Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan - part - usaid

February 2004
overuse of non-timber natural resources causes, albeit indirectly, an increased risk of
forest fires, the disturbance of wild animals, and pollution.
Significance: medium, high to some areas and species
Quarrying of sand, gravel and building stone
Cutting flagstones for construction of roof structures and, to a lesser extent, quarrying
other building materials (river stones that go into the foundations and walls of
buildings) has been practiced in the past in the Park territory. This was a serious
threat to rock outcroppings and their characteristic flora and fauna of high
conservation significance, as well as to the river beds that are home to some microhabitats
of immense value (especially in the Iliyna River Valley between its point of
confluence with the Rilska River and Kravarski Dol locality). Potentially, such
quarrying activities may have a negative impact on a number of species of
conservation significance: plants, invertebrates, reptiles, and bats.
Significance: low
Plowing of natural herbaceous phytocenoses
This is mostly done to clear space for potato fields. Even though this threat factor
applies to a relatively small extent in the territory of RMNP (e.g. the Kravarski Dol,
Turskoto Parche localities, etc.), its impact can be considerable. It affects the
populations and stocks of medicinal plants, and – to an extremely grave extent –
arachnids and some other invertebrate species.
Significance: locally medium
Disturbance
A number of the threats described above (logging, poaching, overcrowding, vehicular
traffic, building of forest roads, etc.) also entail, as a side effect, a considerable degree
of disturbance to wildlife. This is one of the most significant threatening factors since
its occurrences have been detected throughout the entire Park territory, and since they
affect animal species of high conservation significance.
As a result, animals are driven away from their suitable natural habitats, while the socalled
‘quiet zones’ shrink. The disturbance factor is of critical significance for the
survival within the Park territory of the bear, chamois, otter, wolf, red deer, golden
eagle, some falcons and other predatory birds, of capercaillie, mountain partridge,
bats in their lairs, and to a lesser extent, of the roe, wild cat and hare.
Significance: very high, critical to the species listed
Genetic erosion, introduction of alien species, creation of cultivated forests
Several alien tree species have been introduced as forest cultures, as single specimens
or in groups, into the Park territory (planted mostly around the tree nursery south of
Eleshnitsa): larch, Douglas fir, sequoia, Weymouth pine, etc. Although this account
for less than 1% of all forests within the Park, there is still a danger of genetic
pollution of local species with alien ones (e.g. of silver spruce with common spruce).
Rila Monastery Nature Park
Management Plan - Draft
2004 - 2013
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