Kotlenska Mountain (443)
Bulgaria, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Kotlenska planina
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.8650, Longitude: 26.4237
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 145 to 1126
Area of KBA (km2): 992.57124
Protected area coverage (%): 99.94
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The central ridge of the eastern Stara Planina mountains, covered by broadleaved deciduous forests, pasture and arable land. A great number of minor but distinct ridges slope down north and south to the valleys of the Rivers Titcha and Luda Kamtchia. These side-valleys are narrow and deeply incised, with steep slopes. The underlying rock is limestone and sandstone, and there are some sand quarries in the region. The forests are dominated by Fagus or Quercus, with Carpinus in some places, and there are natural mixed forests of Abies and Fagus in the western part of the area.
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: An important breeding area for globally threatened species (Crex crex, Aquila heliaca) as well as for Ciconia nigra, a wide variety of large raptors, and two woodpeckers (Picus canus and Dendrocopos medius). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (3-12 on passage), Pelecanus crispus (max. 1 on passage), Aythya nyroca (1 breeding pair; 4-16 on passage), Aquila clanga (max. 1 on passage), Falco naumanni (max. 3 pairs). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Bubo bubo (2-4 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (27%) | forestry (66%) | tourism/recreation (5%) | urban/industrial/transport (1%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 67 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 1 | |
| Shrubland | 1 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 15 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 1 | |
| Grassland | 15 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Problems include the unsustainable exploitation of forests, and disturbance to breeding raptors and Ciconia nigra caused by uncontrolled recreation, tourist activity and quarrying near nests.