Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
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.
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).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The rural depopulation has led to decreases in available food resources (livestock carrion) for vultures in the region. Uncontrolled hunting and fishing are further threats.
National None
International None
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Krumovitza (Bulgaria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/krumovitza-iba-bulgaria on 23/11/2024.
