Information

On Earth Day we were together with the students from the "Petko Rachev Slaveykov" Secondary School - Tryavna
On the occasion of Earth Day, April 22, experts from the Central Balkan National Park Directorate visited the Secondary School in Tryavna – “P. R. Slaveykov”, where they met with 22 students from the upper year of study.
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A lesson was given at the "Vasil Levski" Secondary School - Karlovo by an employee of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate
Last week, an employee of the park ranger of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate, together with a representative of the Mountain Rescue Service - Karlovo, gave an educational talk
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For 55 years now, the whole world has been celebrating Earth Day
On April 22, many people around the world join various initiatives and campaigns on the occasion of Earth Day
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The Directorate of the National Park is pleased to invite students in the high school stage of their studies between 8th and 12th grades to apply for participation in a youth international meeting under the EU's Erasmus+ program for supporting education, training, youth and sport in Europe.
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An expert from the Central Balkan National Park Directorate brought the forest to the preschool group of the St. Cyril and Methodius Primary School – Troyan
In connection with the Forest Week, the children from the preschool group of the St. Cyril and Methodius Primary School had the opportunity to learn more about the forest, its inhabitants and how we can protect them.
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Meeting with stakeholders for the Annual Plan for grazing and hay use prezentation
On the 15th of April, 2025, Tuesday, in the "Vasil Karaivanov" hall of the Municipality of Karlovo (town of Karlovo, "Petko Sabev" Str. №1), between representatives of the Central Balkan NP Directorate and candidate users of pastures in the Park a meeting will be held.
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The Central Balkan National Park Directorate celebrated Forest Week together with the Natural History Museum in the village of Cherni Osam
Yesterday, on the occasion of Forest Week, eco-activities were held with children from two age groups - from 1 to 4 grades and from 5 to 7 grades.
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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 2025 was announced with an Order of CBNPD Director.
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For more than a century, April 1st has been celebrating World Bird Day
April 1st was declared World Bird Day by the UN and has been celebrated since 1906, making it one of the oldest initiatives in the world.
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Today we celebrate 72 years since the declaration of the Djendema Reserve
On this date in 1953, in order to protect valuable species and their habitats, the "Djendema" reserve was declared.
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Preparation for the upcoming monitoring of species from the Gliridae family in the Central Balkan National Park
On March 21, employees of the Central Balkan National Park (CBNP) visited one of the sites for monitoring the species of the Gliridae family, located in the area of the Neshkovtsi Conservation Area, Troyan State Park.
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Celebrated Water Day together with the fifth graders from the "Vasil Levski" Primary School in the village of Shumata
On the occasion of World Water Day, employees of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate held educational eco-activities at the primary school in the village of Shumata, Sevlievo municipality.
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World Water Day 2025
Every year on March 22, the world celebrates World Water Day by conducting various campaigns and initiatives aimed at raising public awareness about the global water crisis.
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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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Ranking in the competition procedures for Chief and Senior Expert in Natura 2000 field.
Ranking in the competition procedures for Chief and Senior Expert in Natura 2000 field.
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Returning home
On 28.02.2025, experts from the Directorate of the Central Balkan National Park and experts from Green Balkans released three birds.
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System for determining the results of tender procedures, opened by Order No. RD-25/ 27.01.2025 of the Director of DNPCB
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Educational meeting with young people from the National School for Mountain Guides in the village of Cherni Osam
On February 13, at the Natural History Museum - village of Cherni Osam, an expert from the Directorate of the Central Balkan National Park held an educational talk with students from the National School for Mountain Guides.
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Ranking in the competition procedure for Senior and Chief Expert in the management of Natura 2000 protected areas
Ranking in the competition procedure for Senior and Chief Expert in the management of Natura 2000 protected areas
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Ranking in the competition procedure for Chief inspector of Control and Security Department - North
Ranking in the competition procedure for Chief inspector of Control and Security Department - North
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World Wetlands Day – “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future!”
On 2 February, the world celebrated World Wetlands Day under the motto “Conserve Wetlands for Our Common Future.”
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Educational meeting with the "Youth Information Center" - Karlovo
The experts of Directorate introduced teenagers from the Youth Information Center - Karlovo and their Romanian guests from Asociatia Mod of Life to the activities of the Central Balkan National Park (NBNP)
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Experts from the Central Balkan National Park participated in the international Midwinter Waterfowl Census
Experts of the Park Directorate participated in the Midwinter Waterfowl Census initiative in the country. They were responsible for surveying 6 large and several smaller water bodies.
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Happy International Mountain Day!
Central Balkan Biosphere Reserve was accepted as a member of the World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves this year.
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Illegally parked van removed from Dzhendema Reserve
After a Central Balkan National Park Directorate employees’ action, an illegally placed van with a surveillance camera and a feeder for wild animals was removed from the territory of the Dzhendema Reserve.
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EMERGENCY ACTION AGAINST MOTORISTS IN THE TERRITORY OF THE CENTRAL BALKAN NATIONAL PARK
On November 2nd and 3rd, an action was held against the unregulated movement of motorcycles on the territory of Central Balkan National Park, led by the Director of the protected area - Georgi Krastev, with the participation of employees from several park sections.
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Central Balkan National Park Directorate celebrated the International Day of Biosphere Parks, November 3, with festival events
On the occasion of the International Day for Biosphere Reserves Central Balkan National Park Directorate held three festival events in the municipal centers of the transition zone of the Central Balkan Biosphere Reserve - in Troyan on October 19, in Sevlievo on October 26 and in Karlovo on November 2
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We are celebrating 33 years since the declaration of the Central Balkan National Park with the exhibition View of the Balkans
On the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of Central Balkan, the Directorate of the park opened an exhibition entitled "View of the Balkans", which collected 15 selected photographs from the amateur photography competition held this year.
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"Study on forest ecosystems in mountain water catchments in Central Balkan Biosphere Reserve" project launched
Study on forest ecosystems in mountain water catchments in Central Balkan Biosphere Reserve" is among the five projects selected in 2024 for Europe and North America.
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Central Balkan National Park employees found the carcass of a killed bear
The competent authorities have been notified and the case is being investigated
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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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We celebrate International Ranger Day
Central Balkan National Park Directorate marked the date from the nature protection calendar with two consecutive events.
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The fire in Central Balkan has been extinguished
The rain that fell around 16:00 over the area helped to bring the fire under control. For more than 72 hours, efforts to extinguish it continued in the Steneto reserve on the territory of Central Balkan National Park.
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Central Balkan National Park Directorate and Ethnographic Open- Air Museum ETAR celebrated Saint John's Day
In connection with the celebration of the holiday of medicinal plants on June 23 and 24, visitors to the museum had the opportunity to learn more about herbs from experts of the Park Directorate.
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The first celebration of the Central Balkan Biosphere Reserve was held in the city of Sevlievo
On Sunday (October 1) in the central city square in the city of Sevlievo, the festival event under the title "Common Future for People and Nature", organized by Central Balkan National Park Directorate, supported by Sevlievo Municipality.
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Sixty-one percent of the Central Balkan National Park is forested. However, the Park forests account for only one percent of all Bulgarian forests. They are almost evenly distributed between the southern and northern side of the mountain ridge. Of the forests within the Park, 97% are natural, and 99% originate from seed. The average age of a forest in Central Balkan National Park is 111 years; the broadleaf forests average 121 years.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity plays an important role in forest ecosystems. Stability is vital to their resilience and resistance to outside factors. The hundred-year-old beeches, sycamores, firs, and spruces provide an optimal environment for hundreds of species of animals, fungi, and microorganisms. The two essential elements air and water, depend on the size and condition of forests. They are critical to the survival of a group of rare species, endangered on a European scale: the white-backed woodpecker, imperial and the golden eagles, bear, wolf, marten, wild cat, Ural owl, hazel hen, and bats.
Central Balkan National Park forests are essential to maintaining the ecological balance and preserving wildlife and biodiversity. Seventeen of the forest habitats identified in the Park are included on the European List of Habitats Subject to Special Protection under the European Union Directive on Habitats.
Park forests are valuable sources of natural resources (wild fruits and mushrooms); natural defenses against floods, soil erosion, and avalanches; offer excellent opportunities for rest and recreation; and are invariably beautiful.
Forest Vegetation Zones
The Park consists of six vegetation zones, four of which constitute the forest environment: the draught-resistant, thermophilic oak forest zone; the oak and hornbeam forest zone (adapted to moderate humidity conditions); the beech zone; and the coniferous zone.
- The draught-resistant, thermophilic oak forest zone occupies the lowest reaches of the forest on the southern mountainside, at altitudes of 550-650 meters above sea level, or at 800-900 meters above sea level in dry and exposed areas. The forest communities consist mostly of cerris, Italian oak, and pubescent oak. Secondary communities of oriental hornbeam have overrun areas that were once oak forests but have been cleared. Other species within this zone include hornbeam, linden, hazel, sycamore, and chestnut trees. Compact communities of red and savin juniper flourish here. Many species are either endemic (of limited geographic distribution) or relict (characteristic of bygone geological eras).
- The common durmast and common and oriental hornbeams make up the oak and hornbeam forest zone that has adapted to moderate humidity conditions. This zone dwells in altitudes up to 800-900 meters above sea level, and covers more shaded and humid areas, primarily on the southern mountain slopes. Other species within this zone include the flowering ash, linden, and hornbeam.
- The coniferous forests are scattered in separate locations and do not form an uninterrupted, clearly defined zone. The most common homogenous coniferous community within the Park is the spruce.
- Beech Forests
Beech forests thrive in the Balkan Range, and the best-preserved and most magnificent Bulgarian beech forests are in Central Balkan National Park. They make up three-fourths of the entire wooded area within the Park while representing about 7% of all beech forests in Bulgaria. In the Stara Reka, Peeshti Skali, Severen Djendem and Boatin nature reserves, beech forests occupy 1,000 hectares, and 3,000 hectares in the Steneto and Tsarichina reserves. The Park beech forests, along with those in surrounding territories, cover an aggregate 60,000 hectares, representing the largest block of uninterrupted beech forests in Europe. At the boundary of the beech zone, there are specimens of common fir, which make up about 6% of all forests in the Park. Over 80% of all common fir forests are 100 years old or older. The beech trees in the Park are at an average age of 135 years, and the forest range between 800 and 1,600 meters above sea level.