Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan - part - usaid

February 2004
The alpine treeless zone is dominated by the following dwarf-pine habitats: 31.58
Balkan-Rila-Rhodope communities of dwarf-pine (Pinus mugo); 36.318 Oro-Moesian
turf meadows based on acidophilic soils (Nardus stricta), as well as cereal (Poaceae)
grasses; 36.391 Oro-Moesian communities of Festuca paniculata; 36.3921 Oro-
Moesian communities of Festuca valida and acidophilic (Cyperaceae) grasses;
36.3941 Oro-Moesian communities of Carex curvula. Of shrub-like species, the
following habitats are also encountered: 31.431 Mountain shrub communities of
Siberian juniper (Juniperus sibirica); 31.44 Alpine small-shrub communities of
Empetrum nigrum and Vaccinium uliginosum; 31.4А2 Balkan-Helenic communities
of bilberry and blackberry (Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea); 31.4915 Carpatho-
Balkan Dryas octopetala communities, as well as dwarf-willow (Salix) habitats;
36.12211 Alpine snow-drift communities of willow (Salix retusa-reticulata) on a
limestone bedrock; 36.1112 Alpine snow-drift communities of herbaceous willow
(Salix herbacea) on acid soil, and others.
Note. In the List of Habitats (Appendix 10) there is mention of four habitats without a
code number under the Palearctic classification system. These are marked with “n”
and a proposed name and number to denote them according to their place under the
Palearctic habitat classification system. These habitats were all identified during field
studies carried out in the Park in 2001; the necessary steps should be made to assess
and propose them for inclusion in the European List of Habitats. These are the
following:
1. Habitat of Amethyst Fescue (Festuca amethystina L. ssp. kummeri (G. Beck.)
Markgr.-Dannb.) - characterized by a dominance of the Amethyst Fescue.
Identified in the area west of Golyam Mechi Peak;.
2. Habitat of Ranunculus crenatus W. et K., identified in the area of Ribni Lakes and
Mramorets.
3. Habitat of Alopecurus riloensis ( Hack.) Pawl. Identified in the area of Ribni
Lakes and Tiha Rila.
4. Habitat of permanently moisturized rock faces: characterized by the presence of
massive exposed silicate bedrock, a step-like structure and very steep (up to 900)
incline; by a permanent moisturizing factor (water seeping down the slope) and
the development of petrophytic and chasmophytic vegetation. Established in the
area of Vodniya Vrah.
3.1.3 Conservation significance and protection status of habitats
Of the 85 identified habitats:
• 28 are listed in Annex I to Directive 92/43 (1992) of the Council of Europe on the
Conservation of Natural Habitats. Annex I of the said Directive lists natural
habitats of considerable public interest, the conservation of which requires the
designation of special protected areas;
• 22 are listed under Resolution # 4 (1996 on endangered natural habitats requiring
urgent conservation measures);
• 4 appear on both lists.
Rila Monastery Nature Park
Management Plan -Draft
2004 - 2013
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