hcvf process in bulgaria zhivko bogdanov, syktyvkar april 2009 wwf danube-carpathian programme

HCVF process in Bulgaria

Zhivko Bogdanov, Syktyvkar April 2009

WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

Development

2003-2004 the HCVF toolkit was adapted for Bulgaria

2004-2005 first field test in 3 forest areas:- First was done by independent party (Swiss-Bulgarian Forest Program)- The rest two were within the FSC certification process

2005 the toolkit was finished and distributed to the stakeholders for use


Development

The Toolkit include identification, management, monitoring parts

Trying to be as much simplified as possible

Deliver as many practical information as possible

Annexes for each HCVF category

Identification of HCV2 on national level

Prepared to be used at Local FMU level


Implementation

Introducing the Toolkit in the National FSC FM Standards

Using of the Toolkit by FSC Certification Bodies

Wide national recognition: ENGOs, UNDP, WB, State Forest Administration

Lobby to be part of the legislative provisions

Using as base for FM Planning

Already implemented in about 20 FMUs

Base for mapping of Biodiversity Important Forests of BirdLife project in Bulgaria and Romania (HCV 1 & 3)


News and Next steps

Improvement of the species Annexes for HCV 1.2 in 2007:

- Several more plant species included in the list;- Non-disturbance zones for animals within and out of

the reproduction periods Opportunity to influence/include EU High Nature

Value Areas for farmland and forests Opportunities to use for PES schemes Including in the assessments important for local

communities eco-tourism and recreational functions (HCV5)

Practical methodology for NTFP inventory and sustainable use in testing period (HCV5)


HCV1. FOREST AREAS CONTAINING GLOBALLY, REGIONALLY OR NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT

CONCENTRATIONS OF BIODIVERSITY VALUES (e.g. ENDEMISM, ENDANGERED SPECIES, REFUGIA)

HCV 1.1 Protected Areas

HCV 1.2 Threatened, endangered and endemic species

HCV 1.3 Critical concentrations of species


HCV

1.

1

Protected

Areas

In Bulgaria HCVs are the Protected Areas, as follows:

1.Lands and forests from the forest fund (LFFF) in Reserves, Managed Reserves, National Parks, Protected Sites, Nature Sites designated under the PAA;

2.LFFF in Nature Parks included in biodiversity conservation areas, designated under the Park Management Plans;

3.LFFF in Nature Parks without management plan documents designated;

4.LFFF included in protected zones designated under the Biological Diversity Act (BDA) – NATURA 2000 sites.


HCV

1.

2

Threatened,

endangered

and

ende

mi

c

speci

es

HCV 1.2 are areas from FMU where each species listed in Annex 1 from the toolkit occurred. These are species with such a high conservation value, that the permanent presence of only one of them in a FMU is sufficient to indicate this area as a HCVF. LFFF including habitats of species listed in Annex 1 are HCVF. Annex 1- LIST OF ENDANGERED, THREATENED AND ENDEMIC SPECIES IN BULGARIA, INDICATORS FOR HIGH CONSERVATION VALUES IN FORESTS

A. Endemic, rare and endangered plant species•Lycopodium complanatum – rare •Polypodium australe – endangered•Taxus baccata – endangered

(70-80 species)


HCV

1.

2

Threatened,

endangered

and

ende

mi

c

speci

es

Annex 1- LIST OF ENDANGERED, THREATENED AND ENDEMIC SPECIES IN BULGARIA, INDICATORS FOR HIGH CONSERVATION VALUES IN FORESTS

B. List of Endemic, Endangered and Threatened Animal Species


Latin Name Common Name Red List Threshold Area size

1 Ursus arctos Brown Bear R Den presence, Inhabited at least twice for the last 5 years

Sub-compartments within 200 m radius - no activities

2 Lutra Lutra Otter VU A2cde/ T

Den presence 100 m from the den- no activities

3 Plegadis falcinellus

Glossy Ibis T Nesting of the species

200 m area

HCV

1.

3

Criti

cal

concentrati

ons

of

speci

es

Lists with species indicators for this HCV with their minimal concentrations in Bulgaria are listed in Annex 2. There are specified threshold values for each species. When there is a critical temporary or permanently concentration of species or important refuge areas, according to regulations in Annex 2, then the forest is HCVF.Annex 2 – List for assessment of critical concentrations of species in Bulgaria Black vultures: more than 5 birds use the site at least 30 days per year, 500 m area from the sleeping sites;

Pygmy cormorant: more than 15 birds use the site at least 30 days per year, 200 m area around the sleeping sites;

Bats colonies in woodlands - in rocks and caves: more than 20 specimens, 100 m area around the sites;

Capercaillie breeding place with 2-5 male birds, 300 m area Capercaillie breeding place with more than 5 males, 500 m area


HCV2.

IMPORTANT

FOREST

AREAS

FORMI

NG

LANDSCAPES

OF

REGI

ONAL

OR

NATI

ONAL

SI

GNI

FI

CANCE,

WHERE

ALL

NATURALLY

OCCURRI

NG

SPECI

ES

EXI

ST

I

N

NATURAL

PATTERNS

OF

DI

STRI

BUTI

ON

AND

ABUNDANCE

DEFINITION

With regional significance are those forest areas, which within the framework of the region are unique according to naturalness, fragmentation and minimum size of the area hosting vital populations of naturally occurring species.

With national importance are those forest areas, which within the framework of the country are unique according to naturalness, fragmentation and minimum size of the area hosting vital populations of naturally occurring species.


HCV2.

IMPORTANT

FOREST

AREAS

FORMI

NG

LANDSCAPES

OF

REGI

ONAL

OR

NATI

ONAL

SI

GNI

FI

CANCE,

WHERE

ALL

NATURALLY

OCCURRI

NG

SPECI

ES

EXI

ST

I

N

NATURAL

PATTERNS

OF

DI

STRI

BUTI

ON

AND

ABUNDANCE

CRITERIA AND TRESHOLD

During development of the criteria for forests distribution, according HCV 2 principle of forest-vegetation district is used. Forests, which meet this conservation value, are separated by criteria - naturalness, fragmentation and minimum size of the area hosting vital populations of naturally occurring species.

1. Naturalness – the forest consists of vegetation species with natural occurrence in the country, regardless of their origin.

2. Fragmentation – identification of the anthropogenic landscapes percentage within the described area and their spatial distribution.

3. Size of the area – based on the type of plantations, their geographical distribution and the area necessary for the normal vital activities of the populations of all naturally occurring species.


HCV2.

IMPORTANT

FOREST

AREAS

FORMI

NG

LANDSCAPES

OF

REGI

ONAL

OR

NATI

ONAL

SI

GNI

FI

CANCE,

WHERE

ALL

NATURALLY

OCCURRI

NG

SPECI

ES

EXI

ST

I

N

NATURAL

PATTERNS

OF

DI

STRI

BUTI

ON

AND

ABUNDANCE

PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT

Potential forests complying with the requirements of HCV 2 have a clear geographical differentiation. Therefore as a first step the geographical region should be identified. Potential regions are: Pirin, Rila, Rhodope, Vitosha and Strandja Mountains, Danube Hilly Plain, Balkan Mountains.

The altitude of the described area determines the potential geographical objects, which can be fully assessed. As a second step the geographical objects are identified according to the altitude Strandja Mountains, Danube Hilly Plain, Balkan Mountains at the altitude to 1000 m. Pirin, Rila, Vitosha and Rhodope at above 1000 m.


HCV2.

IMPORTANT

FOREST

AREAS

FORMI

NG

LANDSCAPES

OF

REGI

ONAL

OR

NATI

ONAL

SI

GNI

FI

CANCE,

WHERE

ALL

NATURALLY

OCCURRI

NG

SPECI

ES

EXI

ST

I

N

NATURAL

PATTERNS

OF

DI

STRI

BUTI

ON

AND

ABUNDANCE

FULL ASSESSMENT

Identification according to the table with criteria parameters:

Forest Naturalness Fragmentation Min.Size, massive % % ha

Strandja Mountains,

Danube Hilly Plain,

Balkan Mountains 70 7 40 000

The Pirin,

Rila, Vitosha and

Rhodope Mountain

ranges 80 5 50 000


HCV2. IMPORTANT FOREST AREAS FORMING LANDSCAPES OF REGIONAL OR NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE, WHERE ALL NATURALLY OCCURRING SPECIES EXIST IN NATURAL PATTERNS OF DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE

THANK YOU

Zhivko Bogdanov, Forest Program Coordinator

WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme Bulgaria

71, ap.2 Knyaz Bpris I Str.

Sofia 1000, Bulgaria

tel./fax: +359 2 9505040

e-mail: [email protected]

http://wwf.bg


mailto:[email protected]

http://wwf.bg/

hcvf process in bulgaria zhivko bogdanov, syktyvkar april 2009 wwf danube-carpathian programme

Documents

endangered species

endemic species hcv

endemic species annex

species annexes

habitats of species

list of endangered

forest areas

hcvf toolkit