Sredna Gora Bulgaria

 This Bulgarian bio-region covers the territory of the Sredna Gora Mountains, with total area of 5990 km², a length of 285 km, and a width of 50 km. The population of the region is 121 440.

The Sredna Gora Mountains are situated in the central part of Bulgaria between the Balkan Range and the Thracian Plain. The highest peak is Mt. Bogdan, at 1604 m. It is parallel to the Balkan Mountains. The Sredna Gora Range is divided into three parts by the rivers Topolnica and Stryama: the Western (so-called Ihtimanska), where the Municipality of Ihtiman is located; the Middle (so-called Real), with the Municipalities of Panagurishte, Strelcha I Karlovo; and the Eastern (Sarnena), with the Municipality of Brezovo.

The climate is mid-continental. Winter temperatures are between -1 and +1 С.; summer temperatures in the lower area are about 20 С, and about 16 С in higher parts. Snow cover remains 1-2 months. With its forests of oak and beech and numerous caves and hot springs, the region was inhabited by humans as early as the 5th Millennium BC. The Thracians left a hoard of gold treasure at Panagurishte, and the Romans a crop of ruins at Hissarya. The pilot Bulgarian bioregion “Sredna gora” consists of six municipalities with the following characteristics:

Municipalities	Municipal. center	Inhabitants	Territory ha	Forest territory ha %	Agriculture territory ha
Panagurishte	21 000	30 240	59 800	28 000 46.7 %	24 200 (40.4 %)
Strelcha	4 900	5 800	22 400	8 500 38 %	12 900 57 %
Hissar	8 900	15 200	54 900	25 000 37 %	33 000 40%
Brezovo	1 900	8 000	46 500	21 000/ 45 %	23 200 49 %
Karlovo	29 000	62 200	1 09 000	51 200 47 %	45 700 44 %
Ihtiman	13 700	19 500	51 600	26 500 51%	19 500 38%
Total	79 400	140 940	3 44 200	153 400 44%	158 500 46 %

 

The region is environmentally clean, with well developed agro and forest activities. It is not rich in ores and minerals and far from natural gas distribution pipelines. Electricity, oil for the industrial sector and coal and wood for heating in residential sector are the main fuels used. The region is rich in biomass waste, which is not used efficiently. Only in one municipality, Ihtiman, has a biomass 3 MW heating plant based on chips been established. Two PV plants (about 2 MW) were established recently.

 

The forest management is carried out by five forest administrations that cover five territories with the following characteristics:

 

LMA -Local management administration	Total territory ha	Industrial territory ha	Wood stock m³х1000	Annual growth m³/ha	Annual use m³
LMA (Strelcha and Panagurishte)	41 600	36 100	4 040	2.70	40 000
LMA (Hissar)	20 800	7 500	1 117	2.87	17 700
LMA(“Chekeritsa” Brezovo)	22 286	14 400	3 414	2.56	43 500
LMA (Karlovo)	25 614	20 790	2 957	3.04	40 500
LMA (Ihtiman)	26 500	23 900	3 871	3.0	48 000
Total	136 800	102 690	15 399	-	189 700

 

The state owns 79% of the territory of the region, followed by municipal property, 13%. The share of private property is negligible.

 

 

Theoretical Energy Potential in the Region

 

Afforested area	Wood mass	Annual growth	Average growth per 1 hа	Energy potential 50%	Energy potential	Energy equivalent 50% humidity
ha	thousands of m3	m3	m3	m3	t	MWh
102 690	11 528	290 666	2.85	146 333	117 000	292 500

 

Technical energy biomass potential (based on logging)

 

LMA--Local management administration	brushwood m3	branches m3	Wood for heating m3	Total wood m3
LMA (Strelcha and Panagurishte)	800	3 299	21 076	25 175
LMA (Hissarya)	239	2 188	6 298	8 725
LMA(“Chekeritsa” Brezovo)	246	4 530	14 740	19 516
LMA (Karlovo)	450	6500	21 602	28 552
LMA (Ihtiman)	530	7 800	25 500	33 830
Total	2 265	24 317	89 216	115 798

 

Total biomass is assessed at 115 798 m³ , or 92 638 tons, with an energy equivalent of 230 GWh (78% of the theoretical potential).