13/12/2019
The observation tower on the Tsarichina Ecotrail is closed
Due to the deterioration of the technical condition and the possible threat to the life and health of the visitors of the Central Balkan National Park the use of the observation tower in the area of Shalya Peak (part of the Tsarichina ecotrail) is temporarily suspended.
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12/12/2019
Second case: measures taken in the National Park due to the African swine fever presence
Due to a second identified case of the disease African swine fever has begun the implementation of measures for the prevention and eradication of the disease
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03/12/2019
Measures taken in the National Park due to the African swine fever presence
With an Order of the Director of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate, within the affected from the disease African swine fever areas (subarea A) has begun the implementation of measures for the prevention and eradication of the disease.
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11/11/2019
National student competition "Ambassadors for Health"
National student competition "Ambassadors for Health" for projects, aimed at the restriction of smoking, alcohol abuse, healthy eating, and exercising.
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25/10/2019
Park employees and children from the SOS Children's Villages set up bird feeders
The event was part of a donation campaign by Raiffeisenbank for placing feeders and birdhouses in schools and kindergartens within the Central Balkan Biosphere reserve.
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11/10/2019
The Ministry of Environment and Water announces a photo competition.
The Ministry of Environment and Water announces a photo competition with the theme "I love the Nature in four seasons".
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Biosphere Reserve
The BR originates from four smaller biosphere reserves included in the MAB program in 1977. These are the strict natural reserves of Boatin, Tsarichina, Steneto and Dzhendema. In 2017, these biosphere reserves were transformed, expanded and renamed to create Central Balkan – Biosphere Reserve, meeting the requirements and principles of Seville's strategy.
Part of the territory of the Central Balkan Biosphere Reserve is a National Park with the same name. It was declared in 1991 and corresponds with the Category II of the IUCN Protected Area Category System.
There are three zones in the BR:
- Core zone – includes the nine strict natural reserves of Boatin, Tsarichina, Kozya stena, Steneto, Severen Dzhendem, Peeshti skali, Sokolna, Dzhendema and Stara Reka within the boundariae of the national park;
- Buffer zone – covers the entire territory of the park outside the reserves in it;
- Transition zone – the territories of the municipalities bordering the National Park – Troyan, Sevlievo, Pavel Banya, Karlovo and Anton.
CBNP (the core and buffer zones of the biosphere reserve) is one of the most important ecological corridors in the South Eastern Europe, supporting genetic exchange, distribution and connections between species from the Carpathians and other mountains in Eastern Europe, the southern parts of the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor.
The grasslands are distributed mainly in the upper subalpine and alpine treeless areas in the park. Under the 8 centuries of intensive grazing’s influence (including annual burning of bushes and trees) on the ridge parts of the park have formed extensive grassland communities.
Beech forests cover approximately 60 000 ha of the CBBR and are one of the biggest compact, relatively unchanged by men massifs in Europe. The dominant species is the common beech. Average age of the beech communities in the core and buffer zones of the biosphere reserve is 135 years, including some vital forests aged 240. Coniferous woods have limited size and are vastly dominated by the Norway spruce. The region is the northernmost point in the world and the only one in Stara Planina where the Balkan endemic Macedonian pine is growing naturally.
CBBR presents the opportunities for sustainable development through sustainable tourism, presenting historical and archaeological sites, architectural landmarks and preserved traditional crafts (wood-carving, icon-painting, leather-processing, weaving, pottery, coppersmith), enhance trading with local traditional products (home-made production of cheese, milk, rakia (Bulgarian brandy), wine, jams and other conserved food), as well as cultural festivals and gastronomic tourism and exchange of experience with other BR. The BR represents a framework for the sustainable development of the region.
The BR has a collective management body – an Advisory Council that plans and coordinates activities with the participation of all stakeholders.
(week days from 8:00 to 16:30)
+359886090658
(in non-working hours)
or е-mail address:
office@centralbalkan.bg