baumzaehlen - Primeval Forests & Their Trees

Baiuvi dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa Strict Nature Reserve, Bulgaria

Baiuvi dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa (also Baiuvi dupki-Djindjiritsa) Reserve (29 km ² ) is a part of Pirin National Park. The reserve is also a UNESCO biosphere reserve and Pirin National Park a World Heritage site. Only a part of the reserve is virgin forest; particularly at lower elevations, signs of former human use – like some cut stumps – can be seen. Elevation ranges from 1160 m to 2821 m (Baiuvi dupki). Steep north-facing slopes predominant.

One of the main interests lies in the reserve’s (and the park’s) conifer diversity, particularly in Pinus (pines). In the European context this is high, with nine species: Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine), Pinus nigra (European black pine), Pinus peuce (Macedonian pine), Pinus heldreichii (Bosnian pine), Pinus mugo (dwarf mountain pine), Picea abies (Norway spruce), Abies alba (European silver fir), Juniperus communis (common juniper) and Taxus baccata (European yew). In places at least seven of them can be seen at a glance. P. peuce and P. heldreichii are endemic to southeast Europe; the latter is a pioneer tree whose competitiveness is even lower than that of P. nigra and P. sylvestris ¹ but it is very adaptable and can grow in very difficult sites ² . P. peuce is a stronger competitor than P. nigra and P. sylvestris (though weaker than A. alba , P. abies and Fagus sylvatica (European beech)) ¹ . Herbivore pressure is low, as can be seen from the existence of A. alba saplings and even T. baccata , which has become a rarity in Central European forests. The angiosperm diversity is comparable with other regions of southeast Europe.

A few marked trails run through the reserve.

References:

1 Mayer, H. (1986): Europäische Wälder. Gustav Fischer Verlag.

2 Morgante, M. & Vendramin, G. G. (2008): Pinus leucodermis. In Schütt, P. et al. (eds.): Lexikon der Nadelbäume . Nikol.

Official site:

http://www.pirin-np.com/

Video clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvCSuWN9pw8