Grasslands in North-Eastern Bulgaria – tradition and changes

Abstract

North-Eastern Bulgaria is a region which combines significant agricultural areas with grasslands, forest and shrub communities that support a rich biodiversity. Intensive agriculture has resulted in considerable fragmentation of the natural and semi-natural habitats. This represents a potential threat to the conservation of biodiversity. The main cultivated crops include wheat, maize, barley, sunflower and recently rape. The stock rearing is related to cattle, sheep, pig and poultry-farming. The grassland community diversity reflects the diversity of natural habitats. Some that occur in the studied region have high conservation value and are listed in the Habitats Directive 92/43 EEC. The regional floristic diversity numbers 1,950-2,000 species, which is about 50% of the Bulgarian flora. Situated in an area of heavy anthropogenic impacts and in a period of complex changes, grasslands require the implementation of practical measures for their maintenance and rational use.Keywords: floristic diversity; Habitats Directive 92/43 EEC; natural habitats; North-Eastern Bulgaria grasslands