Nature reserves

The Soskovcheto Reserve was declared a reserve in 1968. Its buffer zone was established in 1986. Currently a procedure has been opened, for the recategorisation of the buffer zone into a protected zone. The reserve covers an area of 177.5 ha and its buffer zone – 104.4 ha.
This protected area offers exceptional landscapes – a dense and full-bodied river network, deep river beds, rapids and waterfalls, rock formations. Centuries-old Scots pine and spruce forests are being preserved here.
There are also rare plants, threatened by extinction, such as the Balkan endemic species of lady’s mantle (Alchemilla bulgarica), the Bulgarian endemic Rhodope rock dill (Seseli rhodopaeum), saxifraga (Saxifraga ferdinandi-coburgi) – a Balkan endemic and glacial relic. The reserve also gives home to animal species such as the alpine newt, the black woodpecker and the brown bear.
The Ministry of the environment and waters is financing the building of the eco-track “The Waterfall’s Canyon” in the reserve. The natural water cascade is over 100 metres high. The company STC Perelik will make a donation of 20 ha of land to increase the reserve’s area.
 

The Kazanite Reserve is located on the land of the village of Mugla and covers an area of 161 ha. The reserve was declared in 1968 with the aim to preserve the unique natural characteristics of this beautiful area in the Rhodope Mountains as well as to preserve the centuries-old mixed forests of beech, fir, spruce, Scots pine and other trees. Some of the species included in the Red Book which can be seen here are the lady’s mantle (Alchemilla bulgarica), the Rhodope rock dill (Seseli rhodopaeum) as well as the bearberry (Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi). Typical representatives of the local fauna are the honey buzzard, the black woodpecker and the brown bear.
 

The Momchilovski Dol Managed Reserve is located on the land of the village of Momchilovtsi and covers an area of 31.1 ha. It was declared a reserve in 1968 and in 1999 was recategorised into a managed reserve. A natural centuries-old black pine forest has been put under protection.