site.btaCentral Balkan National Park Expert Ficheva Explains Role of Ancient Beech Forests in Central Balkan National Park’s UNESCO Heritage Status

Ancient beech forests serve as a model for understanding the development of biological communities, expert Rumyana Ficheva from Central Balkan National Park said in an interview with BTA on Monday.

At the launch of the July issue of LIK magazine Bulgaria in UNESCO, Ficheva, along with colleagues Radostina Pravcheva and Miroslav Kirov, showcased Steneto Reserve’s centuries-old beech forest, which forms part of one of Bulgaria’s ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

These beech forests are ancient and long-lived, maintaining natural processes observable over extended periods and serving as a reference point for research on forest ecosystem development. They also play a crucial role in conserving the region’s biodiversity. Old-growth forests like these support highly specialized species that exist only in such habitats—for example, the Ural owl, the semi-collared flycatcher, and the Rosalia longicorn beetle, all of which depend on old-growth stands, deadwood, and undisturbed environments, Ficheva said.

The most important beech forests in the nine reserves—Boatin, Tsarichina, Kozya Stena, Steneto, Sokolna, Peeshti Skali, Stara Reka, Djendema, and Severen Djendem—within Central Balkan National Park are part of the UNESCO World Heritage serial site "Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe." The UNESCO World Heritage Committee approved the expansion of this serial property at its 41st session in Krakow in July 2017, bringing the total to 78 sites across 12 countries. By 2021, following a third extension, the network included 94 sites in 18 European countries.

Forests occupy approximately 60% of Central Balkan National Park's area. Beech forests extend over 30,000 hectares, with an average age of 135 years. Most of these are natural, seed-origin stands. The Steneto Reserve, established in 1979, currently spans 3,578 hectares.

The beech forests in Central Balkan National Park extend from 700 to 1,700 m above sea level. These are the most extensive forests in the park, and Central Balkan is often referred to as “The Kingdom of the Beech Forests.”

On certain sample plots established for research in the forest habitats, trees more than 500 years old have been recorded, which is a great rarity among beech forests. The canopy of such an old beech spans over 20 m in diameter, covering a vast area. When an ancient tree dies and falls, young undergrowth springs up in its place, forming the future forest, Ficheva added.

Park experts also observed that individual trees measured in test plots reach heights of 30, 32, 35 or even 40 m, with trunk diameters exceeding 1 m. Part of the Kom–Emine hiking trail also traces its path through the centuries-old beech forests.

“The forests included in the UNESCO serial property are in reserve territories, which ensures their long-term conservation. Reserve areas in Bulgaria have the highest status of protection, and they are also located within Central Balkan National Park,” Ficheva said.

According to Ficheva, Central Balkan National Park has a management plan, appointed rangers, and sound technical resources. Specialists at the park directorate are equally committed to their work. “We have highly qualified experts, continually monitoring processes and biodiversity in the forests, ensuring the protection of these valuable woodlands,” she said.

All beech forests nominated and included in the UNESCO list are located in reserve territories within Central Balkan’s nine reserves. Restrictions are imposed to the extent required by their reserve status, and no additional measures were necessary specifically for these forests. Under Bulgarian law, access to reserves with the strictest protection status is limited to hiking trails, educational, and scientific activities, Ficheva explained.

The 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee runs until July 16 at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris under the presidency of Bulgaria. As part of the session, Bulgaria will present elements of its cultural and natural heritage. Later Monday, the July issue of LIK magazine – dedicated to Bulgaria and UNESCO – will also be officially presented at UNESCO.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded on November 16, 1945. Bulgaria became a member on May 17, 1956, the same year its National Commission for UNESCO was established. The Commission coordinates activities between Bulgarian institutions and UNESCO.

UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee is one of the two governing bodies responsible for implementing the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. It is composed of representatives from 21 countries elected from among the 196 States Parties to the Convention.