The Natural Potential of Mountains in Bulgaria and Its Sustainable Use

Abstract

Mountain territories and their inherent various and rich natural conditions and resources, have always been the subject not only of scientific, but especially of economic interest. They are a subject of attention also from the legal-normative point of view, from both national and international aspects, especially regarding the possibilities for their sustainable development. Their natural potential is determined as a quantitative expression of the combination of conditions and resources which are favorable for the all-round activity of society. Their importance for Bulgaria results not only from their significant areal distribution in relation to the whole territory – over 40% or even 50% according to the boundaries outlined in investigations by different authors, but also from their significant natural potential. In relation to the whole territory various natural resources are predominantly found in the mountains of Bulgaria, for example: mineral resources (fuel, metal, and nonmetalliferous) – over 80%; water resources – over 80%, as well as 70% of the storage water capacity with in total 700 large, medium and small dams, and over 70% of the mineral water fields; forest resources – over 70%, as well as two-thirds of the plants growing in Bulgaria, and also considerable resources of game, wild fruits, herbs, mushrooms, etc. A significant percentage of demographic settlements and economic land structures also occur in the mountainous areas of Bulgaria, for instance: about 30% of the population and over 55% of the settlements (the number of municipalities in the mountainous regions is over 140, from in total 260 in Bulgaria); about 65% of the areas for cultivation of tobacco and potatoes; over 85% of areas under meadow, and over 70% of the pasture grounds in the country, etc. The evaluation of the natural potential of the mountains is related to the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the basic natural components (relief&texture, climate, waters, soils, flora, and fauna), and this evaluation is concerned with two aspects – resources and conditions. In this respect climatic characteristics usually represent identification of the conditions of the surroundings but their assessment as a resource, especially as a renewable one, is becoming more and more important. The total, integral natural potential is subdivided into so-called partial potentials which are specific to the corresponding economic activity for which purposes they are intended, for instance: industry-, mineral-, water-, forest-, energy-potential, building potential, recreational potential, etc. Especially important is the assessment of aspects of the partial potentials that are related to the state and tendencies of change of natural components’ characteristics under conditions of anthropogenic pressure, such as: self-clearing, regeneration, changeability, steadiness, etc. At the same time attention is paid to revealing degradation processes provoked by anthropogenic activity, by so-called physiognomic landscape components, grounding on the specific mountain landscape spectra typical for large morphographic units. On the basis of these analyses a concept is discussed for optimization of interactions in the system “Nature–Society–Economy,” with accents placed on priority economic activities with emphasis on environmental protection, in mountain territories, according to the principals of sustainable development.