Site description (2000 baseline)
The valley of the Krumovitza river and the Diushun river in the eastern Rhodopi mountains, together with the surrounding low mountain slopes. The rivers flow through deep canyons and open valleys, with the vegetation along the riverbanks dominated by Alnus, Salix, Populus, Rubus, Rosa and Tamarix. Dry grassland, scrub and broadleaved forests cover the neighbouring hills. The forests are dominated by Quercus, Carpinus and Mediterranean tree species. Juniperus is predominant in the sclerophyllous scrub. Land-uses are extensive rearing of sheep and cattle, hunting and forestry, but the area is becoming progressively depopulated due to local emigration.
Key biodiversity
The site is one of the most important areas in Bulgaria for breeding Ciconia nigra and Neophron percnopterus. Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Circaetus gallicus (1 pair), Bubo bubo (1-2 pairs), Hippolais olivetorum (2-5 pairs).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Krumovitza (Bulgaria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/krumovitza-iba-bulgaria on 22/11/2024.