Abstract
The paper focuses on the role of the Natural Heritage in Forest Areas (NHFA) as a resource that can generate economic, social and environmental benefits for society through the provision of a wide range of cultural ecosystem services. In the assessment of the role of NHFA, the approach for assessment and mapping of ES in a given territorial scope was applied in a pilot region of Velingrad Municipality, focusing on the capacity of the forest ecosystems to provide cultural ecosystem benefits and services to the people. The study confirms that the identification of NHFA could be a powerful driver for regional development by creating significant positive effects such as improving sustainable cultural tourism in forests, diversifying forestry and supporting sustainable development and management of forest areas. The integration of the cultural services of NHFA into forest-related legislation can encourage job creation in different sectors and for different levels of employment, education and cultural training. Evaluation and mapping of ecosystem services is an appropriate tool to support the development of a concept and methods for assessing and mapping the general knowledge framework for NHFA policy in Bulgaria by applying an interdisciplinary approach.
Highlights
The concept of ecosystem services (ES) is becoming increasingly relevant and popular since the publication of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA, 2005), with increasing attention and research on the impact of ecosystem services for the human well-being (Van Jaarsveld et al, 2005; TEEB, 2010a; TEEB, 2010b; Burkhard et al, 2012; Dodev et al, 2020)
Part of the studies are focused on the economic consequences of the loss of various ecosystem services, while others are focused on revealing the less sensible ecosystem benefits (Egoh et al, 2012; Bagstad et al, 2013; Garcia-Nieto et al, 2013)
The geospatial natural elements, which include Natural Heritage in Forest Areas (NHFA), provide a wide range of ecosystem services - provisioning, regulating and cultural, which are based on their functional characteristics, as one function can provide multiple ES, and one ES can be the result of several functions
Summary
The concept of ecosystem services (ES) is becoming increasingly relevant and popular since the publication of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA, 2005), with increasing attention and research on the impact of ecosystem services for the human well-being (Van Jaarsveld et al, 2005; TEEB, 2010a; TEEB, 2010b; Burkhard et al, 2012; Dodev et al, 2020). The protection of forests and their sustainable management are a top priority for the EU, and for Bulgaria as one of the European countries with the most extensive forest areas. They cover approximately 38% of the territory of Bulgaria and represent a natural resource with a key role for the entire Balkan region. In addition to recognizing that a protected area preserves biodiversity of high conservation importance, PAN Parks Certificates are proof of the role of the natural heritage for the society through the development of sustainable tourism and recreational practices - a source of livelihood for the local population. The focus is on the role of NHFA in the context of cultural benefits as a source of unique opportunities for social and economic development for the mountain regions in the country
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