized and densely populated region close to the third biggest city in Bulgaria – Varna and its industrial zone. This makes the area sensitive to human activities, which could affect the wetland, itself or the birds. The only source of water for Nature Monument “Yatata” is the Waste Water Treatment Station of the town of Beloslav. In emergency cases of non-operating of the station the wetland is drying up. The water treatment station situated there uses old techniques and accidentally the water in the wetland is polluted. For several years the municipality of the neighbouring village organizes horse ridings in the area, where a lot of people concentrate in the area during the breeding season. This activity caused significant disturbance to birds, pollution and deterioration of the grassland habitats around the wetland. Disturbance to birds is caused also by fishermen and the uncontrolled grazing of sheeps and goats in the area. The regional development plans do not take into consideration the protected area, and plans for development of a railway still exist. There are some investment ideas for building of factories on the part of the area.
La protección legal:
Yatata was designated as protected area under the national legislation in 1987. In 1989 it was designated as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. In 1998 the area was designated also as CORINE Site because of its European value for threatened birds.
