page_title: Bulgarka Nature Park
section_title: Flora
hierarchical_section_title: Bulgarka Nature Park / Flora
caption_attribution_description: English: Forest fruits (Daphne mezereum) in Bulgarka Nature Park Български: Горски плодове (бясно дърво) в природен парк "Българка"
context_page_description: The Bulgarka Natural Park is a Bulgarian nature park on the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains, occupying 22,000 hectares of territory in the central and eastern part of the mountains between the cities of Gabrovo and Kazanluk.
  Located between the steep topography of the Central Balkan and the significantly lower and sloping eastern part of Stara Planina, the region is characterized by significant diversity in terrain. This supports a rich diversity in flora and fauna. Further, due to the area's position in a section of the Balkans that served as a crossroads for the region for centuries, the park is home to many historic sites.
  The area’s historical and biological significance lead to the establishment of the Bulgarka Natural Park on August 9, 2002.
context_section_description: Forests cover about 80.2% of the park area, or 17,461 hectares. Varieties of beech constitute the largest portion of the forest, at 65%. Other deciduous trees include oaks, water locust, birch hornbeam, linden, elm, acacia, aspen, maple, ash, wild cherry, holly, rowan, birch and others. Coniferous trees found in the park include white and black pine, spruce, fir, white fir and others. Gymnosperm plants covers about 0.6 ha.
  This botanical uniqueness — which occurs only in this part of Bulgaria and has includes special combinations of beech, yew, and laurel — makes the park a significant conservation habitat. In Bulgarka Park, designated areas are established to promote greater habitat conservation. 
  Nearly 70% of the officially recognized medicinal plants in Bulgaria may be found in Bulgarka Park. 
  At least 360 plant species including 31 species listed as threatened or endangered, may be found in the park. This includes yew, wild ticket silivryak gesneriaceae, mountain maple, Bulgarian types of orchids, medicinal tweeter, mountain onion cytisus, mountain vetch astragalus, among other. However, as one of the youngest nature parks in Bulgaria, a full classification of all the types of flora and fauna is yet to come.
caption: Forest fruits (Daphne mezereum) in Bulgarka Nature Park
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