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close| Location | Bulgaria, Haskovo |
| Central coordinates | 25o 31.92' East 41o 37.50' North |
| IBA criteria | A3, B2, C6 |
| Area | 15,996 ha |
| Altitude | 159 - 867m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2005 |
Ornithological information The site is important for its assemblage of Mediterranean-restricted species, and for its high numbers of breeding Ciconia nigra, Neophron percnopterus (the best site in Bulgaria) and Bubo bubo. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aegypius monachus (1-2 pairs), Falco naumanni (3-5 pairs). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Circaetus gallicus (1-3 pairs), Aquila pomarina, Hieraaetus pennatus (1 pair).
Site description A dam in a rocky gorge of the Arda river, east of the town of Kardjali. The numerous rocky cliffs and banks are covered by sub-Mediterranean vegetation, mainly forests of Quercus with Carpinus, Fraxinus and Mediterranean tree species. Juniperus, Jasminum and Paliurus are predominant in the sclerophyllous shrubland. Dichantium and Poa predominate in the grasslands. Human activities include hunting, forestry, fishing, and extensive rearing of sheep and cattle.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Stork Ciconia nigra | breeding | 1996 | 30 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni | breeding | 1996 | 3-5 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus | breeding | 1996 | 5 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Endangered |
| Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus | resident | 1996 | 14-16 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus | resident | 1996 | 1-2 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Near Threatened |
| Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus | breeding | 1998 | 8 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo | resident | 1998 | 5-10 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus | breeding | 1996 | 5 breeding pairs | good | A3 | Least Concern |
| Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum | breeding | 1998 | 9-43 breeding pairs | good | A3, C6 | Least Concern |
| Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala | resident | 1996 | 20 breeding pairs | good | A3 | Least Concern |
| Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans | breeding | 1996 | 30 breeding pairs | good | A3 | Least Concern |
| Western Rock-nuthatch Sitta neumayer | resident | 1996 | 10 breeding pairs | good | A3 | Least Concern |
| Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica | breeding | 1996 | 10 breeding pairs | good | A3 | Least Concern |
| Blue Rock-thrush Monticola solitarius | resident | 1996 | 5-6 breeding pairs | good | B2 | Least Concern |
| Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala | breeding | 1996 | 5-15 breeding pairs | good | A3 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rodopi - Iztochni - BG0001032 | Habitats Directive | 217,353 | protected area contains site | 15,996 | |
| Studen Kladenets - BG0002013 | Birds Directive | 15,996 | is identical to site | 15,996 | |
| Valchi dol | Strict Nature Reserve | 775 | protected area contained by site | 775 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Broadleaved deciduous woodland | 57% |
| Shrubland | Heathland; Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis | 12% |
| Grassland | Steppes and dry calcareous grassland | 7% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater | 14% |
| Rocky areas | Inland cliffs | 6% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Perennial crops, orchards and groves | 4% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| forestry | 56% |
| hunting | 60% |
| agriculture | 11% |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 14% |
| water management | 12% |
Management considerations One problem is rural depopulation, which has led to a decrease in food resources (livestock carrion) for vultures in the region. A BSPB project for eastern Rhodopi mountains (the IBA is part of this region) is ongoing under the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme.
Protection status National Low International None775 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Valchi Dol, 775 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Studen Kladenets. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013
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