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Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
An area in the southern part of Kresna gorge, along the Struma river, where the slopes are steep and rocky, and covered in Mediterranean forest and shrubland. The forests are dominated by
Juniperus exelsa (100-200 years old),
Juniperus oxycedrus,
Phyllirea and other Mediterranean tree species (
Pyrus,
Pistacia,
Jasminum, etc.). There are also secondary
Quercus forests, alluvial forests (
Platanus,
Celtis,
Tamarix), and some forestry plantations of
Pinus. Human activities are forbidden in the strict nature reserve. Grazing, mainly of goats, is allowed in the buffer zone, and forests are used for forestry and cattle-grazing.
The site is important for its assemblage of Mediterranean-restricted species.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Building activity is a potential threat. The three types of protected area cover the whole IBA.
National High
International None575 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Tissata, 575 ha). 185 ha of IBA covered by National Monument (Moravska, 185 ha). 625 ha of IBA covered by Buffer Zone (Tissata, 625 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kresna Gorge (Bulgaria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kresna-gorge-iba-bulgaria on 23/12/2024.
