baumzaehlen - Primeval Forests & Their Trees

Dzhendema Strict Nature Reserve, Bulgaria

Dzhendema (Djendema) Reserve is a part of Central Balkan National Park. The reserve is also a UNESCO biosphere reserve. It is the largest (42 km ² ) virgin forest in Bulgaria ¹ , though it is barely continuous, consisting of three main areas that are connected by narrow “necks”. It has remained untouched due to its difficult accessibility ² .

Most of the reserve is covered by almost pure Fagus sylvatica (European beech) forest. The forest is not tall, growing on steep and stony south-facing slopes. In particularly dry and hot sites, F. sylvatica is not competitive, which results in a relatively high diversity. Some trees, e.g. Crataegus spp. (hawthorns), are difficult to identify. In the lower part there are also Quercus (oak) forests, e.g. Q. dalechampii .

A few marked trails run through a small portion of the reserve. The most famous sight is the tallest waterfall in Bulgaria, Raiskoto Praskalo.

References:

1 Veen, P. et al. (2010): Virgin forests in Romania and Bulgaria: results of two national inventory projects and their implications for protection. Biodivers Conserv 19 :1805–1819.

2 /02e609d635ef9909091ef1700c7134f7/en/tentativelists/6013/

Official site:

http://visitcentralbalkan.net/en/