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Bulgarian Beech Forests Proposed for Inscription on UNESCO World Heritage List

Wednesday, Sep 16, 2015

Gabrovo, Central Bulgaria, September 15 (BTA) - Centuries-old Bulgarian beech forests have been proposed for inscription on the official World Heritage List under a project of UNESCO. The protected forests make up a total of nine reserves in the Central Balkan National Park, Diana Terzieva of the park's management said on Tuesday.

The initiative has come from the German Environment Ministry. The aim is to examine the possibility of establishing a Serial European World Heritage Site in order to protect Europe's unique old beech forests, Terzieva said. In addition to the Bulgarian forests, the project will also include protected areas in Albania, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Ukraine.

The following reserves in the Central Balkan National Park have been suggested for inclusion: Boatin, Tsarichina, Kozya Stena, Steneto, Stara Reka, Djendema, Severen Djendem, Sokolna, and Peeshti Skali.

With a total area of 260 square kilometres, the park's beech forests form one of the largest natural beech massifs in Europe, Terzieva said. They are entirely of natural origin and authentic appearance. Three-quarters of them are more than 100 years old, and those aged 150 years or older occupy an area of 140 square kilometres. In some isolated spots there are even beeches older than 240 years, still alive and growing. Many of these forests have been categorized as "primeval," meaning they have been practically free of human intervention, Terzieva noted.

After the documentation presented by the park's management is verified, experts will visit the place, she said. The Bulgarian areas can be expected to be included onto the UNESCO World Heritage List by the middle of 2017.

Source: Bulgarian News Agency