bulgaria's forest conservation

Research Topic:

Bulgaria’s forest conservation

• 31% of the earth is covered by forest • 34% of this is in Europe

• 35% of Bulgaria is covered by forest• One of the countries with the highest biodiversity in Europe• Added to the World Heritage List in 1983 (exp. Pirin Mountains)• Its flora encompass more than 3,800 species• 170 endemic• 150 endangered

Question

• What possible factors are affecting the forest’s plant life?

Possible Factors

• Ski resorts (Bankso)• Landscape development• Bumblebee loss – 5 to 30% during 2006-9 (pollen production)• Green House Gases (GHG)• Fires• Natural Disasters• Insects

What is the greenhouse effect?


• Any of the atmospheric gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation produced by solar warming of the Earth's surface.

• Irreversible – what we do now is vital

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

• a colourless, odourless gas produced by burning carbon, organic compounds and by respiration. It is naturally present in air and is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis.

What factors are affecting the plant life?

• Temperature• Precipitation

affect => soil draught, defoliation

Target Audience

• Decision makers– Bulgarian Government– Politicians– Forest Conservation Organizations

Description of data-set• Weather scenarios for the 21st century and their connection

to soil droughts - Alexandrov, Vladimir.

– the climate scenarios indicate that higher risks of soil drought are to be expected – increased frequency of occurrence, intensity and impact of soil droughts during the 21st century in Bulgaria.

http://meteorology.meteo.bgsoil_drought_12_ENG.pdf

Relevant data-sets • Figure 4. - GCM climate scenarios for monthly temperature and precipitation in Bulgaria

during the 2020-ies, 2050-ies and 2080-ies• Figure 5. - Climate scenarios for monthly air temperatures and precipitation in the town of

Sandanski (at Pirin Mountains), simulated by the climate models HaDCM2 and ECHAM4 for the 2025-s 2050-s and the 2100-s

• Figure 6. - Seasonal and annual climate scenarios for Sandanski, simulated by the climate models HaDCM2 and ECHAM4 for the 2025-s 2050-s and the 2100-s

Scenario – Temperature + Precipitation

• If the climate changes are in the direction of warming and drought, a considerable xerophytisation of the vegetation can be expected. The hydrophytes and some mesophytes will be strongly reduced. The vegetation will be concerned on a species and intraspecific level.

• Drier plants will survive• Water dependent on/in water plants will die out

• Endemic => endangered => extinct

Visualisation 1

C*

year

Temperature + precipitation

Visualisation 2


Visualisation 3


Conclusion

• Factors which are already in place• conservation budget• Conservation structure• Maintain temperature• Maintain precipitation

=> Conserve Bulgarian forest plant life

bulgaria's forest conservation

Environment