Ecologia Balkanica

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https://doi.uni-plovdiv.bg/handle/store/4
p-ISSN: 1314-0213 / e-ISSN: 1313-9940

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Browsing Ecologia Balkanica by Subject "beech forests"

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    Mapping of Forest Habitats in Mountainous Areas – a Case Study from Svoge Municipality, Western Bulgaria
    (Plovdiv University Press "Paisii Hilendarski", 2024-04-18) Grigorov, Borislav; Vassilev, Kiril
    The study is focused on the study of forest habitats of Svoge Municipality, situated in the western part of the country. 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, nine forest habitat types, included in Directive 92/43/EEC, were identified, representing a habitat diverse municipality. They are covering 135.89 km2 or 15.7% of the total municipality’s area. The habitat type of the Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests (9130) covers the largest area (57.86 km2), followed by the habitat type of the Medio-European limestone beech forests of the Cephalanthero-Fagion (9150) (31.03 km2). The dominance by beech forest is typical for the Western Balkan Range where these types of forests expanded due to climatic and anthropogenic factors, which led to the reduction of the belts, dominated by the common hornbeam, the spruce and the fir. Major threats include forest degradation and loss, because of logging activities, pests, presence of invasive species, quarries and illegal household disposing. Measures, including afforestation with local species and forest regeneration, are needed.
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    Soil carbon and nitrogen stocks under anthropogenic influence: A case study in European beech forests of Central Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina), Bulgaria
    (Plovdiv University Press "Paisii Hilendarski", 2025-06-03) Kirova, Lora; Stoeva, Lora; Stoyanov, Todor
    Understanding how forest management practices influence soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics is crucial for sustainable ecosystem functioning and climate mitigation. This study investigates the effects of thinning on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks in temperate European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests in the Central Balkan Mountains of Bulgaria. Fieldwork was conducted in six forest districts using a replicated plot design with three thinning intensities: unmanaged (0%), moderate (10–15%), and higher (20–25%). Soil samples were collected from three depth intervals (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm) and analyzed for SOC, TN, and related properties following standardized laboratory protocols. Results showed that SOC and TN concentrations decreased consistently with depth across all treatments. While higher thinning intensity was associated with modest reductions in subsoil SOC and TN, the overall stocks to 30 cm depth did not differ significantly between managed and control plots. The data suggest that brown forest soils (Cambisols) exhibit strong resilience to moderate thinning, likely due to conservative harvesting practices, stable canopy structure, and the retention of organic inputs. These findings highlight that moderate-intensity thinning, as applied under Bulgarian forestry regulations, can be compatible with the preservation of soil carbon and nitrogen pools. The study emphasizes the importance of site-specific management and long-term monitoring to ensure soil sustainability under changing climatic and land-use conditions.