On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the park yesterday, the Directorate of the Park gave a preconference in Burgas and presented what has been done until the moment for the management and popularization of that territory and what has been done exactly by the project financed by The Operational Programme “Environment 2007-2013” and what is coming next during the anniversary year 2015.
This year the Festival of the Periwinkle will be organized for the 12 consecutive year on 9th and 10th of May 2015 at the region of village of Vizitza (specially for the people from our team). A marathon will be held for the first time (the new director of the park is famous athlete on a national level) and many various events. At the end of February a tourist society will be created in Malko Tarnovo and in June together with BAEST an international conference on eco-tourism will be organized at the park. The director of Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe - Ventsi Vassilev presented the educational product for the park, elaborated at the frames of the project “Sustainable management and structure of Nature Park Strandja” which soon will be circulated and spread by DPP.
We hope that for the 20 years anniversary of the Nature Park, we from BBF will hand on the updated project for Plan for management of Ministry of Environment and Waters and finally this valuable natural territory will have its constitution.
Let us remind you why Nature Park “Strandja” is so special:
The exceptional biodiversity of Strandja is presented by:
- 120 species of habitats (According to West PaleoArctic classification)
- 32 types of habitats (according to the classification of Natura 2000);
- 1666 species of vascular plants – 48 % of the flora of Bulgaria
- 41 species of fishes
- 9 species of amphibians and 23 species of reptiles
- 265 species of birds – 60 % of the ornithologfauna of/in Bulgaria
- Insufficient research of the invertebrate’s biodiversity
Within the borders of the park there are 5 strict reserves among them are “Silkosia”- the eldest resort in Bulgaria (announced in 1933) and “Uzunbudjak” (announced in 1956) which is as well a biodiversity reserve from 1977. As a contribution to the European network Natura 2000, there are 5 protected zones within the Bulgarian part of Strandja – “Strandja”, “Bosna” and “Derventskite heights” according to the Directive for habitats as well as “Strandja” and “West Strandja” per the Directive on the birds.
Together with its inhabitants Strandja is a unique geographical, historical and ethno-cultural region in Bulgaria. The mountain has preserved not only its natural resources but its archeological sea sights – remainings from different ages as well as the traditional cultures and habits of the people. There are 21 populated regions within the borders of the Nature Park. Here people permanently live together with the nature and the architecture of some of these villages completely conforms in line with the unique natural ecosystems.
Fascinating and unforgettable is the view towards Strandja observed from its widespread mountain ridges. The wavy and rounded crests covered with forests form an endless range of sharp less and impressive hills. The villages are sparsely spread on the mountain hills where throw the picturesque meanders pass through the two clearest rivers in Bulgaria – Veleka and the border river of Rezvaya (Rezovska).
With itsaverage height of less than 400m above the sea level and with its highest top – peak of Gradiste, which is more like a hill, with 710 meter altitude, Strandja hardly could be named as mountain. It is named as mountain owing to its very highly uneven relief – the mountain is divided by deep river valleys which are almost at sea level and which in certain places for example at the downstream of the rivers Veleka and Mladezka look like real gorges. Another proof for uniqueness of Strandja is so called “drowned valleys” of all rivers which directly mouth into the Black sea. The firth of the Veleka river for example goes around 8 km inside the land.