Boatin Reserve celebrates today
12 June 2025
Today, June 12, 2025, we celebrate 77 years since the announcement of the oldest reserve - "Boatin", which is located on the territory of the Central Balkan National Park. It was declared a reserve in 1948 with the main goal of preserving the centuries-old beech forests within its borders. Over the years, the reserve has been expanded several times and today it covers an area of almost 1,600 hectares.
"Boatin" is located in the western part of the Central Stara Planina and occupies the northern slopes of the mountain below the Tetevenska Baba peak. It covers the basin of the Cherni Vit River, and its relief is very rugged and steep. Forest landscapes prevail here, dominated by old, tall beech trees (some of them more than 200 years old). Only on the highest parts of the mountain are there spruce forests, which form the upper border of the reserve, and in the few open ridge parts there are also scattered juniper communities.
Speaking of the Boatin reserve, we cannot fail to mention the rich biodiversity that is preserved within its borders. The higher flora exceeds more than 550-600 species, including quite a few endemic plants and a number of endangered species included in the "Red Book of the Republic of Bulgaria" and other nature conservation documents. And the richness of the bird world is proverbial - in addition to dozens of species of songbirds, in Boatin you can see almost all species of woodpeckers, as well as many of the mystical owls. It was here that the Ural owl was established for the first time in Bulgaria. Within the borders of the reserve, you can also meet all animal species characteristic of the mountainous zone of the temperate zone, including and the iconic brown bear of the National Park.
"Boatin" is located in the western part of the Central Stara Planina and occupies the northern slopes of the mountain below the Tetevenska Baba peak. It covers the basin of the Cherni Vit River, and its relief is very rugged and steep. Forest landscapes prevail here, dominated by old, tall beech trees (some of them more than 200 years old). Only on the highest parts of the mountain are there spruce forests, which form the upper border of the reserve, and in the few open ridge parts there are also scattered juniper communities.
Speaking of the Boatin reserve, we cannot fail to mention the rich biodiversity that is preserved within its borders. The higher flora exceeds more than 550-600 species, including quite a few endemic plants and a number of endangered species included in the "Red Book of the Republic of Bulgaria" and other nature conservation documents. And the richness of the bird world is proverbial - in addition to dozens of species of songbirds, in Boatin you can see almost all species of woodpeckers, as well as many of the mystical owls. It was here that the Ural owl was established for the first time in Bulgaria. Within the borders of the reserve, you can also meet all animal species characteristic of the mountainous zone of the temperate zone, including and the iconic brown bear of the National Park.
