Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan - part - usaid

February 2004
The Plan defines seven functional zones: the Reserves Zone (3,678.8 ha); the High
Conservation Significance Zone (13,350.0 ha); the Holy Sites and Cultural and
Historical Heritage Zone (27.2 ha); the Environmentally Sound Use Zone (5,677.9
ha); the Tourism Zone (724.5 ha); the Infrastructure Zone (117.9 ha); and the
Sustainable Forestry Zone (1,676.7 ha). Three of these zones are mandatory pursuant
to the Protected Areas Act, whereas the remaining four zones are defined in regard to
the specific conditions in RMNP and the concrete needs and requirements pertinent to
the protection and management of this territory.
The Management Plan was developed to give equal attention to all seven of the
above-described zones, in consensus between the parties represented to the in-depth
discussions and with the active input of the members of the Core and Extended
Planning Teams and the Coordination Team of the BCEG Project.
Programs and projects
A number of programs and projects are identified and described in the Prescriptions
section, aimed to implement the long-term goals laid down in the Management Plan
while overcoming, mitigating and/or eliminating the existing threats and limitations.
The Plan envisions a total of 30 programs and 81 projects, the long-term realization
of which would enable the implementation of the operational objectives over the
planned period. The programs and projects are grouped in the above-cited seven
topics and correspond to the Ideal Goals of the Management Plan.
The said programs and projects take into account the different levels of management:
from a single population or an individual tourist or participant in the interpretation
programs, to the management of groups of ecosystems, relations with the local
communities and the provision of scientific support to the Park activities, and the
development of educational and tourism-related activities.
The management of the Park’s territory is carried out with a view to preserving the
conditions for maintenance of the existing migration routes and other common
ecological elements with Rila National Park, improving the ecological links between
the Rila Monastery Forest Reserve and the Nature Reserves of Parangalitza and
Central Rila located within the territory of the National Park, as well as with a view to
ensuring proper interaction between the two park administrations in managing and
providing for visitor safety, fire control and other areas.
The last chapter of the Prescription section contains a three-year Action Plan, which
prioritizes the programs and projects that would ensure the effective protection and
conservation of all components of the Park from the earliest stage of implementation
of the Management Plan.
Necessity and prerequisites for the protection of the Nature Park and development
of the Management Plan
Rila Monastery Nature Park is one of the largest nature parks in Bulgaria, covering a
total area of 25,253.2 ha. It is located in the Rila-Rhodope mountain massif, some 100
km south of Sofia. Its present territory was declared a protected area within the
boundaries of Rila People’s Park in 1992, and designated as a separate protected area
Rila Monastery Nature Park
Management Plan Draft
2004 - 2013
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