UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory

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			Biosphere Reserve Information
			Bulgaria TSARITCHINA


	General Description		Tsaritchina Biosphere Reserve occupies an area of 3418,7 hectares and is part of the Central Balkan National Park. The reserve was established in 1949 and the area was declared a biosphere reserve in 1977. Situated on the northern slopes of the Central Stara Planina in the Lovech Region, the Tsaritchina Biosphere Reserve covers two main groups of forests: beech (Fagus sylvatica) and silver fir (Abies alba), and Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce) and spruce (Picea abies). Pinus peuce, a tertiary relict, covers more than 20% of the biosphere reserve and has here its northernmost habitat in Europe. The fauna is very diverse and includes brown bear (Ursus arctos), red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) . More than 60 bird species live in the biosphere reserve, such as the great eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia), black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) and red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra). In the past, shepherds burned down the Pinus peuce and Picea abies forests to enlarge their pastures, but over the past 50 to 70 years the forest has naturally regenerated. Before the creation of the biosphere reserve, some selective cutting took place in the beech forests. Today, all economic and tourist activities are prohibited in the area which is only sparsely populated. The biosphere reserve is currently under revision.
	Major ecosystem type		Mixed mountain and highland systems
	Major habitats & land cover types		Forests (Fagus sylvatica; Picea abies; Pinus peuce); subalpine grasslands
	Location		42°50'N; 24°30'E
	Area (hectares)
	Total		3,419
	Core area(s)		3,418.7
	Buffer zone(s)
	Transition area(s) when given
	Altitude (metres above sea level)		+900 to +2,200
	Year designated		1977
	Administrative authorities

	Brief description
	*Specific variables...*
	Abiotic		n.a.
	Biodiversity		n.a.
	Socio-economic		n.a.
	Integrated monitoring		n.a.

	Contact address		Nela Rachevitz Central Balkan National Park 3, Bodra Smyana Str. 5300 Gabrovo Bulgaria
	Telephone		(359.66) 61 302
	Fax
	E-mail		rachevitz@centralbalkan.bg

			n.a.

Last updated: 07/03/2005