Sredna Gora Bulgaria

 This Bulgarian bio-region covers the territory of the Sredna Gora Mountains, with total area of 5990 km², a length of 285 km, and a width of 50 km. The population of the region is 121 440.

The Sredna Gora Mountains are situated in the central part of Bulgaria between the Balkan Range and the Thracian Plain. The highest peak is Mt. Bogdan, at 1604 m. It is parallel to the Balkan Mountains. The Sredna Gora Range is divided into three parts by the rivers Topolnica and Stryama: the Western (so-called Ihtimanska), where the Municipality of Ihtiman is located; the Middle (so-called Real), with the Municipalities of Panagurishte, Strelcha I Karlovo; and the Eastern (Sarnena), with the Municipality of Brezovo.

The climate is mid-continental. Winter temperatures are between -1 and +1 С.; summer temperatures in the lower area are about 20 С, and about 16 С in higher parts. Snow cover remains 1-2 months. With its forests of oak and beech and numerous caves and hot springs, the region was inhabited by humans as early as the 5th Millennium BC. The Thracians left a hoard of gold treasure at Panagurishte, and the Romans a crop of ruins at Hissarya. The pilot Bulgarian bioregion “Sredna gora” consists of six municipalities with the following characteristics:

Municipalities

Municipal. center

Inhabitants

Territory

ha

Forest territory

ha

%

Agriculture territory

ha

Panagurishte

21 000

30 240

59 800

28 000

46.7 %

24 200

(40.4 %)

Strelcha

4 900

5 800

22 400

8 500

38 %

12 900

57 %

Hissar

8 900

15 200

54 900

25 000

37 %

33 000

40%

Brezovo

1 900

8 000

46 500

21 000/

45 %

23 200

49 %

Karlovo

29 000

62 200

1 09 000

51 200

47 %

45 700

44 %

Ihtiman

13 700

19 500

51 600

26 500

51%

19 500

38%

Total

79 400

140 940

3 44 200

153 400

44%

158 500

46 %

 

The region is environmentally clean, with well developed agro and forest activities. It is not rich in ores and minerals and far from natural gas distribution pipelines. Electricity, oil for the industrial sector and coal and wood for heating in residential sector are the main fuels used. The region is rich in biomass waste, which is not used efficiently. Only in one municipality, Ihtiman, has a biomass 3 MW heating plant based on chips been established. Two PV plants (about 2 MW) were established recently.

 

The forest management is carried out by five forest administrations that cover five territories with the following characteristics:

 

LMA -Local management

administration

Total territory

ha

Industrial territory

ha

Wood stock

m³х1000

Annual growth m³/ha

Annual use

LMA (Strelcha and Panagurishte)

41 600

36 100

4 040

2.70

40 000

LMA (Hissar)

20 800

7 500

1 117

2.87

17 700

LMA(“Chekeritsa”

Brezovo)

22 286

14 400

3 414

2.56

43 500

LMA (Karlovo)

25 614

20 790

2 957

3.04

40 500

LMA (Ihtiman)

26 500

23 900

3 871

3.0

48 000

Total

136 800

102 690

15 399

-

189 700

 

The state owns 79% of the territory of the region, followed by municipal property, 13%. The share of private property is negligible.

 

 

Theoretical Energy Potential in the Region

 

Afforested area

Wood mass

Annual growth

Average growth per 1 hа

Energy potential 50%

Energy potential

Energy equivalent 50% humidity

ha

thousands of m3

m3

m3

m3

t

MWh

102 690

11 528

290 666

2.85

146 333

117 000

292 500

 

Technical energy biomass potential (based on logging)

 

LMA--Local management

administration

brushwood

m3

branches

m3

Wood for heating

m3

Total wood

m3

LMA (Strelcha and Panagurishte)

800

3 299

21 076

25 175

LMA (Hissarya)

239

2 188

6 298

8 725

LMA(“Chekeritsa”

Brezovo)

246

4 530

14 740

19 516

LMA (Karlovo)

450

6500

21 602

28 552

LMA (Ihtiman)

530

7 800

25 500

33 830

Total

2 265

24 317

89 216

115 798

 

Total biomass is assessed at 115 798 m3 , or 92 638 tons, with an energy equivalent of 230 GWh (78% of the theoretical potential).