UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory

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			Biosphere Reserve Information
			Bulgaria KOUPENA


	General Description		Koupena Biosphere reserve is situated in the Rhodope Mountains, in the Pazardzhik Region of Bulgaria. It was established in 1961 to protect the beautiful landscape and the diverse flora and fauna, and nowadays covers an area of 3049,2 hectares. The biosphere reserve was established in 1977. The reserve is a mountainous region with characteristic forests of the Rhodope Mountains. Pure beech (Fagus sylvatica) and mixed beech and silver fir (Abies alba) predominate the forest but there are also stands of scots pine (Pinus silvestris), oak (Quercus dalechampii) and black pine (P. nigra). The diverse fauna includes brown bear (Ursus arctos), wild cat (Felis silvestris), pine marten (Martes martes) and chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). Main human impacts in the past were the construction of water reservoirs on streams and selective cutting of forests. The biosphere reserve is currently under revision.
	Major ecosystem type		Mixed mountain and highland systems
	Major habitats & land cover types		Deciduous forests (Quercus dalechampii, Ostrya carpinifolia, Fagus sylvatica), coniferous forests (Pinus sylvestris, Abies alba) and mixed forests; grasslands in forest openings; rocks and cliffs
	Location		41°05'N; 24°20'E
	Area (hectares)
	Total		3,051
	Core area(s)		1,761.1
	Buffer zone(s)		1,290
	Transition area(s) when given
	Altitude (metres above sea level)		+500 to +950
	Year designated		1977
	Administrative authorities

	Brief description		Investigation into the water fauna of caves
	*Specific variables...*
	Abiotic		Speleology.
	Biodiversity		Fauna.
	Socio-economic		n.a.
	Integrated monitoring		n.a.

	Contact address		Dimitar Popov Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water 3, Gurko Str. 4400 Pazardzhik Bulgaria
	Telephone		(359.34) 441 963
	Fax
	E-mail		riosv-pz@mbox.digsys.bg

			n.a.

Last updated: 04/04/2002