1. High Nature Value farmland in Roussenski Lom Koen De Rijck - for EFNCP / WWF-DCP workshop, 18-19 October 2007

2. Outline Roussenski Lom Nature Park –Introduce key characteristics –Identify High Nature Value farmland

4. Land use Total area of Roussenski Lom Nature Park: about 3.400 ha Planned extension to about 10.000 ha

5. Land use 38% of RLNP: forest –Broad-leaf forests prevail 44% of RLNP: agricultural area –Arable land (50%), semi-natural grasslands (19%), mix of arable and grassland with a lot of natural vegetation (22%) 13% of RLNP: transitional woodland/shrub

7. Land use 38% of RLNP: forest –Broad-leaf forests prevail 44% of RLNP: agricultural area –Arable land (50%), semi-natural grasslands (19%), mix of arable and grassland with a lot of natural vegetation (22%) 13% of RLNP: transitional woodland/shrub 2% of RLNP: natural grasslands

8. Land use

10. More semi-natural grasslands to be included in the enlargement of the park Land outside park mainly farmland, vast majority arable land

11. Land ownership in RLNP State ownership: 76% or 2.600 ha Municipal ownership: 12% or 400 ha Private property: 9% or 290 ha Other ownership: 1% or 35 ha

12. Land ownership in RLNP State ownership: 76% or 2.600 ha –almost all in State Forest Fund Municipal ownership: 12% or 400 ha –half in State Forest Fund Private property: 9% or 290 ha –mainly out of State Forest Fund Other ownership: 1% or 35 ha

13. Land ownership outside RLNP Municipal ownership: >30% –semi-natural grasslands, forests Private property: >60% –mainly arable land

14. HNVF Concept High Nature Value farmland are those areas in Europe where agriculture is a major (usually the dominant) land use and where that agriculture supports, or is associated with, either a high species and habitat diversity or the presence of species of European conservation concern, or both

15. HNVF Typology Type 1: Farmland with a high proportion of semi-natural vegetation Type 2: Farmland dominated by low intensity agriculture or a mosaic of semi- natural and cultivated land and small-scale features

16. Key features of HNVF Always low-intensity Always high proportion of semi-natural vegetation Often a mosaic of habitats

17. Land use

18. HNVF Analysis Study done by Rosen Todorov Tsonev Three classes of HNV farmland in RLNP: –Cultivated areas: arable land and vegetable gardens –Natural grasslands in river terrace –Dry semi-natural grasslands on slopes

19. HNVF Analysis Cultivated areas: arable land and vegetable gardens

21. HNVF Analysis Cultivated areas: arable land and vegetable gardens

22. HNVF Analysis Cultivated areas: arable land and vegetable gardens –Large-scale intensive monoculture on chernozem > no high nature values present –Vegetable gardens in river terrace > important for some animals e.g. Lanius collurio, but not for plants > HNVF Type 2

23. HNVF Analysis Natural grasslands in river terrace

25. HNVF Analysis Natural grasslands in river terrace –Widely spread in RL river valley Along Cherni Lom (Pepelina - Cherven) and Malki Lom (Svalenik and Nisovo) of EU importance (6510 Lowland hay meadows) –Often on the place of abandoned fields > rich in nutrients –No special conservation value for plants, but important for many animals, e.g. Crex crex, Spermophilus citellus > HNVF Type 1

26. HNVF Analysis

27. Natural grasslands in river terrace –Widely spread in RL river valley Along Cherni Lom (Pepelina - Cherven) and Malki Lom (Svalenik and Nisovo) of EU importance (6510 Lowland hay meadows) –Often on the place of abandoned fields > rich in nutrients –No special conservation value for plants, but important for many animals, e.g. Crex crex, Spermophilus citellus > HNVF Type 1 –Scrub encroachment and nutrient levels are problems

28. HNVF Analysis

29. Dry semi-natural grasslands on slopes –Most widely spread, most valuable

30. HNVF Analysis Dry semi-natural grasslands on slopes –Most widely spread, most valuable, several sub-types: –Pastures on loess heights and uplands –Rocky steppes –Mosaics of pastures and bushes on rock edges

31. HNVF Analysis Dry semi-natural grasslands on slopes

32. HNVF Analysis Dry semi-natural grasslands on slopes

33. HNVF Analysis Dry semi-natural grasslands on slopes

34. HNVF Analysis Dry semi-natural grasslands on slopes –Pastures on loess heights and uplands Along Cherni Lom (Cherven – Tabachka – Pepelina), Malki Lom and Beli Lom (Pisanets – Vetovo) Important orchid site, of European importance > HNVF Type 1 Threatened by overgrazing –Rocky steppes –Mosaics of pastures and bushes on rock edges

35. HNVF Analysis Dry semi-natural grasslands on slopes –Pastures on loess heights and uplands –Rocky steppes More rare, small areas on eastern Cherni Lom riverbank (Ostritsa – Tabachka) Several rare and endemic plant species, e.g. Ruta graveolens, habitat of European importance (6240 Subpannonian steppes) –Mosaics of pastures and bushes on rock edges

36. HNVF Analysis Dry semi-natural grasslands on slopes –Pastures on loess heights and uplands –Rocky steppes –Mosaics of pastures and bushes on rock edges Habitat of EU importance, with Carpinus orientalis Potentilla emili-popii, Poygala sibirica (only population in BG between Koshov and Cherven), Verbascum diesckianum (Balkan endemic) Close to Basarbovo and Bozhichen: Chamaecytisys kovacevii (Bulgarian endemic) Partly in the State Forest Fund!

37. Conclusions High Nature Value farmlands present in RLNP, mostly situated in river terrace or in proximity of rocks

39. Conclusions High Nature Value farmlands present in RLNP, mostly situated in river terrace or in proximity of rocks Many plant and animals species, including rare ones, are depending on low-intensity farming management Threats of nitrate pollution, lack of mowing, overgrazing and undergrazing Farmland in Roussenski Lom is biotope of European significance

40. High Nature Value farmland in Strandzha Koen De Rijck - for EFNCP / WWF-DCP Strandzha seminar, 26-27 June 2007