State of the Environment Bulgaria 2003
Biodiversity
What is the general situation with the biodiversity?
What are the impacts of biodiversity?
What is being done to solve the problems
Bulgaria covers 1% of the size of Europe and only 0,073% of the world’s territory. Despite its small size, however, our country has more biological diversity than Germany, Poland or Great Britain. Bulgaria and the countries on the Balkan Peninsula are acknowledged as among the richest in the world regarding animal species living in caves. Equally impressive is the number of bird species that can be found in Bulgaria - 383 species or 77% of those found in Europe. Bulgaria is also the largest exporter of curative plants in Europe. Protected territories cover more than 4,64% of the country’s area. Nowadays however, despite new legislative measures and the various initiatives of the nature protection organizations, this biological diversity and the resources of Bulgaria are seriously in danger due to:
· Illegal felling of forests and destruction of habitat;
· Poaching and illegal export of animals;
· Construction that is not coordinated with the impact on of nature;
· Vandal collection of herbs and berries;
· Industrial, transport, agricultural and household pollution of water, soils and air.
Last update on March 2003