assessment and mapping of sparsely vegetated land ... · and their services in bulgaria svetlana...

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Assessment and mapping of sparsely vegetated land ecosystems condition and their services in Bulgaria Svetlana Bancheva, Anna Ganeva, Vladimir Vladimirov Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev, bl. 23, 1113-Sofia, Bulgaria, [email protected] Sparsely vegetated land ecosystems are places where vegetation is lacking or very scarce. According to the ecosystem classification of MAES they include coastal dunes and sandy shores; coastal shingle; costal rock cliffs, ledges and shores, including the supralittoral; screes; inland cliffs, rock pavements and outcrops. Although these ecosystems occupy a relatively small area of the territory of Bulgaria, they have a very important role in protecting of particular species of the flora and fauna of the country, and in providing valuable services to people. The need to study and assess the condition of ecosystems and their services is outlined in a number of strategic documents, such as Action 5 of Target 2 Maintain and restore ecosystems and their services of the EU Biodiversity strategy to 2020. In Bulgaria nine types of ecosystems are present and mapping and assessment of their state and services already started in 2015 and is still ongoing. For assessment of ecosystems and their services a set of relevant indicators is used as part of a special methodology developed during the predefined project BG03.PDP2 Methodological support. These indicators provide information about the area of the respective ecosystem type, richness of the taxonomic groups presented, threats to the actual and potential ecosystem services. At the same time, they reflect changes in ecosystem state and services over time. The implementation of the activities began with collection of relevant information and GIS- modelling of the distribution of sparsely vegetated land ecosystems in Bulgaria, followed by verification of these models in the field, mapping and assessment of ecosystem condition and services. The main outcome of the project is the preparation of several map and GIS layers on the state of ecosystems with sparse vegetation in Bulgaria and their services. Acknowledgments This work was supported by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2009-2014, Contract № Д-33-88/28.08.2015 “Mapping and assessment of Sparsely vegetated land ecosystem services in Bulgaria (SPA-EcoServices)”. Rhodopa Mts, Habitat 8210 Black See, Habitat 1210 Black See, Habitat 1240 Black See, Habitat 2110 Beglik tash locality, Near Black See Mussel shell Onosma taurica Umbilicus rupestris Black See, habitat 2130

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Page 1: Assessment and mapping of sparsely vegetated land ... · and their services in Bulgaria Svetlana Bancheva, Anna Ganeva, Vladimir Vladimirov Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem

Assessment and mapping of sparsely vegetated land ecosystems conditionand their services in Bulgaria

Svetlana Bancheva, Anna Ganeva, Vladimir Vladimirov

Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev, bl. 23, 1113-Sofia, Bulgaria, [email protected]

Sparsely vegetated land ecosystems areplaces where vegetation is lacking or veryscarce. According to the ecosystemclassification of MAES they include coastaldunes and sandy shores; coastal shingle;costal rock cliffs, ledges and shores,including the supralittoral; screes; inlandcliffs, rock pavements and outcrops.Although these ecosystems occupy arelatively small area of the territory ofBulgaria, they have a very important role inprotecting of particular species of the floraand fauna of the country, and in providingvaluable services to people.

The need to study and assess the condition of ecosystems and their services is outlined in a number of strategic documents, such as Action5 of Target 2 Maintain and restoreecosystems and their services of the EU Biodiversity strategy to 2020. In Bulgaria ninetypes of ecosystems are present and mappingand assessment of their state and servicesalready started in 2015 and is still ongoing.

For assessment of ecosystems and theirservices a set of relevant indicators is usedas part of a special methodology developedduring the predefined project BG03.PDP2Methodological support. These indicatorsprovide information about the area of therespective ecosystem type, richness of thetaxonomic groups presented, threats to theactual and potential ecosystem services.

At the same time, they reflect changes inecosystem state and services over time. Theimplementation of the activities began withcollection of relevant information and GIS-modelling of the distribution of sparselyvegetated land ecosystems in Bulgaria,followed by verification of these models inthe field, mapping and assessment ofecosystem condition and services.

The main outcome of the project is thepreparation of several map and GIS layers onthe state of ecosystems with sparsevegetation in Bulgaria and their services.

AcknowledgmentsThis work was supported by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2009-2014, Contract № Д-33-88/28.08.2015“Mapping and assessment of Sparsely vegetated land ecosystem services in Bulgaria (SPA-EcoServices)”.

Rhodopa Mts, Habitat 8210

Black See, Habitat 1210Black See, Habitat 1240 Black See, Habitat 2110

Beglik tash locality, Near Black See

Mussel shell

Onosma taurica Umbilicus rupestris

Black See, habitat 2130