The Nature Potential of Mountains in Bulgaria and Its Sustainable Use

Abstract

Mountain territories, with their inherent various and rich nature conditions and resources, have always been the object not only of scientific but especially of economic interest. They are an object of attention also from the legal-normative point of view, as in both national and international aspects, especially regarding the possibilities for their sustainable development. The rate of their nature potential is determined as a quantitative expression of the combination of conditions and resources that are favorable for the all-around activity of society. Their importance for Bulgaria results not only from the large ratio of the area which they occupy of its whole territory—more than 40 % or even 50 %, according to their boundaries as outlined in the investigations of different authors—but also from their large nature potential. The mountains dominate the country’s ratio of mineral resources (fuel, metal, and non-metalliferous) at more than 80 %; of water resources, at more than 80 %, as well as 70 % from the storage water capacity in a total of 700 large, middle-sized, and small dams, and more than 70 % of the mineral water fields; the forest resources, more than 70 %, as well as two thirds of the plants in Bulgaria; and also considerable resources of game, wild fruits, herbs, mushrooms, etc. The mountain space of Bulgaria also contains a large ratio of the demographic settlement and economic land structures; for example, about 30 % from the population and more than 55 % from the settlements, as the number of municipalities in the mountain regions is more than 140 (from a total of 260 in Bulgaria); about 65 % from the areas for cultivation of tobacco and potatoes; more than 85 % of the meadow areas; and more than 70 % of pasture grounds in the country, etc.