Functions of forests
22/04/2026
We celebrate World Earth Day on April 22
The Central Balkan National Park Directorate joined in celebrating World Earth Day on April 22 in a joint initiative with the Vasil Levski Secondary School - Sevlievo, where teachers, parents and students from four 2nd grade classes planted a total of 12 coniferous trees in the Pine Forest Park.
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22/04/2026
The Annual Plan for Grazing and Use of Hay in the Central Balkan National Park for 2026 was approved
By Order of the Director of the Park Directorate today, April 22, 2026, the Annual Plan for Grazing and Use of Hay in the Central Balkan National Park for 2026 was approved.
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17/04/2026
Temporary suspension of passage along the route from Dom Kordela to the Kostina area
Access and passage along Route No. 6 “Dom Kordela – Kostina Area” (Benkovski Trail), passing through the Boatin Reserve, Teteven Park Section, is temporarily suspended
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08/04/2026
Sokolna Hut Transferred to the Management of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate
As of the current year, the management of Sokolna Hut has been officially assigned to the Central Balkan National Park Directorate.
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31/03/2026
apture the Future: A Global Youth Storytelling Initiative for People and Nature
If you are a young photographer or visual storyteller aged between 18 and 35, and if you find inspiration in the connection between people and nature — a connection woven into harmonious unity within the boundaries of biosphere parks — you could take part in this year’s UNESCO and Vivo initiative Capture the Future.
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30/03/2026
Meeting with stakeholders for the Annual Plan for grazing and hay use prezentation
On April 8, 2026 (Tuesday), a meeting will be held in the “Vasil Karaivanov” Hall at the Karlovo Municipality (Karlovo, 1 Petko Sabev St.) between representatives of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate and prospective pasture users in the Park.
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24/03/2026
We celebrated World Water Day together with children from “Stefan Peshev” Primary School
On March 23, on the occasion of World Water Day, experts from the Central Balkan National Park Directorate conducted educational activities with students from grades 4 “B” and “C” at “Stefan Peshev” Primary School in the town of Sevlievo.
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23/03/2026
March 23 – International Bear Day
International Bear Day has been celebrated every year on March 23 since 1992. This day is dedicated to some of the most impressive and powerful animals on the planet – bears.
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20/03/2026
The World Water Day is coming
This Sunday, March 22, the world will mark World Water Day. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the global water crisis and to encourage the sustainable management of water resources.
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19/03/2026
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 2026 was announced with an Order of CBNPD Director.
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16/03/2026
Successful Operation Against Unauthorized Motor Vehicle Use in Central Balkan National Park
On 15 March, in the area of Bukova Mogila locality within the Troyan Park Section, staff members of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate carried out a specialized operation to monitor compliance with the regulations in the protected area.
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19/02/2026
DNPCB Team Locates Missing Tourist Alive in the Area of Golyam Kademliya
The teams of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate and the Mountain Rescue Service successfully located the missing Nikola Vladov from the village of Dzhulyunitsa. The man was found in the area above Babsko Praskalo after being missing for four days.
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19/02/2026
Large-Scale Search Operation for Missing Tourist in Central Balkan National Park
A major rescue operation is underway in the area of Mount Golyam Kademlia in Central Balkan National Park following a report of a missing tourist.
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18/02/2026
The Central Balkan National Park Directorate Visits Kindergarten ‘Osmi Mart’ – Troyan
An expert from the Central Balkan National Park Directorate visited the children of Kindergarten “Osmi Mart” in the town of Troyan. Thirteen children from the kindergarten’s fourth group had the opportunity to learn more about the National Park.
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13/02/2026
A temporary restriction on visitor movement in the southern parts of the Park is being introduced until the end of April 2026
By order prohibits visitors from moving outside the marked tourist trails and roads throughout the entire territory of the Tazha and Kalofer park sections within Central Balkan National Park.
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02/02/2026
Wetlands and traditional knowledge: a bridge between nature and cultural heritage
On February 2, we celebrate World Wetlands Day – a tribute to some of the planet’s most valuable ecosystems. Wetlands purify water, reduce flood risks, store carbon, and provide habitats for a vast diversity of plants and animals. But their importance goes far beyond ecological functions.
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30/01/2026
A modification to the type of ribbon marking used along hiking trails traversing protected areas designated as Reserve and Managed Reserve is envisaged
By Order RD‑11/07.01.2026, the Minister of Environment and Water establishes the means for marking the protected areas in the Republic of Bulgaria
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19/01/2026
Еxperts from the Central Balkan took part in the winter waterbird census
Employees of the Park Directorate took part in the Midwinter Waterbird Census in Bulgaria. They visited several water bodies outside the boundaries of the Park, the largest of which was Sopot Reservoir.
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09/01/2026
The ban on visits and bivouacs at the "Byala Reka" campsite is extended
We inform you that Order No. RD-337 of 30.12.2025 of the Director of the Directorate "Central Balkan National Park" (CBNPD) extends the period of prohibitions for the Visitor Complex (VC) "Byala Reka"
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08/01/2026
A ban on vehicle traffic is introduced on the road from Troyanski Prohod to Dermenka hut
By Order No. RD-MM-1 dated 06.01.2026 of the Director of the Directorate "Central Balkan National Park", in order to protect the life and health of visitors to the National Park, the movement, stay and parking of motor vehicles (MPV) (including ATV and UTV of all classes) on road No. 12 Troyanski prohod - Dermenka hut.
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08/01/2026
The areas of the reserves in the Park have been updated
By orders of the Minister of Environment and Water, the areas of the 9 reserves falling within the Central Balkan National Park
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22/12/2025
The youngest reserve in the Central Balkan celebrates its 38th anniversary today
On this day, December 22, the “Kozya Stena” Reserve was established—the smallest of all nine reserves in the Central Balkan National Park.
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28/11/2025
The ban on camping and visiting the “Byala Reka” Visitor Complex is extended
We would like to inform you that by Order No. RD-313 of 28.11.2025 issued by the Director of the “Central Balkan National Park” Directorate (CBNPD), the period of the prohibitions for the “Byala Reka” Visitor Complex has been extended until 30.12.2025.
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27/11/2025
A New Scientific Advisory Council Will Support the Work of the Park Directorate
On 25 and 26 November 2025, a founding meeting was held in the town of Apriltsi to establish a Scientific Advisory Council to the Directorate of “Central Balkan National Park”
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31/10/2025
The Central Balkan National Park Directorate removed an illegally parked camper from the territory of the National Park
On October 30, in accordance with the Order No. RD-PAM – 1/05.06.2020 of the Director of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate (CBNPD), an illegally parked truck (camper) was removed from the borders of the Central Balkan National Park
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31/10/2025
Today, the Central Balkan National Park celebrates
On this date in 1991, by order of the Minister of Environment, the Central Balkan was established.
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20/10/2025
The autumn festivals Partner of the Central Balkan Biosphere Park have started
On Saturday, 18.10.2025, the Directorate of the Central Balkan National Park, with the support and hosting of the Troyan Municipality, opened the first of the three festive events of the festival "Partner of the Central Balkan Biosphere Park".
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13/10/2025
Central Balkan NPD participates in an annual meeting on old-growth beech forests in Muzcne, Poland
From 5 to 8 October, the annual meeting of the Joint Management Committee (JMC) of the serial World Heritage Site “Old and Primary Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions in Europe” was held in Muzcne, Poland (Biezchady National Park).
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10/09/2025
Eight students from the Central Balkan National Park region participated in the first youth exchange dedicated to beech forests as a UNESCO site
From 20 to 31 August, Germany hosted the first youth exchange called “UNESCO World Heritage – European Beech Forests”. A total of 60 young people and group leaders from six countries – Bulgaria, Italy, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and the hosts from Germany – participated.
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05/09/2025
CBNPD presented the results of the first scientific project for the territory of the Central Balkan Biosphere Park
The results and activities carried out under the project “Study of forest ecosystems in mountain watersheds in the Central Balkan Biosphere Park” were presented yesterday at the “Nauka 1870” Community Center in Troyan.
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05/09/2025
Actions against poachers in the Central Balkan National Park
In just one day, the security forces organized two actions in the protected area.
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11/08/2025
Central Balkan National Park launches campaign to clean its hiking trails
In recent days, employees of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate have begun cleaning the overgrown sections of the tourist routes in the Park.
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01/08/2025
CBNPD officers detained a poacher in the Sokolna reserve after an operation
Due to violations and increased reports of poaching in the area of the Sokolna hut, on the orders of Georgi Krastev, Director of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate (CBNPD), measures have been taken in the area for daily patrolling and surveillance by park guards.
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29/07/2025
We celebrated the Park Rangers' Day with many new challenges and entertainment
On July 26, in connection with World Ranger Day, the "Ranger's Day" was held for the sixth consecutive year.
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21/07/2025
Successful operation against treasure hunting in the Central Balkan National Park
On Saturday, July 19, employees of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate (CBNP) conducted an operation against treasure hunters in the area of Gorni Polenitsi in the security section "Vidima" of the park section "Stokite".
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18/07/2025
Central Balkan National Park employees caught poachers near the Park
An employee of the Park Directorate received yesterday a photo from a camera trap, which captured violators with long-barreled hunting weapons near the border of the Central Balkan National Park (CBNP) with the forest territories of the State Forestry Administration (SFA) - Teteven.
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01/07/2025
“Where the River is Born” – How Forest Ecosystems Influence Rivers
With a creative workshop “Where the River is Born”, experts from the Central Balkan National Park Directorate presented the role of mountain ecosystems in the management and quality of water in river catchments.
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02/05/2025
With a call to protect nature, the Director of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate opened the new office of the Directorate in the village of Ribaritsa
On April 29, at a solemn ceremony, Georgi Krastev, Director of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate (CBNPD), had the honor of opening the long-awaited, newly built office of the Teteven Park District (PD) of the Park Directorate, located in the village of Ribaritsa.
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05/03/2025
Violators with high-pass vehicles in the Central Balkan National Park have been sanctioned
Park Directorate employees detected unregulated movement of motor vehicles in the Park over the past weekend.
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23/08/2024
What you need to know when visiting Central Balkan National Park
Wildlife has a right to privacy. Preserve it in its natural state by using wisely your right to recreation and knowledge.
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Forests perform numerous and interrelated social, economic and ecological functions, sometimes simultaneously and in the same place. Preserving this multifunctionality requires a balanced management approach. The forests within the Central Balkan National Park have predominant ecological and social functions, as they are not subject to direct economic use through logging.
Social functions of forests in the Central Balkan National Park
Protection of settlements and infrastructure
Although there are no settlements within the Park and the infrastructure in it is minimized, the forests in the Central Balkan perform protective functions by preventing landslides, mudflows, falling rocks and avalanches. This also has a beneficial effect on nearby settlements, roads, railways, and arable land, since the forests within the Park are not isolated from the rest of the world, but are an inseparable whole with the surrounding territories and forests and inevitably improve the protective functions of the entire ecosystem.
Recreational functions
Forests are a key element of the mountain landscape of the Central Stara Planina. They bring visitors to the Park a sense of relaxation, connection with nature, and provide opportunities for various forms of recreation, sports, and entertainment. Visits to the mountains and forests contribute to improving health and a sense of enrichment both spiritually and experientially. Access to the forests provides an opportunity to collect herbs, mushrooms, and wild fruits, which also increases the benefits of communicating with nature.
Ecological functions of forests in the Central Balan National Park
Soil protection
Forest areas contribute to soil protection and improvement of their fertility. Forests prevent soil erosion and desertification, especially in mountainous or semi-arid areas, mainly by reducing water runoff and wind speed, and have soil retention properties.
They also enrich and increase the depth of the soils on which they grow, thanks to their thick and thin roots, which lead to faster rock breakdown. Also, the decomposition of their biological mass during natural processes of litter and leaf fall becomes an important source of soil organic matter. Thus, they contribute to soil fertility and productivity.
They participate in the water cycle and provide fresh water
Forests play an important role in the storage, purification and release of water to surface water bodies and underground aquifers. Their purification role, together with that of forest soils, consists in decomposing and absorbing most of the pollutants carried by rain into the air. Forest soils act as a buffer for large amounts of water, reducing the risk of flooding. Forests play a major role in the global water cycle. They store large amounts of water, but also release it back into the atmosphere through the process of transpiration. Forests thus play an important role in air circulation and the water cycle on land, and can play a role in mitigating the effects of regional climate change, desertification and water supply problems.
Conserving biodiversity
Forests are a key element of European nature and are home to the largest number of vertebrates on the continent. Tree species, such as the common beech in the Central Balkans, are virtually unique to Europe and give European forests their distinctive character. Thousands of species of insects and invertebrates, as well as many plants, live in forest habitats dominated by these trees. But also different types of forests are a prerequisite for greater species diversity, both of the accompanying plant species and of animals with other ecological preferences. It is precisely the maintenance of diversity in forest types and their protection that leads to a better implementation of this functionality of forest habitats.
Climate regulation
Forests are an important link in the global carbon cycle due to their ability to extract CO2 from the atmosphere and retain it in their biomass and soil, acting as a sink. Their growth neutralizes the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. On the other hand, forest degradation and/or its conversion into land for other purposes can cause significant greenhouse gas emissions due to the possibility of fires, biomass decay and/or mineralization of soil organic matter, which turns forests into a source of CO2.
As already mentioned, forests participate in the water cycle on land and play an important role in air circulation, which in turn affects the microclimate at a regional level, affecting humidity, wind strength, air dustiness, local temperature, etc.
Of course, just as forests affect climate regulation, climate affects forests, which has recently become increasingly challenging for them and for humanity. For millennia, the development of forests has followed the naturally changing climate. Since the climate has changed slowly and there have been few constraints on the natural environment, the evolution and adaptation of species and communities has been easier. The high rate of human-induced climate change is currently hindering the natural ability of ecosystems to adapt. Temperatures are rising at an unprecedented rate. Landscape fragmentation, simplification of forest composition and structure, and negative events such as forest drying, the emergence of new pests, and natural disturbances such as fires and storms make autonomous forest adaptation even more difficult. All of this requires a systemic approach - both at the local and global levels.








