Pirin National Park In Bulgaria

Pirin National Park - Bulgaria

Short Report

Spread over an area of over 27,000 ha, at an altitude between 1008 and 2914 m in the Pirin mountains, southwest Bulgaria, the site consists of several limestone mountain landscape with glacial lakes, waterfalls, caves and predominantly coniferous forests. It was added to the Unesco World Heritage Site in 1983. The extension now has an area of approximately 40,000 ha in the Pirin mountains and overlaps the Pirin National Park, except for two areas developed for tourism (skiing). The largest part of the enlargement is high mountain territory over 2000m in height, and usually by alpine meadows, rocky the screes and waves.

Wonderful Universal Importance

The World Heritage property occupies an area of approximately 40,000 ha in the Pirin mountains, southwest Bulgaria and overlaps with the undeveloped areas of Pirin National Park. The several limestone mountain landscape of the property include more than 70 glacial lakes and a range of glacial landforms, with many waterfalls, rocky the screes and caves. Forests are dominated by conifers and the higher areas harbor alpine meadows under the waves. The house has a large number of endemic species that are representative of the Balkans forms part pleistocene era flora.

The mountain scenery of the Pirin National Park is of exceptional beauty. The high mountain peaks and rocks contrast with meadows, rivers and waterfalls, and the ability to explore with the design of a Balkan mountain landscape. The ability to remote and naturalness is an important feature of the outstanding Universal Value of the property. The main geosciences values of the property are related to the glacial geomorphology, demonstrated by a range of features, including cirques, deep valleys and over 70 glacial lakes. The mountains of the property shows a wide variety of forms and are developed in different types of rock. Well-functioning natural processes can for the study of the continued evolution of the landforms of the property, and help to understand other mountain regions in the region.

The property is a good example of the continued evolution of flora, as is clear from a number of endemic species, and the property also protects an example of a properly functioning ecosystem that is representative of the main natural ecosystems of the Balkans uplands. Pirin natural coniferous forests are Macedonian pine trees and Bosnian Pine, with many old trees grow. In total, there are 1,315 species of vascular plants, approximately one third of the Bulgarian flora, including 86 Balkans endemics, 17 Bulgarian endemics and 18 local endemics. The fauna of the Pirin National Park comprises 45 mammalian species, including brown bear, wolf and pine marten and 159 bird species. Pirin is also the home of eight species of amphibians, eleven types of reptiles and six species. Although the forests are affected by some historical use, the natural functioning of the ecosystem ensures the protection of the regional biodiversity important values.

Integrity

The original inscription of the property in 1983 proved to be inadequate in the representation of and for the maintenance of the exceptional Universal Value of the Pirin, But an extension in 2010, the problems in the best possible and represents the minimum area of the Pirin National Park which can be considered to meet the requirements of outstanding universal value included in the World Heritage Convention. The National Park is clearly defined from the point of view of its mountainous nature and ecology, and the limits of the area are large enough for the capture of the natural values of the Pirin Mountain. Sufficient limits are set by the enlargement of the goods originally declared, including the outermost regions of the inside of the National Park, and from neighboring areas that are not compatible with the World Heritage status because effects on integrity of ski-development. The values of the property as extended retain the characteristics of a natural landscape, but they closely reflect areas intensive tourism development which a risk to the integrity of the property.

Wide Report

Extends over an area of 27,400 ha and lying on a height of 1,008-2,914 m in the Pirin mountains, south-west Bulgaria Pirin National Park is a limestone Balkans landscape of lakes, waterfalls, caves and pine forests. The rugged mountains, with 70 glacial lakes spread, hundreds of endemic and rare species, many of which are representative of the Balkans forms part pleistocene era flora. The mountains also have various and unique landscapes of great aesthetic value. Pirin mountains stretches from the north-west to the south-east between the valleys of the Strouma Mesta and rivers. There are many rivers and waterfalls. Winter in the upper part is cold and long snow-covered remaining five to eight months. Summer is cool and short.

The presence of limestone rocks, the southern location of the range and the proximity of the Aegean Sea, in combination with its relative isolation, Pirin Mountain an important retreat for many species. In the park are mainly coniferous forests with endemic Macedonian pine wide and which form part of the timberline in the granite of the mountain. Endemic Bossnian pine occurs in the highest zone of the karst. Unique condition of Pinus peuce and Pinus leucodermis. , TO 250 - 300 years old and 30-45 m high, are to be found in Baiouvi Doupki-Djindjiritsa Reserve. Some individual Pinus leucodermis. Trees are more than 500 years old. Silver Fir Wood, Austrian pine, spruce, Scots pine and beech form a mixed coniferous forest type.

Generally, the timberline has developed as a result of human intervention for a long period and drops as low as 2000 m, but in some places reached 2200 -2,300 m. In the subalpine zone there are shrubs of dwarf mountain pine and Juniperus sibirica in . Above 2400 -2,600 m is a layer of alpine meadows, stony slopes, the screes, rocks, etc. The flora of the Pirin, consisting of the many rare species, is of great importance and beauty. One of the most active flora speciation will be further developed in Bulgaria is located in the limestone part of the mountain. Pirin offers a mix of eastern european, Alpine, Stara Planina mountain range and sub-species in the Mediterranean, but there are also 30 local endemic species.

There is a large variety of animal species, including many endemic species and glacial relicts under the invertebrate fauna. Endangered birds and mammals are brown bear, gray wolf, pine marten, rock marten, polecat, badger, otter, wild cat, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, Balkan chamois, golden eagle, wood grouse, hazel grouse, golden eagle, black woodpecker and three puppets woodpecker.

Historical Data

In 1963 Vikhren National Park (6,212ha) was established in the northern part of the Pirin mountains in Decree No 3074 of November 6, 1962 of the Committee of Forestry and forest management. In 1976 it was supplemented 27, OOOha and renamed the Pirin National Park (Decree No 1036 of March 3, 1976 of the Ministry of Forestry). Pirin NP was extended to 40,060ha in 1987 (Decree No 1036 of 17 November, the Committee of environmental protection in the Council of Ministers. Baevi Doubki Nature Reserve was established in 1934, extended in 1976 and renamed Baevi Doupki - Dzindzeritza (2,873ha) in 1979. He was declared a biosphere reserve in 1977.

Sourct:whc/unesco