Mapping of grassland habitats in terms of ecological change A case study from Svoge Municipality, Western Bulgaria
Borislav Grigorov
, Kiril Vassilev
Abstract: The study is focused on the research of the grassland habitats of Svoge Municipality, situated in the western parts of the country, aiming their ecology. They are incorporated in the following sites Natura 2000 sites: Iskarski Prolom-Rzhana BG0001042, Vrachanski Balkan BG0000166 and Zapadna Stara Planina and Predbalkan BG0001040, making them of a special interest for nature conservation. The total area of Svoge Municipality is 868 km2. 134 relevés were collected during the period of 2015-2019, following the Braun-Blanquet approach and 445 field points were verified, as well. As a result, 5 grassland habitat types, included in Directive 92/43/EEC, were identified. They cover 72.38 km2, or 8.3% of Svoge Municipality. The habitat type with the broadest distribution is 6210 Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (*important orchid sites), while the one with the most restricted area is 6430 Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and the montane to alpine levels.
Keywords: mapping; Natura 2000; vegetation
Citation: Grigorov, B. & Vassilev, K. (2024). Mapping of Grassland Habitats in Terms of Ecological Change – A Case Study from Svoge Municipality, Western Bulgaria. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 30 (Supplement 1), 17–22
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| Date published: 2024-12-13
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