Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan - part - usaid

February 2004
Increased tourist pressure and uneven distribution of the visitor flow
The territory of RMNP, especially the area immediately surrounding Rila Monastery,
is among the natural sites in Bulgaria with the highest intensity of human presence.
The largest crowds concentrate around the Monastery itself, as well as at Kirilova
Polyana, Bachkova Cheshma, along the banks of the Rilska River between the
Monastery and the Tomb of St. John, and along the Iliyna River in Brichebor locality.
Events, festivities and sports games organized in these localities involve the use of
public address systems, playing loud music over loudspeakers and other sources of
noise. Relatively fewer tourists proceed along the two river valleys as far as the Tiha
Rila or the point of confluence of the Radovichka into the Iliyna River. Those who do
typically spend their time picnicking, sunbathing or picking forest fruits. Least
popular with visitors to the Park are the areas around Ribni Lakes, at Kobilino
Branishte, Smradlivoto Lake and, to a certain extent, around Kalin Dam. Most of
these territories are home to large numbers of wildlife species of high conservation
significance, for which human crowds may represent a positive threat. One
particularly significant form of negative human impact is the disturbance of wild
animals through noise, lighting fires, etc. In some cases the gathering of large crowds
at certain locations, especially when indulging in activities and overall conduct
inappropriate to the sanctity of the place, completely upsets the tranquillity and
religious contemplation that characterizes the all-round atmosphere of the Monastery
and the Holy Sites around it.
In the absence of a comprehensive strategy for organizing the tourist flow in such a
way as to meet visitors’ expectations at minimum cost to the cultural and historical
assets and natural scenery, crowds scatter throughout the Park perimeter without any
restriction, guidance, safety precautions or control over their conduct or the impact of
their stay on the territory. There is still a shortage of reliable information regarding
the man-made threats and disruptions in the respective Park section, as may have a
negative impact on the natural values of RMNP.
Significance: high, local
Unregulated or extreme sports
Rock climbing was practiced in RMNP until 2001; moreover, this was done in one of
the areas of highest significance for biodiversity: the rock faces northwest of Kirilova
Polyana. These rocks are one of the main, if not the sole, nesting habitat of species
such as the golden eagle, the peregrine falcon, alpine chaugh and others, which are
averse to human presence of any kind. The area is also highly promising in terms of
the possible re-introduction of the bearded vulture, another species that is extremely
sensitive to human presence. In the past decade, the use of the rock faces for climbing
has been practically stopped; in consequence, the above-mentioned ecosystems have
largely regained their characteristic ornithofauna.
Significance: low
Rila Monastery Nature Park
Management Plan - Draft
2004 - 2013
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