Flora

Rila encompasses some of the most secluded forest ecosystems, virtually sheltered from human impact. About 95% of these are natural forests averaging 90 years in age. The park is among the most significant and resilient sanctuaries for mountain flora and fauna in Europe. The park is home to rare plant species, some of which cannot be found anywhere else, and supports the largest high-mountain population of hamster and chamois. It hosts 105 relics and a large number of native plant species. Given the high number of relics, the park also has the status of being a world center of new species development

Fauna

Rila National Park’s fauna is extremely rich, comprising 2934 species of invertebrate organisms and 172 species of vertebrates, most of which form numerous, healthy, and viable populations. Rila has some of the healthiest and most viable populations of predator birds in Europe. The park is home to the largest Bulgarian populations of Balkan chamois, capercaillia, hazel hens and rock partridges, Tengmalm’s owls and little owls, and martens, as well as the largest high mountain population of souslik.

Flagship species: Brown Bear, wolf, Balkan Chamois, Capercaillie

Rila National Park was certified in 2005. The park proved excellence in wilderness protection and showed great achievements in the below fields.*


Habitat management
• PAN Parks Wilderness area was created (25 500 hectares)
• a revised map of PAN Parks Wilderness area was prepared
• the policy of zero intervention in PAN Parks Wilderness area due to sanitary logging is in force and will be included in the 2011

Management Plan
• the park is adopting more economical methods for boundary signs

Synergy between conservation of natural values and sustainable tourism
• visitor preferences and satisfaction analysis was conducted
• Rila Monastery Nature Park was involved in the Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy preparation process
• language training was organised for some rangers as part of a local initiative
• owners of abandoned buildings were identified and proposal for the ultimate removal and rehabilitation was submitted to the Ministry
• Draft Visitor Management Plan was prepared
• Local PAN Parks Group was set up and is operational
• Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy was finalised and adopted
• local PAN Parks quality standard was developed
• 6 local PAN Parks business partners were certified

*It is not easy to separate activities of regular park management and activities accomplished because of PAN Parks requirements. The list of the above activities includes mostly activities accomplished as a result of the PAN Parks process.