By orders of the Minister of Environment and Water Yulian Popov, a new protected area is being created and the area of three already existing protected areas is being increased - "Izvorska River Estuary", "Sladun" and "Dupkata".
The new protected area is named "Steppe Communities near the Studena River" and is located in the land of the village of Hadzhidimitrovo, Svishtov Municipality, Veliko Tarnovo District. It covers an area of 693.608 decares and was proposed by the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, nova.bg specified. The aim is to protect valuable steppe habitats and rare plant species, including Bulgarian serpec, eastern musk, horned sgrabiche and Bulgarian yellow hedysarum, as well as steppe and salt-loving plant communities characteristic of the region.
Bulgarian serpec
In parallel, three existing protected areas are being expanded, with the changes being made based on proposals from environmental organizations and institutions.
The protected area “Ustieto na reka Izvorska“ is increasing by 313.516 decares. It is located in the lands of the villages of Dimchevo, Izvor and Tvarditsa, Burgas municipality, and aims to preserve habitats of rare and protected bird species, including those included in the Red Book of Bulgaria.
The mouth of the Izvorska River
With a significant expansion - 2466.057 decares - the protected area “Sladun“ in the municipality of Svilengrad, Haskovo district is also increasing. It preserves various forest and riverine ecosystems, as well as numerous protected animal species, including various types of turtles, snakes, birds of prey, laluger and otter.
The protected area “Dupkata“, located in the land of the city of Ivaylovgrad, is increasing by 542.989 decares. The area is important for the conservation of rare plant species from the Salep and Acanthopanax families, as well as for characteristic limestone landscapes and the natural landmark of the “Dupkata“ cave.
Dremnikov Acanthopanax
Strict restrictions are being introduced in the newly declared territory and the expanded protected areas. Activities that may damage habitats and species are prohibited - including changing the purpose of the lands, construction (except for maintenance and repair of existing sites), extraction of underground resources, introduction of alien species, intensive agricultural activities, pollution, as well as certain forms of logging and grazing outside the regulated norms.
Ordinary Anacamptis
The Ministry of Environment and Waters emphasizes that the decision is the result of cooperation between state institutions, scientific circles, environmental organizations and local authorities. The orders are to be published in the “State Gazette“.