Belasitsa Nature Park covers the northern slopes of Belasitsa Mountain

Belasica

Belasica is a mountain range in the region of Macedonia in Southeastern Europe, shared by northwestern Greece , southeastern Republic of Macedonia and southwestern Bulgaria...

 in the Southwest Region of Bulgaria

Bulgaria

Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...

. The total area of the park is 117 km² (45 sq mi). Belasitsa is part of the European ecological network NATURA 2000

Natura 2000

Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas in the territory of the European Union.-Origins:In May 1992, the governments of the European Communities adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. This legislation is called the...

 and is managed by the Belasitsa Nature Park Directorate which is a legal entity under the authority of the Executive Forest Agency of Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The Directorate office is located in the village of Kolarovo

Kolarovo, Blagoevgrad Province

Kolarovo, Blagoevgrad Province is a village in the municipality of Petrich, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria.-References:...

.

The nature park is bordered to the West by the of Republic of Macedonia

Republic of Macedonia

Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...

 and to the South by Greece

Greece

Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

, both of which contain regions of Belasitsa Mountain. Belasitsa Nature Park includes the villages of Gabrene

Gabrene

Gabrene is a village in the municipality of Petrich, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria.-References:...

, Skrut

Skrat, Blagoevgrad Province

Skrat, Blagoevgrad Province is a village in the municipality of Petrich, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria.-References:...

, Klyuch

Klyuch

Klyuch , in Medieval Greek known as Kleidion and in Latin known as Clidium, is a village in south-westernmost Bulgaria, part of Petrich municipality, Blagoevgrad Province. It lies at , 455 metres above sea level...

, Yavornitsa

Yavornitsa

Yavornitsa is a village in the municipality of Petrich, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria.-References:...

, Kamena

Kamena, Blagoevgrad Province

Kamena, Blagoevgrad Province is a village in the municipality of Petrich, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria.-References:...

, Samuilovo

Samuilovo, Blagoevgrad Province

Samuilovo, Blagoevgrad Province is a village in the municipality of Petrich, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria.-References:...

, Kolarovo, Belasitsa

Belasitsa (village)

Belasitsa is a village in the municipality of Petrich, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria.-References:...

, and Petrich

Petrich

Petrich is a town in Blagoevgrad Province in southwestern Bulgaria, located at the foot of the Belasica Mountains in the Strumeshnitsa Valley. , the town has 29920 inhabitants.Petrich is located close to the borders with Greece and the Republic of Macedonia...

, all located in the municipality of Petrich, Blagoevgrad Province

Blagoevgrad Province

Blagoevgrad Province , also known as Pirin Macedonia , is a province of southwestern Bulgaria. It borders four other Bulgarian provinces to the north and east, Greece to the south, and the Republic of Macedonia to the west. The province has 14 municipalities with 12 towns...

.

History

The initial process to conserve biodiversity in Belasitsa Mountain started in 1988 with the creation of the Kongur Reserve. It was declared by Order 671 of the Committee for Environmental Protection of 06.15.1988. The purpose of the order was to protect natural forest ecosystems of common chestnut and beech trees.

At the base of the mountain, lies Topilishte protected area, declared by Order 328 of 05.08.1992. The order was designed to protect Royal and Majestic Fern.

Belasitsa was named to the Order RD-925 from 12.27.2007 of the Minister of Environment and Water in Bulgaria and is the newest nature park in the country.

Flora

At present, around 1500 plant species have been found in Belasitsa Nature Park, including Bulgarian and Balkan endemytes, species protected by the Law on Biological Diversity, species included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and species included in the Red Book of Bulgaria.

Some of the plant species protected in the forst include; common beech, common chestnut (largest deposit in the country), common yew, European holly, Heldreich's maple, Albanian lilly, Medicago carstiensis.

Fauna

The Fauna in Belasitsa are affected by two main attributes of the mountain: location and altitude. Belasitsa Mountain is in the Southwesternmost part of Bulgaria and is part of the Northend zone of the subtropical area.

In Belasitsa's short history around 1500 species of invertebrates and approximately 180 species of vertebrates have been discovered in the mountain including Bulgarian and Balkan endemytes. Some of the protected animals are white-backed woodpecker, black woodpecker, Orpheus Warbler, and small Olive tree Warbler.

Resources

• http://www.belasitsa.net
• http://www.belasitsa.com
• The Nature Parks of Bulgaria Itineraries, State Forestry Agency, Bulgaria
• Защитените Територии В Благоевград Област, Регионална Инспекция по Околната Среда И Водите Благоевград
• (Protected Territories in the Blagoevgrad District, Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water, Blagoevgrad)