N A T I O N A L A T I O N R O G R A M

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1 N A T I O N A L A T I O N R O G R A M FOR SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT AND COMBAT AGAINST DESERTIFICATION IN BULGARIA Sofia November The NAP was developed in March 2006, validated - May 2006, latest updating - November 2007

2 National Action Program for Sustainable Land Management and Combat against Desertification in Bulgaria 2 ( ) Table of Contents List of abbreviations Introduction Part. Objectives of the sustainable development of the lands and the United Nations Conventions to Combat Desertification. Essence and approaches in the development of a National Action Program for Sustainable Land Management and Combat against Desertification. Part. Analysis of degradation and land management in Bulgaria. 1. Analysis of the state of the land resources (soil, water, plant and animal). Factors determining the degradation processes. 2. Legislation, policies and strategies related to land management and combat against desertification. 3. Role, participation and responsibilities of local self-government. 4. Role, participation and responsibilities of the business organizations and associations. 5. Scientific-informational provision and international cooperation for the objectives of the sustainable land development and combat against desertification. Role of education. 6. Role, participation and responsibilities of the non-governmental organizations. Awareness and attraction of the public. 7. Role, participation and responsibilities of the owners and users of agricultural land in the process of the sustainable land management and combat against desertification. Part. Strategic objective and strategic directions of the National Action Program for Sustainable Land Management and Combat against Desertification. Strategic objectivee: Limitation of the land degradation and combat against the desertification for preservation and development of the capacity of the ecosystems, for the attainment of clean, safe and attractive environment, economic stability and improved quality of life. 2 The National Action Program for sustainable land management and combat against desertification (NAP) was developed fully within the context of the philosophy and the principles input in the Operational Program 15 of the Global Environment Fund for Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and within the framework of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), ratified by Bulgaria in It is based on the analysis of the state of the land resources and the reasons for their degradation and the social-economic particularities in the development of the country in the last 15 years. It was developed within the framework of a joint project of the Ministry of Environment and Waters (MEW), the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF) and the United Nations Development Program financed by the Global Environment Fund. 2

3 Strategic directions: I. Improvement of the national legislation and policies for sustainable land management and combat against desertification Programs: 1. Improvement and supplement of the national legal frame for sustainable land management and combat against desertification. 2. Improvement and integration of policies and strategies with regard to the sustainable land management and combat against desertification. 3. Strengthening of the institutional capacity and building up of mechanisms for coordination, communication and partnership. 4. Development of national and local programs and participation in the international processes for sustainable land management and combat against desertification. II. Preservation and improvement of the potential of the land resources and their sustainable use Programs: 1. Limitation of erosion processes. 2. Reinstatement of irrigation agriculture and preservation of water resources. 3. Sustainable use of the land resources in disadvantaged areas. 4. Ecology conformed preservation and use of waste biomass from the garniture and forestry. 5. Sustainable management of agricultural land with high natural value. 6. Application of agro-forestry systems as models for sustainable land use. 7. Reinstatement and preservation of the landscape diversity in the forest territories via application of sustainable practices. 8. New practices for reinstatement and effective use of the land resources in the impaired areas.. Science and education in support of the programs for sustainable land management and combat against desertification Programs: 1. Development and inclusion of training programs for sustainable management of the land resources at all levels of the educational system. 2. Scientific, informational and applied provision of the measures for sustainable land management. 3. Participation in international processes of exchange of knowledge,know-how and good practices for sustainable land management. V. Integration and application of policies for sustainable land management at a local level. Programs: 1. Revision and inclusion of measures for sustainable land management in the municipal development plans and programs. 3

4 2. Management and use of the land resources municipal property in compliance with the principles for sustainable land management. 3. Enhancement of the role of the municipal administrations for transfer of policies, possibilities and good practices for sustainable land management. V. Improvement of the information exchange and participation of the public in the decision-making processes for sustainable land management and combat against desertification Programs: 1. Informational provision for sustainable land management at national and local level. 2. Building up networks of non-governmental organizations in support of the sustainable land management. 3. Development and organization of public campaigns for enhancement of the awareness of the public with regard to the sustainable land management. 4. Strengthening of the capacity of the non-governmental organizations for the application of the policies for sustainable land management. 5. Encouragement of public private partnerships for the application of the measures for sustainable land management. Part IV. Resources, economic mechanisms and schemes for support of the implementation of the National Action Program for Sustainable Land Management and Combat against Desertification Part V. Monitoring/surveillance and evaluation of the implementation of the National Action Program for Sustainable Land Management and Combat against Desertification Sources of information Annexes 4

5 List of the abbreviations ESRA Executive Soil Resources Agency SAA Social Assistance Agency BAS Bulgarian Academy of Science GDP Gross Domestic Product BD Basin Directorate CD Combat against Desertification RES Renewable Energy Sources GEF Global Environment Fund UWWTP Urban Waste Water Treatment Plant SFA State Forestry Agency SB State Budget SG State Gazette EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EA Ecosystematic approach EU European Union SDA Spatial Development Act EEA Executive Environment Agency EIA Executive Irrigation Agency UAA Used Agricultural Area ISPA Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification MAF Ministry of Agriculture and Food MEE Ministry of Economy and Energy LAG Local Action Groups MES Ministry of Education and Science MoEW Ministry of Environment and Water MRDPW Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works CM Council of Ministers Ministry of Transport MLSP Ministry of Labor and Social Policy MF Ministry of Finance NEMAS National Environment Monitoring Automated System NFPS National Forestry Policy and Strategy 5

6 NTEF NIMH NAP NEAP NEDP NBADP NSI NSPRD AA NGO MDP MAFA CAP MR MPC REPRIT SPP UNDP APA EMAEP PPP REWPI RFD WB SIF SAPARD SLM HMS PHARE FAO EEF National Trust Eco Fund National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology National Action Program National Employment Action Plan National Economic Development Plan National Biological Agriculture Development Plan National Statistical Institute National Strategic Plan for Rural Development Academy of Agriculture Non-Governmental Organization Municipal Development Plan Municipal Agriculture and Forestry Administration Common Agricultural Policy of EU Mineral Resources Maximum Permissible Concentration Real estate properties, register and information technologies Small Projects Program United Nations Development Program Agricultural Purpose Areas Enterprise for Management of Actions on Environmental Protection Public Private Partnerships Regional Environment and Water Protection Inspectorate Regional Forestry Directorate World Bank Social Investment Fund Special Accession Program for Agricultural and Rural Development Sustainable Land Management Hydro-meteorological station Instrument for strengthening the administrative and the institutional capacity of the countries from Central and Eastern Europe, candidates for accession to EU United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Energy Efficiency Fund 6

7 Introduction The land resources of Bulgaria, harmoniously supplemented by favorable physical and geographical location, are the most valuable natural resource which the future of the country may be built on. The intensification in the agricultural production which is expected with the accession of our country to the European Union (EU) may result in acceleration of the degradation processes of the lands in our country (erosion, salinization, acidification, contamination of the waters, decrease of the biodiversity) to a degree which is adverse for our agriculture and for the environment. It was deemed until recently that the scientific technical progress has no limits but nowadays we get more and more convinced that the society should not risk living in damaged environment. The National Action Program (NAP) is developed in compliance with Part, Section 1, Articles 9 and 10 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The member-states of the Convention, within the framework of their Annex for application at a regional level, with rendering an account of their particularities, shall be obligated to develop National Action Programs. These action programs cover the strategies and introduce the integrated approach to the physical, biological and social-economic aspects of the desertification processes. They contain measures for combat against the land degradation, being based on existing and applied plans and programs and sub-regional and regional action programs, conformed to the national sustainable development policy. NAP is a basic instrument, through which the principles and objectives of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the sustainable land management (SLM) are transformed to specific activities and are bound to those of the administration. The objective is the creation of a functional institutional frame for its implementation. NAP has as its task the clarification of the reasons contributing to the instability in land management and combat against desertification and the determination of the practical measures for the sustainable land management and combat against desertification (CD), as well as the needed resources for the implementation of the specific actions. NAP should provide for effective participation at local, regional and national level and pre-determine wide commitment of the government, of the local communities and organizations (branch, non-governmental), the scientific community and of the individual land users and interested companies. NAP is the instrument, which will contribute to the attainment of ecological benefits and will render assistance to the overcoming of the conflicts in the policy about the land management and those amongst the key production activities. The efforts of the various institutions bound to the land management will be integrated through it and assistance will be rendered to the improvement of the national legislation concerning land management. It is a harmonious supplement and simultaneously it will have superstructuring functions in certain aspects with regard to the National Environment Strategy, the National Water Sector Development and Management Strategy, the National Forestry Strategy, the National Strategic Plan of Rural Development and the National Regional Development Strategy. 7

8 Part. Objectives of the sustainable land management and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Essence and Approached during the development of the National Action Program for Sustainable Land Management and Combat against Desertification. The objective of the Convention to Combat Desertification and the restriction of the consequences from the drought, via undertaking effective measures at all levels in combination with the agreements for international cooperation and within the framework of the integrated approach, corresponding to Agenda 21 and directed at the attainment of sustainable development in the affected areas. The objectives of the Convention and of the sustainable land management are closely bound to each other and the prerequisite for the attainment of positive results within the framework of their implementation is the integration of the measures. The unification of the objectives is a factor for greater reliability and complexity with regard to the solution of the problems of social-economic and ecological nature in Bulgaria. The planning of the sustainable land management, the implementation of which in practice covers the objectives of the Convention, is based on the eco-systematic approach (EA) whose basic characteristics are generalized as follows: EA accepts the functioning of the eco-systems as overall units they may not and should not be managed in parts; EA is focused on the protection and the preservation of the eco-systems in their integrity. Their management is successful solely if the capacity of a certain system to create variety of raw materials / products and services incessantly in time is preserved or developed, and is not concentrated onto its productivity; EA includes the people integrating the social and economic information with the ecological information about the eco-system ; EA applies cross-sector analysis with regard to the use of the land resources in a certain local context and is based on the interconnections between these sectors; EA harmonizes the additional but frequently conflicting objectives of the production activity and of the conservation of the environment; EA is scientifically justified; EA is based on the social-cultural, institutional, economic and ecological directions of the sustainable development (progress in all the directions and at various organizational levels); The results from the application of EA are designated not only for the present but for the future generations. The sustainable land management aims at the use of the slowly renewable land resources soils, waters, plants and animals for the production of raw materials / products and provision with services for the satisfaction of the permanently changing and growing up human needs via the ensuring of the long-term productive potential of these 8

9 resources and the maintenance of their productive, physiological, ecological and cultural functions. The sustainable land management is a balance between the agricultural production and the conservation of the environment and its objectives are a component of the common objective for sustainable development. An experiment is made via the sustainable land management to resolve the conflicts between the production and the preservation of the environment and to agree consensus between the demands at a local, regional, national and international level. The main question is not how to preserve the nature in its primary state but how jointly to support the functions of the land resources to the benefit of the society in a sustainable manner. The sustainable land management is built up on the five pillars of sustainability - productivity (to support or increase the services), security (to reduce the level of the production risk), protection (to preserve the natural resources and restrict their degradation), economic applicability and social acceptability. The two basic aspects of the attained results from the application of the sustainable land management are the restriction of the land global degradation and poverty alleviation. 9

10 Part. Analysis of the degradation and land management in Bulgaria. 1. Analysis of the state of the land resources (soil, water, plant and animal). Factors determining the degradation processes 1.1. Analysis of the state of the land resources The functions of land resources (soils, water, plants and animals) are mutually related and dependable. The fertile and unpolluted soil, clean and sufficient quantity of waters, well maintained pastures and meadows provide normal food conditions for plants and animals and consequently high quality plant and animal products. From plant and animal wastes, high quality organic compost is produced, which increases soil fertility. A real manifestation of this interrelation in nature is the biogeochemical cycle and the transfer of substance and energy along the chain soil plant animal - soil. The biodiversity loss is connected with both degradation processes, as well as changes in landscapes (incl. stubble burning, which destroys entomofauna and flora, and disturbs the soil microbial equilibrium), which results in loss of natural living environment for a number of plant and animal species. The improvement of the status of each of the components results in improvement of the rest and vice versa the disturbance of any of them, exerts adverse impact over the normal functioning of the rest. Therefore the needed measures are most frequently complex and result in limitation of the degradation processes of all land resources Soil resources The soil coverage in Bulgaria is characterized by a great variety owing to sufficient diversity of soil forming factors (soil forming rocks, strongly uneven relief, varied bioclimate conditions and anthropogenic activities) and has a mosaic structure. It includes 42 soil varieties, classified in 16 soil types (in conformity with data of the Soil Resources Agency (SRA)). The agricultural territories spread over thousands ha and represent 52.1% of the country territory ( thousand ha), of which 48-50% are managed as fields, 31% - as pastures, 7-8% as fallow lands, approximately 4% as perennial plants, while uncultivated land is about 8% [1,2]. The cultivated lands 3 in 2004 added up to thousand ha and were 61.2% of the used agricultural areas 4 (UAA). For comparison, the area of used lands for the time period of was about 85% of the managed land. Until 1990 it decreased to 75% and towards year 2000 it was barely 60%. The deep profile soils are of the greatest significance for the agriculture. They are located in plain and lowland areas and occupy about 53.2% of the country territory [32]. They include Chernozems, Dark Grey, Grey, Light Grey and Cinnamonic Forest Soils, Smolnitsa, part of the Alluvial Meadow Soils, Pseudopodsolic and Saline Soils. The most naturally fertile of them are the soil varieties of the type: Chernozems, Smolnitsa, Dark Grey Forest Soils, Cinnamonic Forest Soils and Alluvial and Deluvial Meadow Soils. These soils combined with the favorable climate conditions form a very good prerequisite for the growing of numbers of agriculture species. The Chernozem soils are most spread (about 21% of the total country territory) and are of the greatest significance for the agricultural production. The shallow profile and undeveloped soils (incl. Cinnamonic forest soils, Grey forest soils, Yellow Podzolic Soils, Brown Forest Soils, Dark Colored 3 Areas included in crop rotation, temporal meadows and fallow lands 4 cultivated lands, perennials, constant grassed areas, greenhouse areas 10

11 Mountain-forest and Mountain-meadow soils) occupy 39.3% of the territory of the country, while the territories covered with rocks are 7.49%. In spite of the small capacity of the soil profile, specific content and features, some of the shallow profile soils (Rendzinas, Brown Forest Soils, some Fluvisols) represent good and sometimes unique conditions for growing of certain farming crops. Forest territories were formed on approximately 40% of the soil areas in the country with total area of ha, , of which are afforested and ha are not [21]. The soil resources of Bulgaria, possessing as a whole high potential of productive, regulatory and buffering functions, were naturally and anthropogenically subjected to degradation, which adversely affected the functioning of the natural and artificial ecosystems. Degradation processes in soil resources Soil erosion (water, wind and irrigation) as area dissemination is the most serious degradation process for the country. About 65% of the managed land areas are affected by water erosion and about 24% by wind erosion. Strongly eroded are 11.8% of the country s territory. The erosion leads to: decrease of the depth of the root living layer, the food elements quantities and soil moisture reserves; exhauste of the filtering and buffering soil capacity; lowering of the soil organic matter content; loss of biodiversity; degradation of soil structure and forming of soil crust; pollution distribution and accumulation in water currents and alluvium. The mean annual intensity of the area water erosion in the farming territories varies depending on the type of land use: - from 2.69 t/ha y for pastures and 4.76 t/ha y for fields to t/ha y for perennial plants. The agricultural lands in the regions of Bourgas, Razgrad and Rousse have the highest risk of appearance of area water erosion (mean expected intensity from 12 to 15 t/ha y), followed by Dobrich, Silistra, Kardzhali, Gabrovo, Lovech and Sofia (10 12 t/ha y), Sliven, Haskovo, Targovishte, Veliko Turnovo and Varna (7 1- t/ha y) and Blagoevgrad, Pazardzhik, Smolyan, Pleven and Yambol (5 7 t/ha y) [32]. The highest relative risk of appearance of wind erosion is held by the territories in the regions of Dobrich and Pleven (60 75% of the areas), followed by Rousse, Silistra, Razdrag, Yambol, Vratsa (50 60% of the areas) and Vidin, Montana, Varna, Targovishte, Shumen, Veliko Tarnovo (40 50% of the areas). There is a risk of deflation with 11t/ha intensity for the areas in the fields of Dobrich region, in Sofia and Bourgas from 5 to 10 t/ha, and in Varna, Yambol and Sliven from 3 to 5 t/ha. The risk of irrigation erosion is negligibly small as it affects irrigated lands with slope of over 3 degrees, most of which have not been watered since The risk of irrigation erosion in case of gravity watering by furrows is the highest. In the forest territories the total areas of the erosion affected lands (classified in 5 degrees) added up to about ha as at the end of year The biggest areas affected by erosion are located in the territories of the Regional Forest Directorate (RFD) in Blagoevgrad, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Sofia and Smolyan. The highest percent of erosion affected territories have RFD in Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad, Kardjali and Smolyan. More than 25% of the territories in the forestries in Purvomay, Gotse Delchev, Breznik, Zlatograd, Slaveyno, Tsaparevo, Kirkovo, Momchilgrad and Nova Zagora were eroded to a different extent [15]. Dehumidification. The decrease of soil organic matter in cultivated lands as compared with uncultivated ones is about 10 and 40 % for the bigger part of the soils [32]. 11

12 It is mainly related to taking the surface soil layer out in consequence of water and wind erosion, oxidation of organic carbon due to high aeration in intensive cultivation and degradation of the soil structure at soil compaction. Dehumification is also related to other degradation processes and appears as a result of secondary acidification and salinization of soil. Another reason for the dehumification is the wide spread in Bulgaria stubble burning which further to loss of soil fertility, also results in loss of biological diversity. Salinization ha of cultivated lands are registered in Bulgaria as affected from salinization processes, as 252 ha are salinizated with normal soda and chlorides. These processes affect mainly the regions of Bourgas, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Pleven, Plovdiv, Sliven, Stara Zagora and Yambol. Great part of the salinizated soils are fields not cultivated due to intensely lowered soil fertility. The basic threat is the fact that the salinizated areas form spots amidst fertile soils and a risk exists of their area enlargement. The anthropogenic salinization in the urbanized territories tends to increase. About 250 ha of agricultural lands are salinizated by industry. The soils with heavy mechanic content are more vulnerable to salinization. The salinization exerts adverse impact over the plants, frequently results in soil alkalization and dehumification, thus also being a prerequisite for the development of erosive processe. Acidification. The agriculture territories with high vulnerability to acidification (ph<5.0) include soils with a territory of over ha [32]. About ha of the farming land in the plains and the semi-mountain regions and ha in the mountains are acidified [32]. Acidified soils in the agricultural areas exhibit soil acid harmful to the vegetation [11]. Recently a lasting tendency is observed of neutralizing the exchange acidity in the soils with anthropogenic acidity by the reduced application of hydrolytically acid mineral fertilizers. Under the conditions of active erosion processes and the use of acid mineral fertilizers there appears, however, a tendency to modification of the acid alkali equilibrium in the soil, due to the increase of the content of exchange hydrogen and aluminum and the strong decrease of the content of the basic elements. Soils with high risk of harmful acidity appearance in the agriculture territories are the Light Grey Forest Soils, Pseudopodzolic (Planosols according FAO Classification), the Cinnamonic Forest Soils, Lessive and Pseudopodzolic, the Yellow Podzolic Soils, the Brown Forest Soils, the Mountain-forest dark colored and Mountain meadow soils, formed in mountainous zone, non-carbon Alluvial and Deluvial Soils etc. The forest soils: Brown Forest Soils (Cambisols Dystric, Eutric), Dark colored forest soils (Umbric Cambisols), Mountain-meadow soils (Modic Cambisols), and Grey Forest Soils, lessive (Luvisols) and Cinnamonic Forest (Chromic Luvisols) are mostly genetically low to strong acid, with ph lower than 5.5 and are practically vulnerable to secondary acidification due to anthropogenic loading [15]. In all of the mountain regions of the country occur changes in the soil reaction (soil ph), which are divided in two types. Areas dominated by processes of decreasing soil ph value (acidification) are eastern part of Stara Planina (The Balkan mountain), Osogovo, Kraishte, west slopes of Rila, Vitosha, from the western part of Stara Planina Barziya, Mezdra, the mountains in Southwestern Bulgaria. Regions dominated by processes of increasing soil ph value are northern and southern slope of Sredna Stara Planina, the Rhodopes, western slopes of Rila. Secondary packing of the soil. Despite the lack of systematic observation, there are data of a tendency lasting to structural degradation of the Bulgarian soils in the agricultural lands. The negative effect of packing manifests itself in the lower soil aeration resulting in disturbance of the water-air and thermal balance, a decrease of water permeability and finally to a decrease in fertility. The packing of the soil also leads to a decrease of the 12

13 potential of the surface flow which increases the intensity of the water-erosion processes and the risk of floods. Seasonal surface over-damping. About 10 % of the farming lands are subject to seasonal surface over - damping [32]. In Bulgaria these are the heavy mellow black earth (about h ) and the Pseudopodzolic soils (about ha). Technogene pollution. The agricultural territories polluted with heavy metals and metalloids from industrial activities cover an area of h, 61.3 % f them near industrial enterprises, h of them with pollution exceeding 5 times the permissible limit values [11, 32]. The areas within the three-four km zones around the big industrial sites are the most strongly affected. About ha are polluted with natural radioactive elements from the uranium production. Almost 130 h were registered as polluted with petroleum products. After there are no registered statistically significant recently polluted areas from the operation of the industry. The values measured in 2004 were 97 % below the permissible limit values. In 85 % of the cases the concentrations of zinc and arsenic were commensurable with the background. The same is valid for the pollution with lead (over 90 % of the cases), copper (over 94 % ) and cadmium (over 97 %). In the last decade there are no registered new pollutions of soils with heavy metals and metalloids from agricultural activities. There is a tendency to limit the processes of pollution as a result of the reduced use of fertilizers and plant protection preparations and the implementation of programs for environmentally friendly agricultural and biological production. In the last 15 years a tendency is observed in the forest territories to the decrease of the soil pollution with heavy metals like copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). Exceeded permissible limit values for Cu, Pb and Zn are found only in certain regions within the scope of operation of the ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy plants, the ore output and processing. Affected lands. In Bulgaria the areas affected by mining and the disposal of industrial waste are about 0,29 % f the country territory, those affected by industry and energy production 0,59 %, and 1,86 % are the physically destroyed soils for the construction of the transportation networks systems (road, air, navigation, etc.) [6]. The area of the urbanized territories is 3,14 % of the country territory, and that of the recreation zones - 0,44 %. A negative detail is the fact that there are farming lands first category among the physically destroyed ones, which, of course, should not be allowed in the future Water resources The water resources of Bulgaria are limited and unevenly distributed over the country territory. The reserves of water resources per one resident per year (2376 m 3 ), are two times less than those for Central Europe. The districts of Varna and Razgrad are the poorest in water resources. In the districts of Haskovo, Plovdiv and part of Sofia about 60 % of the water potential of the country is formed. The lands richest in water resources, excluding the river Danube, are concentrated in the southern mountainous regions while in the farming areas located mainly in the plain, hilly and low mountainous lands these resources are less. Over 2000 dam lakes and 1500 water reservoirs were constructed for the regulation of the surface flow (about 21 milliard m annually). The uneven distribution of 13

14 the surface flow necessitates the use of poorly mineralized underground water which forms about % of the national water resources. The river Danube is an important factor in the water balance of the country. The annual flow of the Danube is 10 times bigger than the whole annual water flow on the country territory. Since the water resources in Bulgaria (surface and underground water) are supplemented mainly by the rain and snow falls, their flow is quite unfavorably seasonally distributed. The maximum is in spring and winter, and the minimum in the second half of the summer and the beginning of the autumn, when the need of irrigation is urgent. The average annual value of the river flow registered by the hydro-measuring stations (HMS),is about million m 3, and the area of the catchment basins covers about km 2, which is 66 % f the country territory [34]. The reconstruction of the economic sectors (including the closing of water consuming and non-profitable productions), the gradual increase of the prices of water combined with the processes of desertification maintain the tendency to a general decrease of water consumption in Bulgaria. The consumption of water from surface and underground sources in 2001 are 74 % of the total water consumption in 1998, and in ,3 %. The main water source is the surface water (the Danube, the rivers, dam lakes, lakes), while the share of the produced underground water is on the average 8,5 10 %. The absolute amounts of consumed water decrease proportionally to the decreased drawing from the resources from mln m 3 (1998 ) to mln m 3 (2001 ), with a certain increase to mln m 3 (2003 ). The industrial activities are the main consumer of these amounts, despite the reduced consumption in the course of the reconstruction of the branches (decrease of the consumed amounts in 2002 with about 10 % compared to 1998 ). The production of electric and thermal energy determines the level of water consumption in the industrial sector, with predominating amounts of cooling water (77 % on the average from the total amount of water consumed in Bulgaria). A lasting tendency of decrease of water consumption is observed in all industrial activities and productions.as a result of the reconstruction of agriculture the amount of water for irrigation considerably decreased in the By 1989 irrigation was the biggest water consumer (about %). Hydro-melioration fund was constructed large for the country scales. In the years of transition to market economy there was a collapse of irrigated farming and in 2002 the water consumed by this sector was only 3 % of the amount consumed in the country. 150 million m 3 of water, which makes 71,8 % of the amount for 1997, was used for irrigation in 2002, while in million m 3 were used, which is 77 % of the amount for 1997 The amount of agricultural wastewater for this period reduced over four times. 6 To summarize, water consumption by branches is distributed varying as follows: potable water 8 10 %; irrigation 5 35 %; industrial water supply %; hydro-energy %. Water quality. In the last few years ( ) a comparatively sustainable level of the quality of water was maintained. The average annual concentrations of heavy metals in the surface water decrease and approach the requirements to -st category water quality [11]. The average concentrations measured in 2002 for cadmium (Cd) are two times below the standard for -st category, for lead ( Pb) - 4 times, for arsenic (As ) 2,5 times, for nickel (Ni ) 10 times, etc. In certain samples an increase of the concentrations of zinc and especially copper was registered up to 7 8 times over the standard values for -st and - 5 Data from NSI including consumed water from agriculture, forestry and game reserve. 6 Data from NSI including waste water totally from agriculture, forestry and game reserve. 14

15 nd category. The contents of substances of synthetic origin (pesticides, petroleum products, cyanides, etc.), except for the petroleum products, also decrease in comparison to earlier periods. The values of the investigated 33 kinds of pesticides ( ) in the points of the monitoring network for underground water, are below the pollution thresholds. In almost all river flows under towns and villages without treatment plants for the waste water a high concentration of nitrogen compounds and phosphates are measured, especially at low water level There is a tendency of decrease of the concentrations of the biogenic elements nitrogen and phosphorus. The main factors in the formation of the nitrogen load are the rivers Iskar ( t/y), Maritsa (1600 t/y), Struma ( t/y), Kamchiya (300 t/y). Since 1998 (by data from the system monitoring) the quality of the underground water satisfies the requirements to the limit concentrations in most of the control points. Exceeded concentrations of iron and manganese are registered in some places, due to the lithologic characteristics and the presence of manganese concretions in the sediments of the water bearing g horizons and industrial activities in the past and at present. High nitrate values are still recorded in the underground water, mostly because of the nonimplementation of good agricultural practices. Places with permanent high nitrate level are located in the agricultural territories. Water pollution is due to industrial activities, household waste water (only 60 % are being treated), farming and stock-breeding, and not last investigation, production and primary processing (dressing) of mineral resources Vegetation resources Agricultural territories Specialization of agricultural production in the production of grain has historically established in Bulgaria, manifested in the dominating share of the production of grain % f the used agricultural area (UAA), which is 58 % of the arable land. The technical cultures (oleaginous and non-oleaginous) follow % of the used agricultural area (UAA), the production of vegetables 2-3 %, fruit growing and vine growing about 4%, etc. [1,2]. This structure will most probably remain in future, with certain variations, according to the market demands. In the past 15 years low technological level of cultivation of the crops has been registered non-balanced use of fertilizers, reduced amount of fertilizers (organic and mineral), reduced number of soil cultivations, inefficient fight with diseases, pests and weeds for the crops, cultivating hydrophilic cultures under poor irrigation conditions. These are prerequisites for the development of degradation processes in the vegetation resources like reduced amount of biomass, low nutritive quality and unsatisfactory market look of the production; lowered growth parameters and worse vegetation cover; vegetation diseases and pests; reduced biological variety (variety of species). Practically the yields of the main cultures depend only on the agro-climatic conditions. The pastures in Bulgaria, being 31% of the land with agricultural purpose, cover the most degraded and poorly productive areas. It could be said that the desertification in Bulgaria starts with the pastures. None or very little care is taken of them and 40 % of them are endangered by breaking or neglecting. Their botanical composition and their nutritive 15

16 value are unsatisfactory, and the yields low. The uneven grazing and the treading of the grass leads to the liquidation of the grass cover, which is a prerequisite for the development of erosion processes of the soil and for the reduction of its fertility. At the same time about 70 % of the grass communities in the country are found in the natural pastures. The grass eco-systems and the damp zones are the most vulnerable and endangered habitats in the country. About ha half-natural grass habitats in Bulgaria are important for the preservation of the biological variety. They include various types of meadows and pastures, located in the plains, the hilly parts of the country and in the mountainous regions. These are grass communities of high natural value, including 51,5% of the flora of Bulgaria. 198 types of plants in total are found in these meadows and pastures which are of a national conservation significance [6]. Forest territories By the end of 2004 the total area of the forest fund was ha, ha of which are afforested ha are forests for reconstruction and ha are not afforested, due to be afforested. The plantations with completeness up to 0,3 cover ha [21]. The composition of the forests in Bulgaria is highly varied. In the distant past a part of the coniferous forests were destroyed and were naturally replaced by broad-leaved forests. A significant change in the forest composition took place in the second half of the last century as a result of forestation with predominantly coniferous species. The forests in Bulgaria do not contribute significantly to the economic development of the country (contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) 0,5 %), but they perform ecological functions which are difficult to assess financially like regulation of the water regime of the territories, limitation of water erosion, reduction of air pollution. They also perform the important for the tourism and the population recreation functions and provide a considerable variety of raw materials and products which could directly satisfy certain needs of the and, on the other side, offer various means of living. The water regulation and soil protecting effect of the forest vegetation make it irreplaceable in the system of anti-erosion measures. It contributes to the limitation and the complete elimination of erosion, retains about 30 % of the precipitation and improves the state of the soil. The dead cover formed in the forests slowly absorbs water and transmits it to the soil additionally neutralizing the effect of intensive rains. In many regions however the vegetation has lowered water regulation and soil protection possibilities and the land is strongly eroded. Due to the disunion of the forest fund especially in the hilly and lower mountainous belt, the erosion in it is determined by the processes taking place in the surrounding farming areas. The neglected cornfields on degraded terrains and their natural grassing and forestation exert a positive effect on the limitation of the erosion. The influence of the forest fund on the decrease of the surface water flow is however poor as a result of which large water amounts continue to concentrate in the hydrographic system. The woodiness of the country is assessed as enough (about 33 %). The achieved significant improvement of the anti-erosion possibilities of the forests has a permanent and favorable effect on the limitation of the risks of erosion and floods. Of course, no deforestation should be allowed because the positive effect of the vegetation on maintaining the functions of the land resources is undisputable. 16

17 As for the healthy state of the forests, the largest share in harming the forests belongs to the abiotic factors followed by the attacks of insects and fungal pathogens. The summarized results for all ligneous species show that worsening of the state is recorded in 51,6 % of the controlled trees, no apparent tendency in 3,1 %, and improvement in 45,3 % Animal resources The state of animal resources will be discussed mainly in the context of the sustainable land management, namely the stabilization of the functions of the land resources. In the years of transition to market economy there was a negative tendency in the number of farm animals expressed in the serious reduction of the latter. In comparison with 1990 (the start of the reforms) by the end of 2004 the number of all types of animals except for the goats has decreased several times. The number of cattle has reduced 2,3 times, the number of sheep - 4,8 times, pigs - 4,6 times, birds 1,7 times. Only the number of the goats has increased 1,7 times. There is a stabilization in poultry-raising where in the past three years the number of the birds has increased but still remains less than that for The decrease of the number of animals is accompanied by a decrease in the production and the quality of production. The reasons are the worse breeding conditions, the non-balanced feeding, the difficult veterinary medical service. The contemporary selection of the animals is also more difficult, no contemporary technologies are applied in breeding and realization of the genetic potential of the animals, there is a risk of increasing the sick rate [33]. As for the representatives of the wild fauna, an important effect exerts the development of the agro-ecosystems affecting mostly the populations of the predatory animals, the rodents and the insects mainly by the use of plant protection preparations and other poisons in mass scales. The fires destroy game, entomofauna including soil microorganisms, which contribute to the formation of humus and are an important factor for the soil fertility, earth-worms, etc., with exceptionally important role in the ecological equilibrium. The sustaining of the population of a number of endangered bird species depends significantly on the state of the semi-natural grass communities of a high natural value. In connection with the increasing interest in and the increased demand of fish and fish products the problems of the quality and the amount of the fish reserves are gaining importance, the latter directly depending on the purity of the water, but they are still not under detailed discussion. The accent at present is placed on poaching Factors determining the degradation processes Natural factors Climate he territory of Bulgaria falls in two climatic zones - European continental and Continental Mediterranean. Five climatic zones are differentiated moderate continental, transition, continental-mediterranean, Black sea and mountainous. The main factor for the first three is the latitude, for the mountainous the relief, and the Black sea zone is under the influence of the Black sea (Figure 1). 17

18 Zone of moderate continental climate. It includes the Danubian hilly plain, the lower parts of the Fore-Balkan and the higher valleys in Central Western Bulgaria. The average January temperature is from 1,5 to 3,0, and the average July The maximal temperatures reach up to The annual sum of the precipitations is mm, with a minimum in February and a maximum in June; Zone of transition continental climate. It includes the whole Upper-Thracian lowlands, the lower valleys behind the Balkan Mountain, the north part of the Tundzha hilly and low-mountainous area and Eastern Stara planina (the Balkan Mountain). The average January temperature varies from 1,5 to +1, the average July 22 24, and the maximum summer temperatures reach up to 40. The annual sum of the precipitations is like that in the moderate continental zone, with better expressed minimums and maximums. Zone of continental Mediterranean climate. It includes the valleys of the rivers Struma (to the south of Kyustendil) and Mesta, the Eastern Rhodopes and the Strandzha mountain. The prevalence of winter precipitations is characteristic for this zone. Winter is mild, with average January temperature of 1 2, spring comes earlier and summer is hot with average July temperature of ; Zone of the climatic influence of the Black sea. It covers a narrow strip along the coast. The influence of the Black sea is expressed mainly in the decrease of the temperature amplitude. The average air temperature in January is 0 3, and in July The severe winter colds in this zone are less strongly expressed and the autumn temperature is higher than the spring one. The amount of the precipitations is comparatively evenly distributed in the seasons with the characteristic for the country minimums and maximums. Mountainous climatic zone. It covers the territories with altitude above 1000 m. It is characterized by lower air temperatures and considerably higher sum of the precipitations than those in the other climatic zones. This zone is of a lower importance for the country plant-growing. As a result of circulation, significantly influenced by the orography, the precipitations in Bulgaria vary from mm in the lowest parts to mm in the highest parts of the country (Figure 2). The varying of the precipitation characteristics is considerable both with time and location. The insufficient amount of the precipitations is characteristics for the climate in Bulgaria which is a prerequisite for a tendency of frequent droughts. The average annual precipitations for the Danubian plain are about 560 mm, and for the upper Thracian lowlands 540 mm. For both important agricultural regions insufficient moisture in the soils was established as well as a tendency to a dry climate. The regions of the droughts are most frequent along the Black sea coast, the Upper Thracian lowlands and the middle part of the Danubian plain. in winter this frequency increases in Eastern Dobrudzha, the Upper Thracian lowlands and the northwestern part of the Danubian plain (around Lom - Oryahovo), in spring and in summer along the Black sea coast and the Upper Thracian lowlands, and in autumn in the Upper Thracian lowlands, the Black sea coast and Northern Bulgaria [4]. The annual fluctuations of the main meteorological elements demonstrate a tendency to warming, accompanied by loss of moisture by evaporation. There exist tendencies to an increase of the winter precipitations and a decrease of the summer 18

19 precipitations in Southern Bulgaria and an increase of the summer precipitations in Northern Bulgaria [4, 34]. Fig. 1. Climatic areas in Bulgaria (source: Agronet, 2006 ) Continental Transcontinental Transitional-Mediterranean Mountainous Black Sea 19

20 Fig. 2. Spatial distribution of annual precipitations (in mm) in Bulgaria Fig. 3. Spatial distribution of precipitations (in mm) during the warm half of the year (April September) 20

21 significant potential Fig. 4. Municipalities with conditions of atmospheric drought during the warm half of the year, in consequence of the spatial distribution of the precipitations during this time period The climatic factors contributing to the development of the degradation processes inn the land resources of Bulgaria include: The sum of the precipitations in the warm half of the year (April - September) is below 300 mm; it is insufficient and complicates the country agricultural production, the most endangered being the districts in south-eastern Bulgaria, Eastern Dobrudzha and the valley of the river Struma (Figures 3 and 4); The intensive rainfalls a prerequisite for the further development of the erosion processes. In the months from April to October on the territory of the country annually fall on the average 70 intensive rainfalls [34]. Almost 14 % of the intensive rainfalls are erosion. The average annual number of the erosion rainfalls in different parts of the country is from 2 to 10. The erosion index of the rainfalls (USLE-EI 30 ) is in the interval MJ mm/ha h for 51.2 % of the country territory and exceeds 1000 MJ mm/ha h for 12.3 % of it (Figure 5)[13, 32]; The value of the erosion index of the winds (WEQ-C) is 3-4 for 23 % f the country territory and over 5 for 15 % of it (Figure 6)[10, 32]. 21

22 Figure 5. Distribution on the territory of Bulgaria per classes of rain erosion Figure 6. Distribution on the territory of Bulgaria per classes of wind erosion Most climatic scenarios [4] for Bulgaria for the next decades expect warming and reduction of the annual precipitation amounts. It is foreseen that the winter precipitations in Bulgaria will be increased by the end of this century but the precipitation in the warm part of the year, especially in summer, are expected to decrease significantly. The reduction of the precipitation sums will lead to a change in the water resources. It is expected that the river flow will decrease down to %, according to the most pessimistic scenarios.[4]. The high air temperatures in combination with the precipitation deficiency will lead to higher values of transpiration and evapo-transpiration. All this will heighten the risk of all types of desertification atmospheric, soil, soil-atmospheric, hydrologic. In the recent years we have witnessed a tendency to an increase of the frequency of natural calamities, including floods and droughts. Desertification was and will be a part of the climatic cycle on the Balkan peninsula, including Bulgaria. Therefore we cannot expect yields good in amount and quality if we do not restore irrigation in the country.. Other adverse impacts are connected with the higher risk of dry winds as a result of warming, the reduction of the precipitations and the change in their occurrence (more intensive precipitations, combined with longer dry periods). As it is well known, the dry winds cause the fast drying of the upper soil layer, so the soil desertification increases and so does the risk of wind erosion Relief 22