Асен Асенов

Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" · Department of Landscape Sciences and Environmental Protection

The current study aims at revealing the forest habitat diversity of Godech Municipality, according to the EUNIS habitat classification. Initial data was collected from the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Forestry Management Plans. Subsequently, 418 vegetation plots (relevés) and 3422 verification points were collected during the fieldwork...

The study is focused on the investigation of the forest habitats and the vegetation of Dragoman municipality, located in western Bulgaria. Following the Braun-Blanquet approach, 212 relev´es were collected in 2019 and 1054 field points were verified, as well. As a result, eight forest habitat types included in Directive 92/43/EEC were identified. T...

One of the most urbanized territories in Bulgaria is the Pazardzhik-Plovdiv lowland area. Therefore, with respect to the implementation of Action 5 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, we consider it is relevant to carry out a mapping of ecosystems within this part of the Upper Thracian Plain. For the purpose of the investigation, an already ap...

The investigated territory is located in the Western part of Bulgaria. The aim of the presented research is to reveal the diversity of grassland habitats in Godech Municipality. Following the Braun-Blanquet approach, 418 relevés were collected during the 2019-2020 field seasons and the grassland habitats were verified at 3422 field points, as well....

The current study aims to uncover the forest habitat diversity of Breznik Municipality, following the EUNIS Classification. Initial data was collected from the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Forestry Management Plans. Forest habitat polygons were spatially processed with the use of the ArcGIS 10.8.1 software package. Field studies were p...

The current paper represents a preliminary investigation of habitats on the territory of Godech Municipality, located in Western Bulgaria. It is based on the information, presented by the Ministry of Environment and Waters and the mapping of NATURA 2000 sites of Western Balkan Range and Forebalkan (BG0001040) and Dragoman (BG0000322). Data is proce...

The current research focuses on the investigation of shrubland vegetation in Dragoman municipality. The study is motivated by the willingness of the authors to check the shrubland habitats’ territorial extent and their importance to ecosystem processes, following the increased degree of succession over the last three decades. On the other hand, gov...

This study aims at mapping and investigating the grassland habitats, defined by Directive 92/43/EEC, on the territory of Dragoman Municipality, Bulgaria. The municipality is located in the western part of the country and is characterized by semi-mountainous terrains and temperate climate. During the fieldwork in 2019 and 2020, 212 relevés were coll...

EVALUATION OF HABITAT DIVERSITY OF MILEVSKA MOUNTAIN AND KURVAV KAMUK IN THE TERRITORY OF BULGARIA AND THEIR CONNECTION WITH THE GEOMORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ENVIRONMENT Determining the impact of habitats on the geomorphological characteristics of the environment is an innovative approach to elucidate the interrelations between modern ge...

The study discusses the problems of phytosociology and concentrates on the Braun-Blanquet approach, regarding the investigation of vegetation. Foreign papers were analyzed in order to obtain a broader perspective for the discussed problematics. An overall analysis was conducted about the impact of other scientific schools in contrast with the Braun...

The monographic publication “Biogeography and Natural Capital of Bulgaria” is dedicated to the spatio-temporal connections in the geographical distribution of living organisms, their communities and their perception as part of the natural capital of the country. The book is structured in 11 main sections and in the first an attempt is made for the...

The area of interest is located in the Eastern Rhodopes, where the winter precipitation maximum often causes floods and material damages. The aim of the presented research is to perform an assessment of flood regulation capacity of different land cover types in the basin of Krumovitsa River, one of the main tributaries of Arda River. Therefore, a d...

The current study investigates published data, concerning carbon sequestration on a global scale. The investigation is based on the use of the search engine of Nature Research Journal in order to acquire information about the studies, concerning carbon sequestration – the latter words were used as key words. Two main periods are examined, covering...

The Balkan Vegetation Database (BVD; GIVD ID: EU-00-019) is a regional database, which was established in 2014. It comprises phytosociological relevés covering various vegetation types from nine countries of the Balkan Peninsula (Albania – 153 relevés, Bosnia and Herzegovina – 1715, Bulgaria – 12,282, Greece – 465, Croatia – 69, Kosovo – 493, Monte...

The present investigation aims to uncover the landscape diversity in Dragoman Municipality, as well as the ecosystem types, which are representative for the territory. The interest towards this geographical area roots in its close proximity to the capital city of Sofia and the ongoing road works for the establishment of the "Europe" Motorway. It al...

The current study aims at examining soil organic carbon levels at the territory of Godech Municipality -one of the municipalities of Sofia Province, located in the western part of Bulgaria. The investigation includes information about some of the latest global studies, regarding soil organic carbon, including those, conducted on Bulgarian territory...

The present study focuses on the changes of ecosystems in Svoge Municipality, located to the north of the capital city of Sofia for the period 2012-2108. The investigation presents outcomes that would be easier enough to be abided by local authorities. It applies the MAES typology and uses CLC 2018. Svoge Municipality consists of 13 CORINE Land Cov...

Aim: The main aim of the current research is to investigate the connection between Hollywood movies and Bulgarian ecosystems. Materials and Methods: The main focus are Hollywood films and their budgets, as a resource for the economy, flowing from ecosystems. A semi-structured interview with a representative of Nu Boyana Films was held. Cartographic...

Agroforestry is a neglected link in the carbon storage, and the role of trees in carbon sequestration in these systems is significantly underestimated. They can be used as a tool in climate change mitigation. Moreover, they can provide subsistence farmers with unexpected benefits, such as lower erosion levels, increased habitat and landscape divers...

The main aim is to investigate long-term changes of surface water bodies, located in a close proximity to Mala Planina as an ecosystem service. The studied basins are Aldomirovtsi Marsh and Bistritsa Dam. Long-term changes in surface water are crucial for the functioning of ecosystems and their healthy state. The basis is a global study, dealing wi...

Protective forest belts are developed as a defense against dry winds and soil moisture loss and considered as natural capital nowadays. Silistra municipality's protective forest belts were investigated about their distribution, floristic composition, vegetation structure and syntaxomony. During 2018 field season 32 relevés were collected following...

BIOGEOGRAPHY (Summary) The book "Biogeography" published by the Publishing house of Sofa University "St. Kliment Ohridski" has a volume of 424 pages and is illustrated with 98 fgures and 10 tables. 322 literary sources have been used, of which 244 are in Latin and 78 are in Cyrillic alphabet. Additionally, 13 websites are appointed underline. The t...

The current paper represents an investigation of the landscape diversity of Mala Planina. The studied area is located in the western part of Bulgaria, in Western Stara Planina. It is surrounded to the north with the mountains of Chepun and Ponor, to the east with the mountains of Golema Planina and Sofyiska Planina and to the south by Sofia Valley....

The aim of the current investigation is to identify and quantify organic carbon as a supporting ecosystem/landscape service of the following soil subtypes: eutric Cambisols, CMe, albic Luvisols, LVa and rendzic Leptosols, LPk in Mala Planina. Nine soil samples were collected from typical landscapes in the mountain. Each sample weighs 500 grams, whi...

The current study investigates the development of the land cover in the mountainous territory of Mala Planina, located in the western part of Stara Planina. It focuses on cameral and terrain research in which basis is the CORINE Land Cover (CLC), initiated by the European Union. All existing databases for the country were applied (CLC 1990, 2000, 2...

The current study investigates the development of the land cover in the mountainous territory of Mala Planina, located in the western part of Stara Planina. It focuses on cameral and terrain research in which basis is the CORINE Land Cover (CLC), initiated by the European Union. All existing databases for the country were applied (CLC 1990, 2000, 2...

Abstract The research is based on the understanding that ecosystem services describe the relationship between nature and human beings and refer broadly to the benefits people can obtain from urban ecosystems and thereby linking the social and the ecological systems. The cultural services include all non-material ecosystem outputs that have symbolic...

Abstract The research is based on the understanding that ecosystem services describe the relationship between nature and human beings and refer broadly to the benefits people can obtain from urban ecosystems and thereby linking the social and the ecological systems. The cultural services include all non-material ecosystem outputs that have symbolic...

Aim: The aim is to reveal the challenges that research methodology in Biogeography faces today. Materials and methods: The interdisciplinary nature of biogeography as a synthetic science creates a prerequisite for the use of a wide range of methods that are typical of the main nature sciences-biology, geography, ecology, paleontology, physics, chem...

Abstract Aim: The main purpose of the paper is to analyze the scientific work of academician Anastas Ishirkov and to highlight his importance as a founder of biogeography in Bulgaria. Materials and methods: Using the concept of classical German geography, which includes three main sections - physical geography, anthropogeography and biogeography, a...

Aim: The main aim of the current research is to investigate the provision of ecosystem services in the western part of Mala Planina. The paper examines the cultural ecosystem services in particular. Materials and methods: The study is based on cameral and terrain research and the focus is a specific type of sport in the form a live action role-pl...

Action 5 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 calls Member States to map and assess the state of ecosystems and their services in their national territory. The aim of the study was to map ecosystems and to account their material ecosystem services, as applying The European nature information system (EUNIS) and The Common International Classifica...

The main objective of the study is an analysis of the significance of the hemeroby index as integral part of the system of landscape-environmental analysis and its applicability for purposes of monitoring landscape in mountain regions. Motive for the survey is a modern necessity of indicators reflecting the spatial and temporal variability of the l...

In the presented study of ecosystem/landscape goods and services in Rudozem and Banite municipalities, the contingent valuation method is applied by authors through a survey conducted among 121 respondents, respectively as follows: 56 respondents in Rudozem and 65 respondents in Banite. The results regarding the regulating, cultural and supporting...

This study aims to apply approaches, methods, and indicators from the theoretical framework of ecosystem services valuation to a real world, local level case study. It tests a GIS-based mapping and valuation of ecosystem services model in a typical mountain municipality in Bulgaria. Investigation results address opportunities, challenges and limita...

The concept of sustainable development appeared in 1972 at the first global conference on the environment held in Stockholm. The report of the United Nations International Commission on Environment and Development, titled “Our Common Future” (1987) and known as the Brundtland report was the first attempt to define sustainable development as able to...

The concept of sustainable development appeared in 1972 at the first global conference on the environment held in Stockholm. The report of the United Nations International Commission on Environment and Development, titled “Our Common Future” (1987) and known as the Brundtland report was the first attempt to define sustainable development as able to...

Abstract. The main aim of the current study is to differentiate and analyze types of ecosystems in Mala planina Mt. The investigation is based on the typology of the Working Group for Mapping and Assessment on Ecosystems and their Services (MAES), following Action 5 of the EU Biodiversity strategy requiring member states to map and assess the state...

The application of the philosophy or the management model for sustainable development has two main shortcomings – the condition of the global environment gets worse and the social inequalities deepen. Regardless of the integrity of UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, the manifestation of the effect of the false demarcation between ecology and de...

This study imports the Ecosystem Services concept in the economic valuation of the resources of a typical mountain municipality in Bulgaria. It applies a GIS-based approach and employs a system of methods, which include benefit transfer, market price, and contingent valuation, as well as local survey and statistical data for the following key ecosy...

The research identifies, investigates and analyses taxa of conservation significance in Mala Planina and the negative influence of invasive species in the area as a major threat to biodiversity. The study follows UN's Sustainable Development Goal 15. Cameral research, including exploration of the Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria has been d...

This study imports the Ecosystem Services concept in the economic valuation of the resources of a typical mountain municipality in Bulgaria. It applies a GIS-based approach and employs a system of methods, which include benefit transfer, market price, and contingent valuation, as well as local survey and statistical data for the following key ecosy...

The Balkan Vegetation Database (BVD; GIVD ID: EU-00-019; http://www. givd. info/ID/EU-00019) is a regional database that consists of phytosociological relevés from different vegetation types from six countries on the Balkan Peninsula (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia). Currently, it contains 9,580 relevés, an...

The main objective of the report is to analyze the current status of ecological networks in the border region of Serbia and Bulgaria, illustrate the spatial extent of future NATURA 2000 ecological network in Serbia, and indicate the potential network linkages with the already existing NATURA 2000 sites in Bulgaria. The author’s participation in the...

The presented study aims to identify and quantify organic carbon as a supporting ecosystem/landscape service of Umbrosols (UM) in Stara Planina municipalities in the eastern part of Sofia district. For this purpose descriptions and sampling were performed along the ridge of Stara Planina falling in the territory of the municipalities of Gorna Malin...

The application of the philosophy or the management model for sustainable development has two main shortcomings – the condition of the global environment gets worse and the social inequalities deepen. Regardless of the integrity of UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, the manifestation of the effect of the false demarcation between ecology and de...

Abstract The presented study aims to identify and quantify organic carbon as a supporting ecosystem/landscape service of Umbrosols (UM) in Stara Planina municipalities in the eastern part of So�a district. For this purpose descrip- tions and sampling were performed along the ridge of Stara Planina falling in the territory of the municipalities of G...

BIODIVERSITY OF RILA NATIONAL PARK The book presents the biodiversity of Rila National Park and its preservation as one of the main objectives of the new management plan for the park. The proposed hierarchical structure of biodiversity illustrates its manifestation and exploration at four levels: genetic diversity, species diversity, ecosystem dive...

Abstract Habitat diversity in mountain areas is essential for a variety of landscape taxa which are the basis of landscape planning. Habitat diversity and landscape diversity are the most important categories that reflect the functional nature of the biodiversity category. In the context of the sustainable development paradigm, the existence of mod...

The purpose of this study is to analyse and assess the potential of selected Bulgarian mountains on the basis of the concepts of natural capital and landscape multifunctionality. These concepts are essential in modern geo-spatial research in the context of the debate on sustainability and its role in avoiding problems of environmental degradation,...

The economic development has been so far dependent on the utilization of natural resources-of areas and materials-which proceeds with much higher rates than the ecosystems could restore their inherent potential. The paper deals with the "ecosystem services" evaluation and innovative economic realization as a significant step guaranteeing the future...

The present study presents new chorological information on 19 vascular plant species and subspecies for Mesta River Valley floristic region. The larger number of species and subspecies belongs to the Mediterranean and Sub-Mediterranean floristic element, followed by the Balkan one. Three species are included in the Red Data Book of the Republic of...

сен АСЕНОВ Отдел "Пейзажи и опазване на околната среда" Софийски университет "Св. Климент Охридски ", Факултет на геология и география Анотация: През лятото и есента на 2011 г. бяха проведени две проучвания на жилищаТипове са проведени в "Долна Места" BG 0000220 защитена местност. По време на теренните проучвания, в допълнение към описанието на тип...

Apresentam-se os objectivos, as tarefas e os primeiros resultados obtidos do Projecto actualmente em curso “Avaliação do impacte de fogos florestais nos recursos hídricos subterrâneos” (POCI/AGR/59180/2004). Os objectivos principais deste Projecto são estudar o impacte dos fogos nas quantidades de água envolvidas nos diversos processos do ciclo hid...