1. HCVF process in Bulgaria Zhivko Bogdanov, Syktyvkar April 2009 WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. HCV 1.2 Threatened, endangered and e n d e m i c s p e c i e s  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 1.Lycopodium complanatum – rare 2.Polypodium australe – endangered 3.Taxus baccata – endangered (70-80 species) WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

9. HCV 1.2 Threatened, endangered and e n d e m i c s p e c i e s  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 WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo Latin NameCommon NameRed ListThresholdArea size 1Ursus arctosBrown BearRDen presence, Inhabited at least twice for the last 5 years Sub- compartments within 200 m radius - no activities 2Lutra OtterVU A2cde/ T Den presence100 m from the den - no activities 3Plegadis falcinellus Glossy IbisTNesting of the species 200 m area

10. HCV 1.3 Critical concentrations of s p e c i e s  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 WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

11. HCV2. IMPORTANT FOREST AREAS FORMING L A N D S C A P E S O F R E G I O N A L O R N A T I O N A L S I G N I F I C A N C E, W H E R E A L L N A T U R A L L Y O C C U R R I N G S P E C I E S E X I S T I N N A T U R A L P A T T E R N S O F D I S T R I B U T I O N A N D A B U N D A N C E 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. WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

12. HCV2. IMPORTANT FOREST AREAS FORMING L A N D S C A P E S O F R E G I O N A L O R N A T I O N A L S I G N I F I C A N C E, W H E R E A L L N A T U R A L L Y O C C U R R I N G S P E C I E S E X I S T I N N A T U R A L P A T T E R N S O F D I S T R I B U T I O N A N D A B U N D A N C E 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. WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

13. HCV2. IMPORTANT FOREST AREAS FORMING L A N D S C A P E S O F R E G I O N A L O R N A T I O N A L S I G N I F I C A N C E, W H E R E A L L N A T U R A L L Y O C C U R R I N G S P E C I E S E X I S T I N N A T U R A L P A T T E R N S O F D I S T R I B U T I O N A N D A B U N D A N C E 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. WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

14. HCV2. IMPORTANT FOREST AREAS FORMING L A N D S C A P E S O F R E G I O N A L O R N A T I O N A L S I G N I F I C A N C E, W H E R E A L L N A T U R A L L Y O C C U R R I N G S P E C I E S E X I S T I N N A T U R A L P A T T E R N S O F D I S T R I B U T I O N A N D A B U N D A N C E FULL ASSESSMENT Identification according to the table with criteria parameters: ForestNaturalness FragmentationMin.Size, massive %ha Strandja Mountains, Danube Hilly Plain, Balkan Mountains70740 000 The Pirin, Rila, Vitosha and Rhodope Mountain ranges80550 000 WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

15. HCV2. IMPORTANT FOREST AREAS FORMING LANDSCAPES OF REGIONAL OR NATIONAL S I G N I F I C A N C E, W H E R E A L L N A T U R A L L Y O C C U R R I N G S P E C I E S E X I S T I N N A T U R A L P A T T E R N S O F D I S T R I B U T I O N A N D A B U N D A N C E

16. 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: zhbogdanov@wwfdcp.bgzhbogdanov@wwfdcp.bg http://wwf.bg WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo