Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A dam in a rocky gorge of the Arda river, east of the town of Kardjali. The numerous rocky cliffs and banks are covered by sub-Mediterranean vegetation, mainly forests of
Quercus with
Carpinus,
Fraxinus and Mediterranean tree species.
Juniperus,
Jasminum and
Paliurus are predominant in the sclerophyllous shrubland.
Dichantium and
Poa predominate in the grasslands. Human activities include hunting, forestry, fishing, and extensive rearing of sheep and cattle.
The site is important for its assemblage of Mediterranean-restricted species, and for its high numbers of breeding
Ciconia nigra,
Neophron percnopterus (the best site in Bulgaria) and
Bubo bubo. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Aegypius monachus (1-2 pairs),
Falco naumanni (3-5 pairs). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site:
Circaetus gallicus (1-3 pairs),
Aquila pomarina,
Hieraaetus pennatus (1 pair).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
One problem is rural depopulation, which has led to a decrease in food resources (livestock carrion) for vultures in the region. A BSPB project for eastern Rhodopi mountains (the IBA is part of this region) is ongoing under the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme.
National Low
International None775 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Valchi Dol, 775 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Studen Kladenets (Bulgaria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/studen-kladenets-iba-bulgaria on 23/12/2024.
