22/05/2023
International Day for Biological Diversity - 22 May
The theme of 2023 is "From agreement to action: Build back biodiversity"
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19/05/2023
We are celebrating 31 years since the adoption of the Habitats Directive
On 21 May 1992, the EU Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Flora and Fauna, better known as the EU Habitats Directive, was adopted. This documents, together with the Directive on the protection of wild birds, are the foundational documents for European policy in the field of the environment and represent the basis of the pan-European ecological network – Natura 2000.
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19/05/2023
Freed bear in Central Balkan National Park
During the past day, an action was held on the territory of the Central Balkan National Park to release a young bear caught in the area of the town of Gabrovo.
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15/05/2023
Central Balkan National Park held an educational initiative with students from Ivan Vazov Secondary School in Sopot
Nearly 60 children and four class teachers participated in the initiative. In a game format, the children learned about food chains and how to connect them in food webs, how to identify tree species, profile a tree, use a tuber and altimeter, animal relationships by simulating predator-prey relationships (owls and dormice), etc.
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05/05/2023
Procedure for the random allocation of vacant pastures 2023
On the basis of art. VII.8. and Appendix No. 4 of the Annual Plan for Grazing and the Use of Hay in the Central Balkan National Park, 2023 approved by Order No. RD-58/31.03.2023 the Central Balkan National Park Directorate announces the conduct of an accidental distribution of free grazing areas
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21/04/2023
Central Balkan National Park Directorate will have effective equipment for rapid fire extinguishing
Fires are a major negative factor leading to damage and loss of targeted natural habitats. The acquisition of a new effective technique for quick response and extinguishing, it will help to reach and contain them quickly.
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19/04/2023
We celebrate Earth Day on April 22
nd this year, the theme for Earth Day is "Investing in our planet," which highlights the importance of dedicating our time, resources and energy to addressing environmental issues and climate change. Possible actions of different communities in relation to Earth Day
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07/04/2023
Children got acquainted with the "Forest around us"
Over 40 children from the school for mountain guides took part in the "Forest around us" holiday, dedicated to the Forest Week (April 3 - 9), which Central Balkan National Park Directorate organized together with the Natural History Museum - Cherni Osam village.
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06/04/2023
Draft annual plan for the use of medicinal plants and wild fruits for 2023
The plan is drawn up in accordance with the Protected Areas Low and aims to regulate and administer the use of medicinal plants, non-medicinal wild fruits and mushrooms on the territory of the Central Balkan National Park, under so as not to allow damage to the natural habitats and species where the collection is carried out, creating prerequisites for the development of an environmentally friendly livelihood of the population.
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05/04/2023
Students from the town of Sevlievo solved environmental cases through the game Climate Fresco
As part of the educational initiatives planned by the Central Balkan National Park Directorate on the occasion of the current Forest Week 2023, on April 4, the Climate Fresco event was held at the "Vasil Levski" Secondary School - the town of Sevlievo.The co-organizers were the municipality of Sevlievo and Central Balkan National Park Directorate.
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03/04/2023
Announcement for the position of junior expert in the "Biodiversity, plans, programs and projects" department in the "Central Balkan National Park" Directorate
Announcement for the position of junior expert in the "Biodiversity, plans, programs and projects" department in the "Central Balkan National Park" Directorate
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31/03/2023
The forest around us
In the Forest Week (April 3 – 9), the Central Balkan National Park Directorate together with the Natural History Museum in Village of Cherni Osam are organizing a cellebration for young and old.
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31/03/2023
Annual grazing plan 2023 for CBNP is approved
By Order of the Director of the Park Directorate today, March 31, 2022, the Annual Plan for Grazing and Use of Hay in the Central Balkan National Park for 2023 was approved.
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30/03/2023
The Park Directorate received ten new motorcycles and preventive control equipment
During the past week, ten new motorcycles, spare parts and equipment for them were delivered to the Central Balkan National Park Directorate. The contract for their delivery is implemented within the framework of the activity "Prevention and fight against fires and poaching by providing the necessary equipment and equipment" under the project "Restoration and protection of natural habitats and species in the Central Balkan National Park", financed under the Operational Program. Environment 2014 - 2020".
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28/03/2023
First visit of UNESCO experts to Central Balkan Biosphere Reserve
The Central Balkan National Park Directorate has been approved for participation in the programme, which provides expert assistance to increase the capacity of administrations of biosphere reserves and parks, global geoparks, and other UNESCO designations.
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24/03/2023
Central Balkan National Park Directorate and Natural History Museum - Cherni Osam village celebrated World Water Day together
World Water Day - March 22 - was celebrated with a celebration in the yard of the Natural History Museum in the village of Cherni Osam. More than 40 children and Museum visitors participated in the event. The main topic of the talks were the rivers, the living conditions in them, the organisms that inhabit them and live nearby, the importance of water bodies, as well as the human impact on river ecosystems.
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22/03/2023
15th edition of the National Student Competition "Ambassadors of Health".
The Ministry of Health announces the beginning of the 15th edition of the National Student Competition "Ambassadors of Health". The purpose of the competition is to promote a healthy lifestyle among young people, emphasizing the prevention of behavioral and health risk factors related to unhealthy eating, low physical activity, alcohol abuse and smoking.
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16/03/2023
Central Balkan National Park Directorate, together with the Natural History Museum - Cherni Osam village, invite you to a water festival on March 22 (Wednesday) in the courtyard of the museum
On the occasion of World Water Day - March 22, the Central Balkan National Park Directorate together with the Natural History Museum - Cherni Osam village are organizing a celebration for young and old. Through games and tasks, everyone will learn more about water, its related species and how to protect it. The event will be held in the courtyard of the museum on March 22 (Wednesday) from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
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13/03/2023
Park rangers have been trained to carry out inspections under the Biodiversity Act
During the past week, training was carried out for park rangers of Central Balkan National Park Directorate to draw up protocols in connection with the mandatory annual inspections under the Biodiversity Act.
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21/02/2023
The meeting between representatives of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate and candidate users of pastures in the Park will be held on February 28
On February 28, 2023, Tuesday, in the “Vasil Karaivanov” hall of the Municipality of Karlovo (1 Petko Sabev Street, town of Karlovo), between representatives of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate and candidate users of pastures in the Park a meeting will be held.
Read more >>Draft of an Annual plan for livestock grazing and using of hay in the Central Balkan NP
Draft of an Annual plan for livestock grazing and using of hay in the Central Balkan NP 2023 was announced with an Order of CBNPD Director.
Read more >>Prohibition of traffic on the road Neshkovtsi locality - Kiselitsa locality in the national park
By Order of the Director of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate, movement, standing and parking on road No. 17 - Neshkovtsi locality - Kiselitsa locality from Annex 3.1.16 - "Road infrastructure in the CBNP" is prohibited without exception due to violation of the abutments of a bridge.
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08/07/2022
The road town of Kalofer - Panitsite locality - Botev peak is closed for motor vehicle traffic for the purpose of tourism
By order of the Director of the Central Balkans National Park Directorate, a restricted access road, according to the Management Plan of the national park, Kalofer - Panitsike - Botev peak is closed to motor vehicle traffic for the purpose of touris
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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.
