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Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan - part - usaid

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February 2004<br />

Table 27. Numbers of domestic animals raised in the territory of <strong>Rila</strong><br />

Municipality during the period 1999-2001<br />

Animals 1999 2000 2001<br />

Cattle 199 217 292<br />

Pigs 901 915 950<br />

Sheep 3,170 3,065 1,616<br />

Ewes 317 372 259<br />

Goats 1,471 1,538 1,032<br />

Fowl 4,679 4,713 3,668<br />

Beehives 146 156 130<br />

Rabbits 215 217 250<br />

Horses 220 202 218<br />

Donkeys 50 42 38<br />

Mules 12 14 16<br />

The most common agricultural crops grown in the areas around the <strong>Park</strong> boundary<br />

are vegetables, potatoes, or tobacco (Table 28). The farming intensity at present is in<br />

harmony with the requirements and prospects for the development of the <strong>Park</strong>. The<br />

decline in production, due to problems with the cash flow, stimulates the<br />

introduction of organic farming for the simple reason that less and less money is<br />

spent on plant protection agents and mineral fertilizer.<br />

Table 28. Statistical data about some basic crops in <strong>Rila</strong> Municipality<br />

during 2000 up until July 1, 2001<br />

Tourism<br />

Crop 2000 2001<br />

(hа) (hа)<br />

Wheat 77.0 105.0<br />

Potatoes 52.0 25.0<br />

Tobacco 20.0 22.8<br />

Natural meadows 565.0 570.0<br />

The local population uses the territory of <strong>Rila</strong> <strong>Monastery</strong> <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Park</strong> mostly for rest<br />

and recreation; moreover, in its expectations of the future it links the territory’s<br />

prospective development with recreational and tourism-related activities. Tourism<br />

and related services are regarded as very promising for the future, but at present are<br />

not seen as <strong>part</strong>icularly feasible; less than five percent of all households are engaged<br />

in hospitality services.<br />

In the territory of <strong>Rila</strong> Municipality out of the RMNP and the <strong>Rila</strong> <strong>Monastery</strong><br />

settlement few tourist facilities exist for tourist accomodation. These are the hotel in<br />

<strong>Rila</strong> town and several smaller places, which offer food and accomodation for the<br />

tourists along the Rilska River Valley. The tourist facilities in the neighboring park<br />

territory are listed in Table 29.<br />

A natural phenomenon of interest to visitors in the immediate vicinity of the <strong>Park</strong> are<br />

the sandstone pyramids at the village of Stob, as well as pairs of storks that<br />

permanently nest in Kocherinovo.<br />

<strong>Rila</strong> monastery <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Park</strong><br />

Manaegment<strong>Plan</strong> - Draft<br />

2004 - 2013<br />

117

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