Nature

PAN Parks Wilderness in Central Balkan includes several large fragments of unique undisturbed beech forest in the Central Balkan Mountains. It is the first certified PAN Parks Wilderness on the Balkan Peninsula offering a sheltered habitat for all endangered iconic species typical for this part of Europe - Brown bears, wolves and vultures. A network of tourist trails guides visitors to the wild parts of Central Balkan and provides an opportunity to experience magnificent beech forests.

Flora

Central Balkan has an exceptional wealth and diversity of plants: it is a habitat of more than 2300 diverse species and sub-species of plants. There are many rare and endangered species occuring in the park: the yellow gentian, the stemless gentian, savinjuniper and edelweiss are just a few among many. The national park includes one of the most active species formation centres in Bulgaria. Sure proof of this is that there are 10 local endemic species and 2 sub-species occur in the park.
Beech forests are the dominant vegetation in the park and occupy 44% of the park’s territory. Together with the beech woods of the park’s surroundings, they form the widest and most homogenous beech areas in Europe – approximately 60,000 hectares.

Fauna

The park plays a major role in the protection of bear, wolf, imperial eagle, and white-backed woodpecker, as well as in the conservation of 8 bat species. The park is home to 211 different vertebrates species. The park also hosts rich diversity of birdlife. 123 nesting bird species breed in the park such as eagle owl, golden eagle, red-breasted flycatcher, and the white-backed woodpecker.
These include 36 species that are on global endangered species lists. Some of the species that are considered to be of high conservation importance, are the calosome beetle, the Rhodopean butterfly, and the purple emperor.

Flagship species: Golden Eagle, Brown Bear, Wolf, Chamois, Lynx