I.
Introduction
In contrast to humans, plants and animals do not recognise
borders in their geographical range and migrations. Even the coarsest
delimitation of ecosystems very rarely coincides with political frontiers.
Moreover, conservation biology emphasises the importance of large-scale
management and regional approaches. In this context, frontiers between
nations become a serious obstacle. Single natural areas are divided and
often subject to different and some times incompatible management and
land use practices. The share of natural areas of great ecological importance
located in frontier zone is quite significant. The Internationally Adjoining
Protected Areas include 28% of the world total of protected areas. This
figure shows the extend of the problem of transboundary
ecosystems and the need of interstate co-operation. This has lately become
a major concern of international organisations like IUCN, UNESCO and
EEA (1995), which stress the need for interstate co-operation for the
establishment and the management of transboundary protected areas. They
also emphasise the role that these areas can play for the improvement
of co-operation and understanding among nations. IUCN organised two conferences
in 1997 and 1998 on the issues and the perspectives of establishing "Transboundary
Protected Areas" as "Peace Parks". UNESCO encourages the
creation of "Transboundary Biosphere Reserves". Meanwhile,
EEA, in its report on European Environment stresses the importance of
"Transboundary Parks". In particular, EEA has established an
inventory of 24 transboundary areas of major importance for the conservation
of nature. Theses areas are characterised as "Ecological Bricks"
and are incorporated in the "Ecological bricks initiative"
.Two of these areas, are located on the Greek frontier zones: the Prespa
lakes, and the Rhodope, including the
Nestos Delta.
There are several Transboundary Protected Areas in
Europe that enjoy the
status of a National Park. Typical examples are the Parks across the
French-Italian border (Le Mercantour/France) – Alpi
Marittime / Italy and La Vanoise / France– Grand Paradiso
/ Italy) and on the French-Spanish border (Les Pyrénées
/ France – Ordesa / Spain). The establishment of such a transboundary National Park in the area of the Prespa Lakes is the first such initiative undertaken by Greece.
II.
Description of the Area – Aims
of the Project
The Rhodope area is a typical
example of a single biogeographical area that
is divided artificially by the Greek -Bulgarian border. This extended
mountain range is situated mainly in Bulgarian territory. Its southern
flanks transgress the Greek-Bulgarian border and are part of the region
of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. The total area
of the Rhodope range is ca. 18.000 sqkm., only
18% of which are on Greek territory. The ecological value of the Rhodope region has been adequately documented in a number
of publications and studies. Its situation on the intersection of three
major biogeographic areas - the Mediterranean, the Central European and the
Asiatic - has favoured a high degree of biodiversity. A great number
of relict, endemic, rare and vulnerable species are present there. The
Western Rhodope area is endowed with a large variety of landscapes and microclimates
and comprises a great number of ecosystems, ranging from lakes, marshes,
peat bogs, rivers and riparian vegetation, to high mountain ecosystems
that have preserved a high degree of connectivity and naturalness, including
parts of virgin and old growth forest. Most part of the Rhodope
is covered by forests that preserve the characteristics of the primeval
forest that covered Eurasia after the retreat of the last Ice Age 12.000 years ago. All types
of European forest ecosystems are encountered in Rhodope,
from boreal conifers to evergreen sclerophylles
of the Mediterranean type ecosystems. The birch (Betula
pendula) and the fir (Picea
abies) are found here within the southernmost
limits of their distribution range, forming the only such forests in
Greece. The presence of the brown bear Ursus arctus), and of other
rare and threatened large mammals and birds like the wolf (Canis
lupus), the otter (Lutra lutra),
the wild-goat (Rupicapra rupicapra),
the wild cat (Felis sylvestris)
the little bustard (Tetrao urogallus) the hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia) is a major asset because it
visualises, even to the layman, the ecological value, the importance
and the uniqueness of the Rhodope region.
Geomorphology and history contributed to the isolation
of parts of Rhodope. Especially in the Greek
part of the range, there are areas with little or no human presence.
The Fraktos area is a typical example of virgin
forest. This area is the only one in Greece that is absolutely protected (category I according to the IUCN typology).
According to the National Strategy for the Conservation
of Biodiversity of the Bulgarian government (1994) the Rhodope
mountains are ranked in the forth position after Pirin, Central Balkans and
the mountains of Rila.
The study undertaken jointly by
INIER (Greece) and Borrowed Nature Association (Bulgaria), investigates
the possibilities and the conditions for the establishment of a single
Protected Area in western Rhodopes taking into consideration the homogeneity
of the area that is divided between two states.
The wider study area comprises 22 municipalities in
Bulgaria while in Greece involves 6 municipalities and 2 communities (Appendix A'). Its extend
covers approximately 9.000sqkm. 6.600 of which are situated in Bulgaria (ca. 5.5% of the Bulgarian territory). The area is inhabited by 321.858
people (3,8% of the total population)
and the population density amounts to 48,8 inhabitants
/ km2. 2.400
sqkm. of the area are on Greek
territory and, for the most part are situated within the prefecture of Drama. The indigenous population was exchanged during 1921-1923 with Greek
from the Black Sea in application Treaty of Lausane. During the Greek Civil War (1944-1949)
the semi-nomad shepherds belonging to the minority of Sarakatsans
were expelled from the area. In the absence of grazing flocks and of
the traditional burning of pasturelands, the area has been soon covered
by dense forest. The total population of the Greek part of the area is
approx. 16.000 people. Population density is extremely low: 6,7
inhabitants / km2 (as compared with a total average of 76
inhabitants / km2)
The ecological value of the area is largely recognised
in both countries and there have been several attempts to establish protected
areas both in Greek and in Bulgarian territory. In the appendix B' there
are presented the protection categories in both countries, and their
correspondence with IUCN Protected Area Management Categories.
In the Bulgarian part of the study area there are
14 areas that have been characterised Nature Reserves or Maintained Reserves.
The are presented in Table 1:
TABLE 1. NATURE RESERVES AND MAINTAINED
RESERVES IN THE BULGARIAN CENTRAL AND WESTERN RHODOPE
| TYPE |
NAME |
AREA (ha) |
Establishment |
| NATURE RESERVE |
Beglika |
1463,1 |
1960 |
| Chervenata Stena (Corine
site: F00004501) |
3029 |
1956 |
| Dupkata |
1210,4 |
1956 |
| Kastraklii |
124 |
1968 |
| Kazanite |
161 |
1968 |
| Kupena (Corine site: F00003900) |
1761,1 |
1961 |
| Mantaritza |
1069,2 |
1968 |
| Sovskovcheto |
177,5 |
1968 |
| MAINTAINED RESERVE |
Amzovo |
0,3 |
1999 |
| Izgorialoto Gyune (Hvoinata) |
32 |
1956 |
| Konski Dol (Kazana) |
32 |
1941 |
| Momchilovski Dol |
31,1 |
1999 |
| Shabanitza (Stara Gora) |
23 |
1956 |
| Tamna Gora |
33 |
1962 |
| |
TOTAL AREA |
9146,7 |
|
There are also 11 areas in Central and Western
Rhodope that are included in the programme CORINE Biotopes
In the Greek part of Western
Rhodope, there are
two sites that are protected as Nature Monuments
(Table 2).
TABLE 2 ESTABLISHED PROTECTED AREAS
IN GREEK RHODOPE
| SITE |
DESIGNATION |
AREA (ha) |
| Beech
forest of Tsichla Chaidou |
Nature
monument |
18 |
| Virgin forest of Fraktos, Western Rhodope |
Nature Monument |
550 |
It is worth noting that both areas are situated on the Greek-Bulgarian border.
The Virgin Forest of Fraktos is the only area
of absolute protection in Greece (category I according to the IUCN definition).
Five further sites will be included in the European
network NATURA 2000, according to directive 92/43/CEE (Table 3).
TABLE 3.
SITES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NATURA NETWORK IN GREEK WESTERN RHODOPE
| DENOMINATION |
CODE |
AREA (ha) |
| |
GR1120003 |
3.209 |
| |
GR1140001 |
1.080 |
| Symida |
GR1140002 |
7.233 |
| Elatia |
GR1140003 |
6.982 |
| Summits
of Falakro |
GR1140004 |
10.560 |
Four of the above sites border to
the North with Bulgaria.
The virgin forest of Fraktos is unique in Greece and one of the most important relic forest ecosystems in Europe.
It is a climax formation of the Rhodope vegetation
and offers haven to the brown bear (Ursus arctus), the wild goat
(Rupicapra rupicapra), the little bustard
(Tetrao urogallus), and hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia). It is an area of absolute protection
where all human activities are prohibited with the exception of scientific
research. Access to the area is in any case subject to a special permit.
On the Bulgarian side, the adjacent area to the Virgin Forest of Fraktos is not subject to any protection regime.
The area of Elatia
is covered by boreal conifers with spruce (Picea
abies) as the dominant species. Central
Rhodope is the only region in Greece where spruce forms closed forests. These forests form a landscape
reminiscent of landscapes encountered in Northern and Central
Europe. Pinus sylvestris,
Pinus nigra and Fagus moesiaca are also present. The forests of Elatia are the most important in Greece for timber production. Significant elements of the area are the peatbogs
while many small or larger streams with permanent flow cross the area,
forming occasionally meandric shapes. Characteristic
animal species are Ursus arctos, Tetrao urogallus, and
Bonasa bonasia. The important flora of the area
comprises Soldanella rhodopaea, Allium melanantherum and Gentianella
bulgarica.
The birch forest in western Rhodopi is the
only presence of the species (Betula pendula) in
Greece and its southernmost area of its geographic distribution. This forest
however is getting reduced as other tree species – stronger competitors,
replace the birch. Other tree species in the area are: Pinus sylvestris,
Picea abies, Fagus
sp., Quercus sp., Alnus glutinosa,
Corylus avellana and Populus sp.
Ursus arctos and Rupicapra rupicapra
are the most characteristic mammals of the forest.
The Nature Monument of Tsichla
– Chaidou is mainly covered by old
beech forests (Fagus sylvatica) There is also sporadic presence of Pinus peuce, as well as open areas with grasslands, steep
rocks and stony areas. The area has potentials for environmental
education and recreational activities, without any danger of ecological
degradation. It is important place for nesting and reproduction of the
brown bear. The landscapes are of high quality, as historically have
experienced low human pressure. Many endemic and rare plants Sempervirum marmoreum,
Viola stojanowii and Silene
waldsteinii and animals (Ursus arctos
and Bonasa bonasia) are found in this area.
The limited area of the protected sites both in the
Bulgarian and in the Greek part of Rhodope, as well as the lack of correspondence in the protection
of the border areas, which results in the absence of a consistent management,
renders the existing protection status inadequate, especially as far
as the conservation of the large mammals is concerned.
The present study will culminate in a proposal for establishment of
a transboundary protected area in Western Rhodope ("Rhodope Park").
Care will be taken to strike a balance between nature conservation and
the needs of the inhabitants in the wider area based on ecological, social
and economical criteria. The general orientation of the transboundary
Rhodope Park will be:
III.
The "Rhodope"
Park: Status – Zonation – Activities
The proposed "Rhodope Park" is shown on the attached map. Its total area is approximately
7.900 km2. From these, 6.000 km2 are situated in
Bulgaria, 1.900 in Greece. The Rhodope Park should include two separate and independent, but adjacent nationally
protected areas, one on the Greek and one on the Bulgarian side. Each
protected area should be managed by an independent National Management
Body. The
operation of both National Management Bodies should be based on common
principles, and they will co-operate on planning issues and management
practices. They will also carry out common projects.
It is proposed that the wider area
should be declared Nature Park (VI) in Bulgaria. In Greece there should be established two Eco-development
Areas (V) and one National Park (II), following
the proposals of the Special Environmental Study carried out for the
area (in the context of "Arctos" project by the environmental
organisation "Arcturos"). In Annex
C, the above designations are being described, while in the map No 2,
we present the zoning system proposed for the whole area. Since the two
countries do not have a common designation system for their protected
areas, the characterisation of the management zones follows the IUCN
categories according to table in Annex B.
The proposed Rhodope Park is formulated according to two alternative scenarios, regarding
its Bulgarian part. In the first (maximum) scenario,
the Nature Park encompasses the whole area (approx. 6.570 km2) covered
by the GIS created up to the present time for the project’s purposes.
In the second scenario ,
the Nature Park extends over 3.800 km2; some areas with intense agricultural and mining
activities are left out, since their inclusion might create social upheaval.
Based on the existing projects for the same area, and after evaluation
of the territory features and protection needs, we came to the conclusion
that this is the smallest possible area which should be agreed for general
protection as a nature park. Further compromises would bring quite negative
consequences to the natural values of the future protected area, thus
leaving many important habitats and already existing protected areas
out of protection coverage. The present proposal takes into account previous
studies of the area, done by the environmental organisations Green Balkans
and Wilderness Fund.
Within these areas there will be protection zones
in which human activities will be restricted. The existence of such zones
is essential for the conservation of sensitive ecosystems, species and
ecological functions. Species like the brown bear, the wild goat, the
little bustard and especially the climax ecosystems that have reached
the final stages of succession are being confined to the most remote
and relatively unadulterated areas. These areas are becoming more and
more rare as human presence expands. It is, therefore absolutely
essential that they should be strictly protected. Within the wider protected
area these sites will be rare and valuable assets that will function
as poles of attraction of visitors in the surrounding zones.
III.1.
Bulgaria
The protection zones in the Bulgarian part of the
study are defined according to the existing protected areas of the country,
but also according to the results of the present study. Inside the proposed
"Rhodope Park" there are:
· 8 (eight) Nature Reserves: Beglika, Dupkata, Kastrakli, Kazanite, Kupena, Mantaritza
Chervenata Stena, and Sovskovcheto. The first
6 (six) are located inside the proposed National Park, while the other
2 (two) are inside the Nature Park.
· 6 (six) Maintained Reserves:
Konski Dol
(Kazana), Starata Gora (Shabanitza), Tamnata Gora), Izgoryaloto Gyune, Momchilovski
Dol and Amzovo. The first 3 (three) are located inside the proposed
National Park and the rest are inside the Nature Park. According to the minimal scenario Amzovo is outside the Nature Park.
There are also 23 Nature Monuments, 29 Protected
Sites and 26 Historical Sites.
According to the PAA (Protection Areas Act) of Bulgaria, the Nature Reserves and the Maintained reserves that
fall within the National Park and the Nature Park should keep their present status. It is proposed that the Nature
Monuments also keep their status, unless re-categorisation
can take place in the future.
According to the articles 19 and 22 of the PAA, inside
the National Parks and the Nature Parks there should be defined Special Management Zones following
the specific conditions of each area (Multifunctional Zones).
The allowed activities inside these zones are defined by the Management
Plans of the Parks. In the present study we propose Zones for Reducing
the Human Influence (ZRHIs),
which can be enlisted in this management category. The proposed ZRHIs, contain either protected sites of special interest
or significant areas which are not currently protected.
The ZRHIs are defined:
1.
In areas which are not protected
but have high biodiversity, while the human pressures that turned up
recently, will most probably cause serious problems in the future unless
there is some restriction to human activities.
2.
Around already protected areas such as Nature Reserves
(e.g. Chervenata Stena, Sovskovcheto), Nature Monuments (e.g. Bujnovsko Zhdrelo),
Maintained Reserves (e.g. Momchilovski Dol and
Starata Gora
/ Shabanitza) and Protected Sites
(e.g. Kleptuza, Chairite
êáé Trigradsko
Zhdrelo) as zones for stopping the human pressures that
recently emerged. In this category are placed the two ZRHIs,
which we propose to establish in the Greek-Bulgarian borders. It has
become evident from the present study, that there is a serious non-correspondence
in the degree of protection of the natural environment. Characteristic
example is the Virgin Forest of Fraktos, an
area, which in Greece is under strict protection, while in Bulgaria
there is no protection at all. Accordingly, activities such as hunting,
grazing and poaching take place. So, we propose a ZRHI in the
Bulgarian territory along the Greek-Bulgarian borders, from the Birch
Forest until the Virgin Forest of Fraktos,
in which the following measures should be taken (in addition to those
that are clearly defined by the establishment of a Nature Park):
·
Prohibition of hunting
·
Reduction of grazing
·
Special measures for the protection of
the priority habitats, the brown bear, the wild goat and the
·
Restriction to the construction of new
roads
·
Application of sustainable woodcutting
techniques
·
Establishment of specific areas in which
no woodcutting should take place at all
The second ZRHI, which is defined in the Greek-Bulgarian borders, is
adjoining through the border to the Greek NATURA’ 2000 site “Tsitchla-Haidou”. The whole region has a continuous landscape going beyond the state
borders. Therefore the Bulgarian area is expected to have the same valuable
natural features as the Greek one. But since this area is one of the
least studied, there are not enough scientific data to support such an
assertion. However, considering the transboundary idea of the park, both
areas should be united in a consistent unit. At this point we propose
that this area becomes a ZRHI, but it could as well become a new
Nature Reserve or Maintained Reserve. Additional extensive studies are
needed to propose the exact category
The new reserve / maintained reserve (red line) can
be surrounded by a ZRHI. In any case there should be taken the same additional
measures proposed for the previous adjoining-in-the-Greek- Borders ZRHI.
III.2.
Greece
In the Greek part of the study area
there are already two (2) protected areas five (5) sites proposed for
inclusion in the NATURA 2000 Network and five (5) wild life reserves.
The Greek legislation does not provide for the preservation of their
protection status in the case that they are included in wider protected
areas. Therefore these protected areas and sites will be adapted
in the new protection framework and zoning.
According to the Greek legislation, Eco-development
areas and National Parks may include Areas of Strict Protection and Areas
of Nature Protection. These areas will become the core areas on the Greek
part of the Rhodope Park and will be surrounded by appropriate buffer zones to absorb potential
pressures.
The majority of the Areas of Strict Protection and
the Areas of Nature Protection are situated on the Greek-Bulgarian border.
Zoning on the Bulgarian side takes this fact into consideration.
I. Areas of Strict Protection
No human activity will be permitted in these areas,
except activities related to scientific research and monitoring. These
areas coincide with the already existing Monuments of Nature: the virgin
forest of Fraktos at Paranesti (included in the National Park)
and of the forest of Haidou-Koula
(within the Eco-development Area of Paranesti
- Stavroupolis - Xanthi). There are
two reasons for that, both related to the existing protection regime:
a) these areas enjoy a high degree of naturalness and include rare ecosystem
types, both as they structures are concerned b) Their proposed extension
is not expected to raise any objection, given that there have been similar
proposals by other relevant bodies.
The virgin forest
of Fractos at Paranesti is proposed to be extended
to an area of 1.372,75 ha and to be surrounded by a buffer-zone. The
only activities permitted in this area are:
·
guarding activities and
·
scientific research subject to a special
permit
A zone of 470 ha in the northern part of the
area should be exempted to allow for measures intended for the conservation
of the wild goat (Rupricapra rupricapra),
should these be deemed necessary by the Management Plan for the area.
Furthermore, in the mountain
of Haidou-Koula exists a Monument of Nature named "Birch forest of Tsichla-Haidou that covers an area of only 18ha. It is proposed that two Areas of Strict Protection are
created: a) the area of Tsichla, covering 144,3 ha and the area of Gyftokastro-Koula
covering 726,2 ha. Both areas should be surrounded by a buffer
-zone. The activities permitted in these zones are:
·
guarding activities and
·
scientific research subject to a special
permit
A zone in the area of Gyftokasto
-Koula should be exempted to allow for measures
to be taken there for the conservation of the Balkan Pine (Pinus peuce) in case they are deemed necessary by the Management
Plan for the area.
II. Areas of Nature Protection
Areas of Nature Protection will be established:
a)
in zones surrounding the Areas of Strict
Protection
·
at Fraktos
covering 3.874,85 ha and
·
at
Tsichla-Haidou-Koula covering
3.786,3 ha.
b) in the zone of Aetorachi - Stravorema
covering 4.140,2 ha.
In these zones only activities should be permitted
that will not compromise the naturalness of the area. Such activities
are:
·
scientific research
·
soft forms of recreational activities
·
environmental education,
·
small scale interventions in support
of the above activities
·
measures for the protection of species
and the restoration of ecosystems
·
extensive grazing
·
exploitation of forestry products for
domestic consumption of the locals
In the Elatia area, three small Nature protection areas should be
established in the locations:
a) Kalyvia-Koutra covering 900
m2
b) Ereipia Vathyrematos
covering 1ha
c) The bog by the Forest Village
covering 500 m2
·
scientific research
·
soft forms of recreational activities
·
environmental education,
·
measures for the protection of species
and the restoration of ecosystems
ÉÉÉ.
Special Management Areas
Within the National Park and the Eco-development areas
"Special Management Areas" – corresponding to
the "zones managed according to the specific local conditions",
which have to be defined within the National
Parks ad the Nature Parks in Bulgaria. These zones have not been legally defined in the Greek part, but
are part of the Management Plan for the area.
a)
A buffer-zone of 6759,25
ha surrounding the virgin forest o Fraktos
will be defined the main purpose of to keep tourist activities at bay.
Interventions required:
·
Measures for the protection, enhancement
and scenic improvement of the landscape
·
Management measures in support of the
Balkan Pine (Pinus peuce)
Activities Permitted:
·
Scientific research
·
Recreation activities
·
Tourism, trekking
·
Timbering, lumbering
·
Grazing
·
Controlled hunting
·
Infrastructure
·
Closed mining
Activity excluded:
·
Clear-cutting
b)
A Special Management Area for the management
of the spruce and black pine forests covering 12340,9
ha.
c) A Special Management Area should be established
in the area of the Birch Forest covering 8121,7 ha.
d) A Special Management Area should be established
on the Falakro mountain
covering 9000 ha.
e) A Riparian Zone should be established along the
river Nestos, ranging 500 m on either bank
and covering a total area of 8.350,4 ha.
f) A Special Protection Area should be established
at Arkoudorema - Haidou
covering 3.949,5 ha
The main management measures in these areas are:
·
Strict control of hunting and grazing
activities, which will have to follow the special provisions to be defined
in the Management Plans for the area.
·
Establishment of sites of non-interference
covering 20% of the total area
·
Monitoring
·
Special provisions for fishing and the
use of water resources to be defined in the management plans for the
Area.
·
Special
forestry provisions
·
Measures for the conservation of the
priority bear habitats, of the bird biotopes and of the water resources.
·
Infrastructure works for the enhancement
of eco-tourism and environmental education
·
Limitations on new road construction
An essential requirement for the success of the Rhodope Park is its social acceptance. For this reason special care should be taken
for the design of actions that will promote the involvement of the local
population in the management and the effective protection of the area.
The area should provide adequate support for the local population and
offer them sustainable development perspectives. The overall objective
is that the protected areas should not become isolated havens. Instead
they should function as examples for the development of the mountain
regions of both countries.
The productive activities that seem capable of supporting
the development of the area and of ensuring the protection of the environment
are:
a)
the sustainable timber production
b)
the
development of the primary sector, and especially of organic cultivation
and animal husbandry.
c)
the
development of eco-tourist
activities.
d)
the
strictly controlled hunting in specified areas.
e)
the
promotion of traditional productive activities and the labelling of the
local products with a name of origin.
The necessary steps for the establishment of the transboundary
1.
Establishment of two adjacent protected
areas on each side of the border.
2.
Expression of a political will for the
realization of the transboundary Rhodope Park. Negotiations should lead
to the signing of a common Official Declaration between governmental authorities
by which it will be formally announced the designation
of the Rhodope Park as a transboundary protected area. Preferably this declaration should be made
on prime minister level (as in the case of the trilateral Prespa Park
involving Greece, Albania and F.Y.R. of Macedonia). The Official Declaration should be held quite general and should
emphasise the will of the Greek and the Bulgarian governments to co-operate
in the protection of the common natural and cultural heritage of the
Rhodope region. It should also stress the European dimension of the Rhodope
Park especially in view of the perspective of Bulgaria 's accession
to the EU. Conceivably, the Official Declaration should briefly dwell
on the positive example of transboundary co-operation across a former
Cold War boarder and express the wish that the Rhodope Park should gradually
evolve to a veritable "Peace Park".
3.
Identification of local and national partners
and establishment of a working group to define the basis and to identify
the key issues for co-operation. This working group will be engaged to
promote the establishment of the Transboundary Protected Area. The particular
objectives of the working group should be:
·
to promote
the establishment of the Protected areas in each country
·
to initiate
the process and to facilitate the bilateral dialogue between the Greek
and the Bulgarian governments leading to the common Official Declaration
·
to
identify the main components of a plan for co-operation in the future.
4.
Designing of a detailed Management Plan
and determining of the ways for its implementation.
APPENDIX A'
TABLE 1.
MUNICIPALITIES AND COMMUNITIES IN THE STUDY AREA
| COUNTRY |
DISTRICT |
MUNICIPALITY |
|
Blagoevgradska |
1.
Satovcha
2.
Garmen
3.
Hadjidimovo |
| Smolyanska |
4.
Borino
5.
Devin
6.
Dospat
7.
Rudozem
8.
Smolyan
9.
Chepelare |
| Pazardjik |
10.
Belovo
11.
Septemvri
12.
Velingrad
13.
Rakitovo
14.
Batak
15.
Peshtera
16.
Bratzigovo
17.
Krichim
18.
Perushtitza
19.
Pazardjik |
| Plovdiv |
20.
Assenovgrad
21.
Laki
22.
Rhodopi |
|
Drama |
1.
Drama
2.
Paranesti
3.
Ê. Íerokopi
4.
Prosotsani
5.
Sidironero (community) |
| Xanthi |
6.
Stavroypoli
7.
Ìyki
8.
Êïtyli (community) |
APPENDIX B'
The protection categories in Greece and Bulgaria, and their correspondence with IUCN Protected Area
Management Categories.
| IUCN management
categories |
| I a
Strict Nature
Reserve:
Protected area managed
mainly for science |
Category 1
Strict Nature Protection Areas |
Category 1
Reserves (Biosphere reserves) |
| I b
Wilderness Area:
Protected area managed
mainly for wilderness protection |
Category 2
Nature Protection Areas
According to the protection objectives they can have
more specific designations. |
Category 1
Reserves (Nature
Reserves) |
| II
National Park:
Protected area managed
mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation |
Category 3
National Parks
They can include inside:
Areas for Strict
Nature Protection (1)
Areas for Nature
Protection (2) |
Category 2
National Parks |
| III
Natural monument:
Protected area managed
mainly for conservation of specific natural features |
Category 4
Protected Natural
Formations |
Category 3
Natural Monuments |
| IV
Habitat/Species
Management Area:
Protected area managed
mainly for conservation through management intervention |
- |
Category 4
Maintained Reserves |
| V
Protected Landscape
/ Seascape:
Protected area managed
mainly for landscape conservation and recreation |
Category 4
Protected Landscapes
and
Protected Landscape
Elements
The protected landscapes can acquire more specific
designations such as "aesthetic forest", "wildlife
landscape", "agricultural landscape" or "industrial
landscape" |
Category 6
Nature Parks |
| VI
Managed Resource
Protected Area:
Protected area managed
mainly for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems |
Category 5
Eco-development Areas
They can include inside:
Areas for Strict
Nature Protection (1)
Areas for Nature
Protection (2) |
- |
NOTE: Protected Sites & Historical Sites in Bulgaria
are currently going through re-categorization and will
be distributed among other categories. Some will be cancelled
at all, especially many Historical Sites.
Reserves in Bulgaria correspond to
IUCN I.a or I.b
category, but those of Ia (e.g. Parangalitza Biosphere Reserve
in the Rila Mountain) are very few now, and are expected to
be possibly re-categorized in Ib or other categories. The Biosphere
Reserves were created in 70's and 80's under the Man & Biosphere
(MAB) Program of UNESCO, and were used as a base for later IUCN,
CORINE and NATURA systems, but now are almost not adequate anymore.
APPENDIX C'
Description
of the management
categories in the two countries
A. BULGARIA
Nature Parks. Territories, which include natural
ecosystems with great variety of plant and animal species and their
habitats, with characteristic and significant landscapes and objects
of non-living nature, can be declared as Nature Parks (Art.29).
Their
management has the following aims:
§
Supporting ecosystems’ diversity
and conserving the biodiversity they contain
§
Creating possibilities for scientific,
educational and recreational activities
§
Sustainable use of renewable natural
resources, while preserving traditional human livelihoods
§
Ensuring conditions for development
of tourism.
Human
settlements (cities, towns, villages) and
resorts, which do not perform damaging manufacturing and activities,
are allowed within the nature park borders (Art.30).
According to Art. 32, in each Nature Park there should be defined:
§
Reserves zone (consisting of Reserves
and Maintained Reserves)
§
Infrastructural zones
§
Tourism zones
§
Multifunctional zones
The
exact zonation (as per Art.19) of the Nature Parks, as well as places, methods and conditions for any kind of activities
within their borders must be specified in their management plans (Art.22).
All
Reserves and Maintained Reserves falling within the borders
of a nature park, retain their status specified by their establishment
acts.
Building
limitations (prohibition of any building works except for tourist facilities,
water supply and purification facilities, park management facilities,
underground communications, restoration of
existing infrastructure) can be applied to nature parks (Art.32) but
only if this management plan is already approved by the Council of Ministers
of Bulgaria.
The following activities are prohibited in the nature
parks (Art.31):
·
bold cutting of trees in high-tree forests
(excluding the Populus forests), and
in sprout-origin forests larger than 3 hectares,
·
introduction of non-specific animal and
plant species,
·
pasture of goats outside the allowed
places,
·
collection of fossils and minerals,
·
damaging the rock formations,
·
polluting the waters
and lands with household,
·
industrial and other wastes,
·
camping and camp fires outside the allowed
places,
·
excavation and primary processing (enrichment)
of metals via chemical and chemically-bacteriological methods and cyanides,
·
activities and construction non-allowed
by the park regulations,
·
collection of rare, endemic, relict and
protected species except for scientific research,
·
sea resource extraction through dredging
and trawling,
·
other
activities listed in the management plan of the given nature park and
its establishment act.
