Cultural ecosystem services provided by natural heritage sites in karst territories of Smolyan region, Bulgaria

Authors

Keywords:

caves, speleological tourism, recreative industries

Abstract

The karst territories are characterized by landscape aesthetics, and provide knowledge for the natural systems and their specific ecosystem servises. They are important part of the natural heritage and geodiversity. The aim of this study is to present karst territories as an element of the national natural heritage and as a source of cultural ecosystem services. The results provide a new type of knowledgefor the recreational capacity of the karst territories in Bulgaria, and in particular of the caves in district of Smolyan.

 

References:

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Author Biographies

  • Mariana Nikolova, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

    Prof. Dr Mariana Nikolova is working in the Department of Geography at the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy, and Geography at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

  • Stoyan Nedkov, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

    Stoyan Nedkov is a Professor in the Department of Geography at the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy, and Geography at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. His research area is landscape ecology and application of GIS in environmental assessment.

  • Bilyana Borisova, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"

    Dr Bilyana Borisova is an Associate Professor; Vice Dean of the Faculty of Geology and Geography at Sofia University ‘St.Kliment Ohridski’; Director of Master Degree Program ‘Landscape Ecology and Natural Capital’ at Department ofLandscape Ecology and Environmental Protection.

  • Velimira Stoyanova, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

    Dr Velimira Stoyanova works as Assistant Professor at the Department of Geography at the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy, and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

  • Radenka Mitova, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"

    Dr Radenka Mitova is Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography of Tourism at the Faculty of Geology and Geography of Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’, a specialist in landscape ecology, cultural tourism and geography ofrecreation and tourism.

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Published

2025-09-18

Issue

No. 1 (2021): Bulletin "Heritage BG" – Research Announcements

Section

Articles