important plant areas in central and eastern europe - Plantlife

Bulgaria
PETKO TSVETKOV
Criteria and methodology
Criterion A = 92 species
Ai (15),Aii (56),Aiii (13),Aiv (10)
Criterion B not applied in current project
Criterion C = 202 threatened habitats
Ci (12), Cii (190)
The main challenges to applying the methodology were the lack of Bulgarian species and
habitats recognised on European and global status lists, the need to update the Bulgarian
Red List, and the need to verify data in the field.
Protection, threats and conservation issues
There is a high level of legal protection for plants and sites in Bulgaria and a large
capacity among specialists, although the latest CBD assessment found there was greater
need for implementation of conservation at the local level.The main threats to IPAs and
plants primarily come from pollution (both internal and external to Bulgaria), the rapid
increase in tourism, a high level of deforestation and land abandonment, especially of
pasture land.
Recommendations
■ Continue the revision of the Bulgarian
Red List, which will provide information
for IPA threatened species, and also to
update global and regional red lists.
■ Continue with field verification and
identification of IPAs.
■ Use IPA information in the
development of management plans for
national parks.
■ Use the status of IPAs to increase
support and understanding of plant
conservation and eco-tourism among
local communities.
References
Peev D., Spridonov J., Meshinev T.,
Apostolova I., Petrova A.,
Tzoneva S.,Valjovska, N., Kaneva, Z. 2003
Assessment of the Potential
Important Plant Areas in Bulgaria
and two cross-border IPAs. Sofia
Peev D., Petrova A., Spridonov J.,
Meshinev T.,Apostolova I.,Tzoneva S.,
Valjovska N., Kaneva Z., 2004 Analysis of a
Potential Network of the IPA – Bulgaria
(Oral and Poster Presentation, Planta
Europa IV (www.nerium.net/plantaeuropa)
National Biodiversity Strategy: Bulgaria
(www.biodiv.org/world/reports)
Pirin
Pirin is a mountain IPA in southwest Bulgaria.The site contains a great diversity of
habitats, including beech, spruce and pine forests, among them century old forests of
Bosnian (Pinus heldreichii) and Macedonian (Pinus peuce) pines, alpine heaths, alpine
calcareous grasslands, calcareous and siliceous rocks and screes, alpine lakes, etc. The
Vichren Peak area (2914 m) is a centre of speciation with many endemic species. Pirin
National park is a World Heritage Monument.
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