Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan - part - usaid

February 2004
According to FI 2000, the entire timber producing area within RMNP amounts to
9,840 ha. On 3,511.5 ha of that, FI 2000 envisions different types of logging. The
total timber stock, not including branches, is estimated at 1,965,140 m³, of which
195,195 m³ (again not including branches) are slated for cutting over the next tenyear
period. The average annual growth rate is estimated at 21,354 m³, which is
more than the 19,519 cu.m annually planned for logging.
Forest Inventory 2000 for Rila Monastery Nature Park envisions that afforestation
is to be carried out on an area of 316.6 ha. Of that area, on 107 ha only assisted
natural afforestation is to be carried out, while the remaining 209.6 ha will be
subject to topsoil regeneration and subsequent afforestation.
Also according to FI 2000, the following quotas for secondary use of forest
resources are to be allowed:
- Medicial plant extraction: up to 5 metric tons per annum;
- Mushroom extraction: up to 2 metric tons p.a.;
- Christmas tree harvesting: up to 1,500 pcs p.a.;
- Grazing of domestic animals (excluding goats) on an area of 1,480.0 ha.
The numbers of livestock alowed into the grazing area are: 1,233 heads of
cattle or 5,920 heads of sheep, or combinations of these.
FI 2000 for the Rila Monastery State Forest enterprise was approved and adopted
by the National Forestry Board in 2001, and was partially implemented in late
2002, in the absence of a management Plan for RMNP. On request by the
landowner, the Abbot of Rila Monastery, timber has been extracted within the
limits set as per FI 2000, for the needs of the Monastery.
2. Under the Forestry Act and the Rules and Regulations on Its Implementation,
strips of forest between 100 and 200 m in width along the upper timberline; up to
100 m in width along river banks and up to 200 m in width around lake and
reservoir shores, have erosion control and embankment functions. Therefore, they
fall within the category of protective, recreational forests. Logging in such forests
is done in compliance with the 1997 Logging Regulations for Bulgarian Forests.
As a rule, logging intensity in them should not exceed 15%; at places, logging can
be banned altogether depending on particular local regulations.
3. In 1983, the National Institute for Monuments of Culture developed a conceptual
plan and a set of directives entitled ‘The Rila Monastery Zone’, comprising the
valley of the Rilska River from Rila town to Kirilova Poltyana locality. According
to the concept, the territory was to be divided into three zones: gateway zone,
active zone (encompassing the Rila Monastery National Museum) and
exploration-cum-recreation zone. Neither this Plan, nor the regimes and norms
prescribed in it have ever been applied in practice.
4. Applicable at present are zones, regimes and norms as determined by the Ministry
of Culture by the act of designating monuments of culture in the territory of the
Holy Monastery of Rila. In fulfillment of Order # RD-19-132/24.03.1992 of the
Ministry of Culture, regarding the monuments of culture in the territory of the
Holy Monastery of Rila, security perimeters around them, together with the
Rila Monastery Nature Park
Management Plan -Draft
2004 - 2013
17