Kamchiyska Mountain (436)
Bulgaria, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Kamchiyska planina
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.9430, Longitude: 27.5917
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 612
Area of KBA (km2): 888.71648
Protected area coverage (%): 99.97
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This mountainous area forms the north-easternmost part of the Stara Planina mountains. There are rocky massifs, two reservoirs˜Eleshnitza (100 ha) and Tzonevo (300 ha)˜and three rivers. Broadleaved forests of Quercus, Fagus and Tilia predominate, with cultivated land and pastures scattered between forests and villages. Human activity is only absent from the Strict Reserves.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: This is one of the most important breeding areas in the country for some raptors (Neophron percnopterus, Aquila chrysaetos) and forest species (Dendrocopos medius, Ficedula semitorquata). The eastern part of the mountain is also a major migratory bottleneck site, where huge numbers of large soaring migrants pass overhead in autumn, especially Ciconia ciconia (up to 80,000 per season) and Aquila pomarina. Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Ciconia nigra (3-4 pairs), Circaetus gallicus (1 pair), Buteo rufinus (2 pairs), Aquila pomarina (1 pair), Bubo bubo (2-3 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (14%) | fisheries/aquaculture (1%) | forestry (85%) | hunting (60%) | not utilised | tourism/recreation (2%) | urban/industrial/transport (1%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 1 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 1 | |
| Grassland | 7 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 1 | |
| Forest | 85 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Some current problems are caused by unsustainable forest exploitation for timber (forestry activity near raptors' nests also causes disturbance), uncontrolled recreation, and quarries. There are three Strict Reserves with Buffer Zones and three National Monuments, covering less than 1% of the area.