Natura 2000 Site Management Case-study | Central Balkan National Park, BG

	Site profile
	Site name:	Central Balkan National Park.
	Location:	Stara Planina Mountain
	Land area:	71,669.5 ha
	Nearest urban settlement:	The Park lies on the territory of 9 municipalities and 31 areas owned by settlements: Municipality Teteven – lands: villages Divchovoto, Cherni Vit, and Ribaritsa; Municipality Troyan – lands: villages Chiflik, Beli Osam, Balkanets, Cherni Osam; Municipality Apriltsi – the lands of town Apriltsi; Municipality Sevlievo – lands: villages Kravenik, Stokite; Municipality Pavel Banya – lands: villages Manolovo, Tazha, Asen, Skobelevo, Osetenovo, Gabarevo, Tarnichane, town Pavel Banya; Municipality Karlovo – lands: town Kalofer, village Vasil Levski, towns Karlovo, Sopot, villages Anevo, Iganovo, Pevtsite, Karnare, Hristo Danovo, Rozino, town Klisura; Municipality Sopot - lands: town Sopot, village Anevo; Municipality Anton – lands of the village Anton; Municipality Pirdop – lands of the village Pirdop.
	Natura 2000 ID:	BG 0000494
	www:	www.centralbalkannationalpark.org www.visitcentralbalkan.net www.visitpanparks.org
	Annual visitor count:	50- 55 000 people
	Majority of visitors from:	Majority of the tourists come from Bulgaria
	Site description:	This site is currently in the designation phase and included in the Bulgarian List of Natura 2000 sites (according to Bulgarian biodiversity Act), adopted from Bulgarian Council of Ministers. Central Balkan National Park is located in the central part of Bulgaria. It includes the highest point of Central Stara Planina mountains. The National Park covers a forested area of 44,000.8 ha (61%) and high-mountain pastures and meadows of a total area 27,668.7 ha (39%). The National Park is situated in an alpine region.

All species
Species code	Latin name	Common / local name

A 4 0 2	Accipiter brevipes
A 2 2 3	Aegolius funereus
A 1 0 9	Alectoris graeca
A 0 9 1	Aquila chrysaetos
A 4 0 4	Aquila heliaca
A 0 8 9	Aquila pomarina
A 1 0 4	Bonasa bonasia
A 2 1 5	Bubo bubo
A 4 0 3	Buteo rufinus
A 2 2 4	Caprimulgus europaeus
A 0 3 0	Ciconia nigra
A 0 8 0	Circaetus gallicus
A 2 3 9	Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi
A 2 3 8	Dendrocopos medius
A 4 2 9	Dendrocopos syriacus
A 2 3 6	Dryocopus martius
A 3 7 9	Emberiza hortulana
A 5 1 1	Falco cherrug
A 0 9 5	Falco naumanii
A 1 0 3	Falco peregrinus
A 3 2 0	Ficedula parva
A 4 4 2	Ficedula semitorquata
A 2 1 7	Glaucidium passerinum
A 0 9 2	Hieraaetus pennatus
A 3 3 8	Lanius collurio
A 2 4 6	Lullula arborea
A 0 7 2	Pernis apivorus
A234	Picus canus
A 2 2 0	Strix uralensis
A 1 2 2	Crex crex
1308	Barbastella barbastellus
1352	Canus lupus
1355	Lutra lutra
1361	Lynx lynx
1310	Miniopterus schreibersii
1323	Myotis bechsteinii
1307	Myotis blythii
1321	Myotis emarginatus
1324	Myotis myotis
1305	Rhinolophus euryale
1304	Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
1303	Rhinolophus hipposideros
1371	Rupicarpa rupicarpa balcanica
1335	Spermophilus citellus
1354	Ursus arctos
1224	Bombina variegata
1138	Barbus meridionalis
1163	Cottus gobio haemusi
4013	Austropotamobius torrentium
1083	Cerambyx cerdo
4039	Lucanus cervus
4045	Morimus funereus
1042	Odontopodisma rubripes
4052	Osmoderma eremita
4056	Polyommatus eroides
1014	Rosalia alpina

	All habitats (* indicates priority habitats)
	Habitat code	Common / local name

	9410	Acidophilous Picea forests of the montane to alpine levels (Vaccinio-Piceetea)
	4060	Alpine and Boreal heaths
	9170	Galio-Carpinetum oak-hornbeam forests
	6170	Alpine and subalpine calcareous grasslands
	8110	Siliceous scree of the montane to snow levels (Androsacetalia alpinae and Galeopsietalia ladani)
	8210	Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation
	8220	Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation
	8230	Siliceous rock with pioneer vegetation of the Sedo-Scleranthion or of the Sedo albi-Veronicion dillenii
	9530*	(Sub-) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines
	6230*	Species-rich Nardus grasslands, on silicious substrates in mountain areas (and submountain areas in Continental Europe)
	62D0	Oro – Moesian acidophilous grasslands
	6430	Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels
	8310	Caves not open to the public
	9110	Luzulo-Fagetum beech forests
	9130	Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests
	9180*	Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines
	3160	Natural dystrophic lakes and ponds
	5130	Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands
	6150	Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands
	6210	Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (* important orchid sites)
	6520	Mountain hay meadows
	7140	Transition mires and quaking bogs
	9150	Medio-European limestone beech forests of the Cephalanthero-Fagion
	91EO*	Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae)
	91MO	Pannonian – Balkanic turkey oak – sessile – oak forests
	91BA	Moesian silver fir forests

	Stakeholder success stories

	Role of NGOs in the management plan The National Park has a Management plan (2001 -2010) as protected areas.(According to Bulgarian Protected Areas Act). The Management plan consists of two main sections: I Description - basic information, biotic, physical geographic characteristic II Prescription - goals and long term objectives, management objectives, zoning, programs and projects. The management plan was developed between 1997 – 2001. Scientists and NGOs played an important role in this process. They made an analysis of the information about biotic characteristics and carried out some additional research on the biodiversity. The Central Government (Ministry of Environment and Waters) participated in the preparation of the framework of the management plan and in the section II of the plan: Prescription. According to the Bulgarian Biodiversity Act we have to prepare an Order for declaration of the Central Balkan National Park similar to that for a Natura 2000 site. The next step will be the preparation of the new Management plan. Since the beginning of the designation process NGOs have played a very active role.

	Communication profile
	Activities and products for the communication of Natura 2000
	Events
	✓Workshops
	Event frequency
	✓Not every year
	Use of seasonal workers / volunteers
	✓No
	Communication literature produced
	✓Leaflets
	Communication target groups
	✓General public ✓Site visitors
	The organisation has a dedicated communication strategy for Natura 2000
	✓No
	Site involved in joint working / networking
	✓No

	Site management profile "Communication of Natura 2000 on national/ regional level"

	Key site management issues:
	The conservation and maintenance of biodiversity.
	Integration of Natura 2000 in overall site management:
	The Central Balkan National Park is included in the list of Natura 2000 sites (according to the Bulgarian Biodiversity Act). Now we have to prepare an Order for the declaration of the Natura 2000 site – Central Balkan National Park.
	Key site management objectives:
	Raising awareness about Natura 2000 especially concerning: Aims and possibilities in Natura 2000 Future restrictions and prohibitions in Natura 2000 sites Compensation measures
	Stakeholders targeted as part of management action:
	Land and forest owners Users of lands and forests Regional authorities Local people Hunting and fishing associations Medicinal plants associations Regional authority of the Ministry of Environment and Water Ministry of Agriculture and Forests
	Description of work carried out / methods and methodology:
	The Biological Diversity Act provides for the implementation of national and regional public campaigns to create awareness of the purpose of the protected sites. The implementation of these campaigns is also crucial for the next step – the development of the management plans for the sites. The lack of information itself is the reason for ungrounded fear and negative attitude and makes possible the dissemination of speculative information by people/groups that wouldn’t benefit from the sustainable development. Therefore, we -my colleague Elena Tilova (Green Balkans) and I- are planning to organize a workshop (or two workshops) involving key stakeholders. The aim of this event will be to inform and discuss some issues and problems on Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
	Results of action and activities:
	Raising the level of awareness of Natura 2000 Creating positive attitudes towards the goals and objectives of Natura 2000 and awareness of the opportunities it provides for local development Motivating key stakeholders to be the active party in the process of establishing the network and managing the Natura 2000 sites
	Indication of budget allocation for these tasks:
	Total budget will be approximately Euro 5,800.

	Financial overview

	Organisational budget for nature conservation (annual):
	The 2007 budget is approximately Euro 23,000
	Budget reserved for communication:
	Approximately 30% of overall budget.
	European funding:
	No.


	Ambassador profile
	Name:	Anton Stanchev
	Function:	Head of monitoring and the protection of resources section
	Country:	Bulgaria
	E-mail:	stanchev(at)centralbalkan(dot)bg
	Tel:	+35 96680 1277


	Organisation profile
	Organisation:	Central Balkan National Park Directorate
	www:	www.centralbalkannationalpark.org www.visitcentralbalkan.net www.visitpanparks.org
	E-mail:	office(at)centralbalkan(dot)bg
	Tel:	+35 96680 1277
	Established:	1998
	Category:	Regional body of the Ministry of Environment and Waters
	Number of staff:	75

	Stakeholder profile

	Stakeholder activity in the management planning process:

	Stakeholder group	activity level
	Stakeholder group	hi ← → nil
	Local Government
	Central Government
	Scientists
	Green NGOs
	Foresters
	Hunters