For Special Protection Areas (SPA),
Proposed Sites for Community Importance (pSCI),
Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and
for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. SITE IDENTIFICATION
• 2. SITE LOCATION
• 3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
• 4. SITE DESCRIPTION
• 5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS
• 6. SITE MANAGEMENT
• 7. MAP OF THE SITE

1. SITE IDENTIFICATION

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1.1 Type

A

1.2 Site code

BG0002017

1.3 Site name

Kompleks Belenski ostrovi

1.4 First Compilation date

2005-10

1.5 Update date

2015-07

1.6 Respondent:

Name/Organisation:	Ministry of Environment and Water, “National Nature Protection Service” Directorate
Address:	Sofia  22    Sofia    1000  Kn. Maria Luiza Blvd.
Email:	natura2000@moew.government.bg

1.7 Site indication and designation / classification dates

Date site classified as SPA:	2007-03
National legal reference of SPA designation	Site classified as SPA by Council of Ministers Decision No. 122/02.03.2007 (promulgated SG 21/2007).

Explanation(s):

Site classified as SPA by Council of Ministers Decision No. 122/02.03.2007 (promulgated SG 21/2007). Issued designation order by the Minister of Environment and Water with prohibitions and restrictions on activities contradicting the conservation objectives of the site – Order No. RD – 82/12.02.2008 (promulgated SG 26/2008).

2. SITE LOCATION

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:	25.191389
Latitude:	43.666389

2.2 Area [ha]

7009.7716

2.3 Marine area [%]

0.0000

2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):

No information provided

2.5 Administrative region code and name

NUTS level 2 code	Region Name
BG31	Severozapaden
BG32	Severen tsentralen

2.6 Biogeographical Region(s)

Continental

(100.00 %)

3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

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3.1 Habitat types present on the site and assessment for them

No habitat types are reported for the site

3.2 Species referred to in Article 4 of Directive 2009/147/EC and listed in Annex II of Directive 92/43/EEC and site evaluation for them

Species					Population in the site						Site assessment
G	Code	Scientific Name	S	NP	T	Size		Unit	Cat.	D.qual.	A|B|C|D	A|B|C
						Min	Max				Pop.	Con.	Iso.	Glo.
B	A402	Accipiter brevipes			c	7	10	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A085	Accipiter gentilis			c	2	3	i		G	B	B	C	A
B	A086	Accipiter nisus			c	35	54	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A168	Actitis hypoleucos			c		2	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A229	Alcedo atthis			p	1	8	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A054	Anas acuta			c	1	20	i		G	B	B	C	B
B	A056	Anas clypeata			c	3	45	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A056	Anas clypeata			r	1	11	p		G	C	B	C	B
B	A052	Anas crecca			r		1	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A052	Anas crecca			c	2	300	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A052	Anas crecca			w		18	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A050	Anas penelope			c	4	40	i		G	B	B	C	B
B	A050	Anas penelope			w		3	i		G	B	B	C	B
B	A053	Anas platyrhynchos			p	16	30	p		G	B	A	C	B
B	A053	Anas platyrhynchos			w	15	781	i		G	B	A	C	B
B	A053	Anas platyrhynchos			c	256	3000	i		G	B	A	C	B
B	A055	Anas querquedula			r	15	26	p		G	C	B	C	B
B	A055	Anas querquedula			c	57	57	i		G	C	B	C	B
B	A051	Anas strepera			c	14	14	i		G	C	A	C	C
B	A051	Anas strepera			r	15	26	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A041	Anser albifrons			c	80	1000	i		G	C	A	C	C
B	A041	Anser albifrons			w	91	10608	i		M	C	A	C	C
B	A043	Anser anser			r	3	7	p		G	A	A	C	A
B	A043	Anser anser			w		44	i		G	B	A	C	A
B	A043	Anser anser			c	104	428	i		G	A	A	C	A
B	A091	Aquila chrysaetos			c		1	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A090	Aquila clanga			c		1	i		G	B	B	C	C
B	A090	Aquila clanga			w		1	i		G	B	B	C	C
B	A089	Aquila pomarina			r	2	2	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A089	Aquila pomarina			c	41	65	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A028	Ardea cinerea			w		1	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A028	Ardea cinerea			r	25	36	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A028	Ardea cinerea			c	1	8	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A029	Ardea purpurea			c				P	DD	B	B	C	B
B	A029	Ardea purpurea			r	2	9	p		G	B	B	C	B
B	A024	Ardeola ralloides			r	15	35	p		G	B	B	C	A
B	A024	Ardeola ralloides			c				P	DD	B	B	C	A
B	A059	Aythya ferina			w		70	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A059	Aythya ferina			r	25	55	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A059	Aythya ferina			c	3	15	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A061	Aythya fuligula			c	14	80	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A061	Aythya fuligula			w	77	77	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A061	Aythya fuligula			r		1	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A062	Aythya marila			c		3	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A060	Aythya nyroca			r	12	34	p		G	B	A	C	A
B	A021	Botaurus stellaris			p	1	1	p		G	B	A	C	A
B	A067	Bucephala clangula			w		3	i		G	B	A	C	C
B	A067	Bucephala clangula			c		32	i		G	B	A	C	C
B	A087	Buteo buteo			p	1	1	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A087	Buteo buteo			c	51	128	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A087	Buteo buteo			w	1	20	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A403	Buteo rufinus			c	5	14	i		G	B	B	C	B
B	A143	Calidris canutus			c		6	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A136	Charadrius dubius			r		3	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A136	Charadrius dubius			c	2	3	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A196	Chlidonias hybridus			c	50	150	i		G	B	A	C	A
B	A196	Chlidonias hybridus			r	45	570	p		G	B	A	C	A
B	A197	Chlidonias niger			r		6	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A197	Chlidonias niger			c	100	200	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A031	Ciconia ciconia			r	5	7	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A031	Ciconia ciconia			c	5	54	i		G	C	A	C	C
B	A030	Ciconia nigra			c	344	402	i		G	C	A	C	C
B	A030	Ciconia nigra			r	1	2	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A080	Circaetus gallicus			c	6	10	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A081	Circus aeruginosus			p	1	2	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A081	Circus aeruginosus			c	189	208	i		G	B	B	C	C
B	A082	Circus cyaneus			c	1	4	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A083	Circus macrourus			c		2	i		G	B	A	C	B
B	A084	Circus pygargus			c	14	15	i		G	C	B	C	B
B	A231	Coracias garrulus			r	3	20	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A038	Cygnus cygnus			w		1	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A036	Cygnus olor			w		19	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A036	Cygnus olor			c	2	2	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A036	Cygnus olor			r	1	3	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A236	Dryocopus martius			p	2	6	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A027	Egretta alba			w		3	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A027	Egretta alba			c	3	25	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A027	Egretta alba			r	1	4	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A026	Egretta garzetta			c	7	29	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A026	Egretta garzetta			r	35	52	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A511	Falco cherrug			c	1	1	i		G	B	B	B	B
B	A511	Falco cherrug			r		1	i		G	B	B	B	B
B	A095	Falco naumanni			c		1	i		G	B	B	C	A
B	A099	Falco subbuteo			r	3	4	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A099	Falco subbuteo			c	13	42	i		G	B	A	C	A
B	A096	Falco tinnunculus			c	6	7	i		G	C	A	C	B
B	A096	Falco tinnunculus			p	1	2	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A097	Falco vespertinus			c		5	i		G	C	A	C	B
B	A125	Fulica atra			c	500	500	i		G	B	B	C	C
B	A125	Fulica atra			w		38	i		G	B	B	C	C
B	A125	Fulica atra			p	64	130	p		G	B	B	C	C
B	A154	Gallinago media			w		1	i		G	C	C	C	B
B	A123	Gallinula chloropus			c	30	30	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A123	Gallinula chloropus			p	20	34	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A002	Gavia arctica			w		1	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A001	Gavia stellata			w		2	i		G	C	A	C	C
B	A075	Haliaeetus albicilla			p	1	2	p		G	B	A	C	A
B	A075	Haliaeetus albicilla			w	6	12	i		G	B	A	C	A
B	A075	Haliaeetus albicilla			c	4	5	i		G	B	A	C	A
B	A092	Hieraaetus pennatus			c	1	1	i		G	C	A	C	A
B	A131	Himantopus himantopus			c		1	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A131	Himantopus himantopus			r	1	5	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A022	Ixobrychus minutus			r	10	30	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A338	Lanius collurio			r	10	99	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A339	Lanius minor			r	2	10	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A459	Larus cachinnans			w	1	25	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A459	Larus cachinnans			r	13	130	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A459	Larus cachinnans			c	30	122	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A182	Larus canus			w		100	i		G	B	A	C	B
B	A182	Larus canus			c	10	400	i		G	B	A	C	B
B	A180	Larus genei			c	2	5	i		G	C	A	C	C
B	A179	Larus ridibundus			r		13	p		G	B	A	C	B
B	A179	Larus ridibundus			c	256	540	i		G	B	A	C	B
B	A179	Larus ridibundus			w		41	i		G	B	A	C	B
B	A156	Limosa limosa			c		1	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A068	Mergus albellus			w		6	i		G	B	A	C	B
B	A068	Mergus albellus			c	6	18	i		G	B	A	C	B
B	A070	Mergus merganser			w		8	i		G	A	A	C	A
B	A230	Merops apiaster			r	30	30	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A230	Merops apiaster			c	180	541	i		G	C	B	C	B
B	A073	Milvus migrans			r	1	1	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A073	Milvus migrans			c	1	1	i		G	C	A	C	C
B	A160	Numenius arquata			c		1	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A023	Nycticorax nycticorax			r	18	70	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A023	Nycticorax nycticorax			c	50	50	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A094	Pandion haliaetus			c	5	7	i		G	C	B	B	C
B	A020	Pelecanus crispus			c	259	288	i		G	A	A	B	A
B	A020	Pelecanus crispus			w		67	i		G	A	A	B	A
B	A020	Pelecanus crispus			r	9	247	i		G	A	A	B	A
B	A019	Pelecanus onocrotalus			c		52	i		G	C	A	C	B
B	A072	Pernis apivorus			c	81	130	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A072	Pernis apivorus			r	1	1	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A017	Phalacrocorax carbo			c	400	5176	i		G	B	A	B	C
B	A017	Phalacrocorax carbo			r	175	375	p		G	B	A	B	C
B	A017	Phalacrocorax carbo			w	1	72	i		G	B	A	B	C
B	A393	Phalacrocorax pygmeus			c	55	238	i		G	B	B	C	B
B	A393	Phalacrocorax pygmeus			w		73	i		G	B	B	C	B
B	A393	Phalacrocorax pygmeus			r	65	75	p		G	B	B	C	B
B	A034	Platalea leucorodia			r	15	25	p		G	B	B	C	B
B	A034	Platalea leucorodia			c	3	12	i		G	B	B	C	B
B	A032	Plegadis falcinellus			c	50	50	i		G	A	B	C	A
B	A141	Pluvialis squatarola			c	2	2	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A007	Podiceps auritus			r		1	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A005	Podiceps cristatus			r	9	18	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A005	Podiceps cristatus			w		3	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A006	Podiceps grisegena			r	4	54	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A008	Podiceps nigricollis			w		2	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A008	Podiceps nigricollis			c	3	10	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A008	Podiceps nigricollis			r	5	26	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A249	Riparia riparia			r	100	100	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A195	Sterna albifrons			c		70	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A195	Sterna albifrons			r		8	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A193	Sterna hirundo			r	2	50	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A193	Sterna hirundo			c	1	100	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A307	Sylvia nisoria			r	10	25	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A004	Tachybaptus ruficollis			w		10	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A004	Tachybaptus ruficollis			r	5	15	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A397	Tadorna ferruginea			c	1	1	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A165	Tringa ochropus			c	8	8	i		G	B	B	C	B
B	A165	Tringa ochropus			r	2	4	p		G	B	B	C	B
B	A162	Tringa totanus			c		2	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A162	Tringa totanus			w		4	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A142	Vanellus vanellus			c	18	200	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A142	Vanellus vanellus			r	2	28	p		G	C	B	C	C

• Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, I = Invertebrates, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
• S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
• NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
• Type: p = permanent, r = reproducing, c = concentration, w = wintering (for plant and non-migratory species use permanent)
• Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the Standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting (see reference portal)
• Abundance categories (Cat.): C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present - to fill if data are deficient (DD) or in addition to population size information
• Data quality: G = 'Good' (e.g. based on surveys); M = 'Moderate' (e.g. based on partial data with some extrapolation); P = 'Poor' (e.g. rough estimation); VP = 'Very poor' (use this category only, if not even a rough estimation of the population size can be made, in this case the fields for population size can remain empty, but the field "Abundance categories" has to be filled in)

3.3 Other important species of flora and fauna (optional)

Species					Population in the site				Motivation
Group	CODE	Scientific Name	S	NP	Size		Unit	Cat.	Species Annex		Other categories
					Min	Max		C|R|V|P	IV	V	A	B	C	D
B	A363	Carduelis chloris			5	5	p						X
B	A377	Emberiza cirlus			5	5	p						X
B	A269	Erithacus rubecula			5	5	p						X
B	A359	Fringilla coelebs			55	55	p						X
B	A251	Hirundo rustica			5	5	p						X
B	A271	Luscinia megarhynchos			55	55	p						X
B	A329	Parus caeruleus			5	5	p						X
B	A235	Picus viridis			1	1	p						X
B	A210	Streptopelia turtur						P					X
B	A283	Turdus merula			5	5	p						X
B	A285	Turdus philomelos			5	5	p						X

• Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, Fu = Fungi, I = Invertebrates, L = Lichens, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
• CODE: for Birds, Annex IV and V species the code as provided in the reference portal should be used in addition to the scientific name
• S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
• NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
• Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting, (see reference portal)
• Cat.: Abundance categories: C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present
• Motivation categories: IV, V: Annex Species (Habitats Directive), A: National Red List data; B: Endemics; C: International Conventions; D: other reasons

4. SITE DESCRIPTION

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4.1 General site character

Habitat class	% Cover
N06	24.00
N07	0.00
N09	5.00
N12	28.00
N16	24.00
N20	17.00
N22	0.00
N23	2.00
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

The site includes the biggest Bulgarian Danube island, Belene, with the three freshwater marshes on its territory, surrounded by old riverine willow forests, as well as the nearby islands Milka and Kitka (Ljuta), which are entirely covered by riverine forests. The islands are located between km 576 and 560 of the Danube River, north-east of the town of Belene and 18 km west of the town of Svishtov. The prevailing habitat is natural riverine forest mainly of willow Salix sp. and White Poplar Populus alba, on the island of Milka – White Elm Ulmus laevis too. Their formation is directly related to the river’s water regime. The high waters do not allow the complete development of the spring vegetation. The water withdrawal coincides with the high summer temperatures, as a result of which lush summer vegetation covers the island. The tree – shrub vegetation has poorer composition compared with that on the riverbank of the Danube and is dominated by White Willow Salix alba and Blackberry Rubus caesius. The three marshes on the Belene island (Peschina, Murtvo and Djuleva Bara) are connected by a canal that flows into the Danube. In high spring waters the wetlands are fed by fresh water coming through the open sluice of the canal. Typical marsh associations develop in the marshes - Nuphar lutea and Potamogeton natans in the deeper sections, Nymphoides peltata, Hydroharis morsus-ranae and Òrapa natans in the shallower ones. The marshes are overgrown to a different extend with Phragmites australis, Sparganum ramosum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, etc. The formation of Azola filiculoides is quite typical for these marshes. Part of the territory of Belene island is occupied by meadows. The grass associations are represented by several plant communities that often merge, dominated by Cynodon dactylon, Scirpus michelianus, etc. In the eastern and western parts of the islands sand strips, usually without vegetation, are being formed (Ivanov 1993).

4.2 Quality and importance

The Belene Islands Complex provides mosaic of important habitats for breeding, feeding and roosting of waterbirds during all the year. It supports 141 bird species, 40 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985). Of the birds occurring there 62 species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 5 of them being listed in category SPEC 1 as globally threatened, 15 in SPEC 2 and 42 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. Until 1970 the Persina Island hold the biggest mixed colony of herons, ibises, spoonbills and cormorants along the Bulgarian part of Danube River with more than seven thousand pairs of breeding birds (Ivanov, 1985). With construction of dykes along the island and drainage system on it, as well as building the Iron Gate Dam upstream of Danube River the colony gradually disappeared. Until several years ago the Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus and Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia also used to breed in the site (Grimmett, Jones 1989), but in the recent years these species have been established only feeding in the island wetlands. Recently the complex holds significant breeding populations with international value of Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus and White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla. The marshes are one of the few breeding ground of the Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena in Bulgaria. Although in small numbers, the Corncrake Crex crex nests on the island. The Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola too occurs there on migration. The Belene Island Complex is an area regularly used by considerable numbers of Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus and Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo for feeding and roosting during breeding season, on migration and during the winter.

4.3 Threats, pressures and activities with impacts on the site

The most important impacts and activities with high effect on the site

4.4 Ownership (optional)

No information provided

4.5 Documentation (optional)

Initial proposal and description of the site made by Dr. Nikolai Petkov, Dr. Petar Iankov, Emil Todorov - Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, Bulgaria, 1111 Sofia, P.O.Box 50, phone (+359 2) 9715855, fax (+359 2) 9715856, www.bspb.org .Data revised by a team of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (http://www.bas.bg).Documents: BDZP/BirdLife Balgariya. 2005. “Nacionalna banka za ornitologichna informacia 1988-2005”, Balgarsko Druzhestvo za zastita na pticite;Botev, B. and Tz. Peshev, (eds). 1985. Red Data Book of Republic Bulgaria. 2: Animals. Sofia: Bulgarian Academy of Science. (In Bulgarian.);Iankov, P. 2002.(red.). Svetovno zastrasheni vidove ptitsi v Balgariya. Natsionalni planove za deystvie za opazvaneto im. Chast 1. BDZP-MOSV, Prirodozashtitna poreditsa, Kn. 4, Sofiya: 204-219.;Kostadinova, I. (sast.) 1997. Ornitologichno vazhni mesta v Balgariya. BDZP, Prirodozashtitna poreditsa. Kniga 1, BDZP, Sofiya, 176 s.;Kostadinova, I., S. Dereliev, 2001. Srednozimno prebroyavane na vodolyubivite ptitsi v Balgariya za perioda 1997-2001. Prirodozashtitna poreditsa na BDZP ¹3. BDZP. Sofiya.;MOSV. 2005. Arhiv na zastitenite teritorii v Balgaria. Baza danni (nepubl.);Petkov, N. 1997a. Kachulata potapnitsa (Aythya fuligula). – Za ptitsite, 2 (esen/zima), 13.;Petkov, N. 1997b. Savremenno sastoyanie na belookata potapnitsa (Aythya nyroca) v Balgariya. Diplomna rabota, Biologicheski Fakultet pri SU “Sv. Kl. Ohridski”, Sofiya, 104 s.;Petrov, .Tz. 1997b. Beliyat shtarkel (Ciconia ciconia) v Balgariya. Prirodozashtitna poreditsa, Kniga 2, BDZP, Plovdiv.;Petrov, Tz., P.Iankov, T. Michev, B. Milchev, L. Profirov. 1991. Razprostranenie, chislenost I merki za opazvane na cherniya shtarkel, Ciconia nigra (L.) v Balgariya. – Izv. Muz. Yu. Balgariya, T. 17, 25-32.;Shurulinkov, P., R. Tsonev, B. Nikolov, G. Stoyanov, L. Asenov. 2005. Ptitsite na Sredna Dunavska ravnina. Sofiya, 120 s.;BirdLife International. 2000. Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, 695pp.;Birdlife International. 2004. Birds in Europe: Population estimates, trends and conservation status. Cambridge, UK: Birdlife International (Birdlife Conservation Series No. 12).;BirdLife International. 2005. World Bird Database – Important Birds Areas.Bulgaria. Cambridge. (unpublished);Grimmet, R. F. A., R. T. A. Jones. 1989. Important Bird Areas in Europe. Cambridge, U.K.: ICBP (ICBP Technical Publication No9);Heath, M.F. and Evans, M.I., eds. 2000. Important Bird Areas in Europe: Priority sites for conservation, vol. 2 Southern Europe. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 8).;Iankov, P., N. Petkov, A. Kovachev, D. Plachiisky. (in print). Pygmy Cormorant in Bulgaria 2001/2002. Final Report.;Ivanov, B. 1979. Studies on the numbers of some aquatic birds during the winter months of 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978 in three marshes near the Danube river. Ecology, 5, 30-43.Ivanov, B. 1985. Colonial nesting birds on the island of Belene. - In: International symposium of protection of natural habitats and the Genetic Wealth Contained in Term. Blagoevgrad, 23-25 Sept. 1985, Vol.1, Sofia,BG, 296-304.Kostadinova, I. 1998. Draft Management Plan for Belene Island Complex, Bulgaria. Wetland Advisory and Training Centre, RIZA, The Netherlands 41 pp.Kostadinova, I., M. Mihailov, (comp.) 2002. Guide for NATURA 2000 in Bulgaria. BSPB nature conservation series No5. BSPB, Sofia, 80pp. (In Bulgarian.);Kostadinova, I. 2005. Application of C criteria for Identification of Important Bird Areas of European Union importance in Bulgaria. Preliminarily implementation and analysis of the gaps. – In: Petrova, A. (ed.), Current state of Bulgarian biodiversity – problems and perspectives. Pp. 533-548. Bulgarian Bioplatform, Sofia;Michev, T., Tz. Petrov, L. Profirov. 1989. Status, breeding, distribution, numbers and conservation of the White Stork in Bulgaria; Petkov, N. 1998a. Current Status of the Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) in Bulgaria. – Partimadar, 6-7, MME, Budapest, 44–49.MOEW. 1998. CORINE Biotopes Database of the sites of European Importance for the biodiversity. Bulgaria, MOSV (nepubl.);Osieck, E. 2000 Filling in the requirements of the EU Birds Directive: Lessons from the ‘Dutch Case’“. In: European IBA Workshop. 29 March - 2 April 2000, Brussels, Belgium. Proceedings. BirdLife International, 86-99;Schneider, E., D. Gunther-Diringer, 2001. Management Planning of Protected Areas within the GEF Project “Wetland Restoration and Pollution Reduction”. GEF TF 024837. Final report. Vol.1, WWF-Auen-Institut, Germany, 155pp.Waliczky, Z. 2000 “Important Bird Areas of European Union Importance: explanation of the EU Criteria applied in IBA 2000“ In: European IBA Workshop. 29 March - 2 April 2000, Brussels, Belgium. Proceedings. BirdLife International, 12-16;

Link(s):http://natura2000.moew.government.bg/Home/ProtectedSite?code=BG0002017&siteType=BirdsDirective

5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS

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5.1 Designation types at national and regional level (optional):

Code	Cover [%]
BG00	5.20
BG01	0.80
BG04	5.60
BG05	78.00
BG06	10.40

5.2 Relation of the described site with other sites (optional):

Designated at national or regional level:

Type code	Site name	Type	Cover [%]
	IBA	=	100.00
BG01	KITKA	+	0.40
BG01	MILKA	+	0.40
BG05	PERSINA	*	78.00
BG04	PERSINSKI MARSHES	+	5.60
BG06	PERSIN EAST	+	10.40

Designated at international level:

Type	Site name	Type	Cover [%]
Other	IBA	=	100.00

5.3 Site designation (optional)

The land territory of Belene Island Complex is situated in “Persina” Nature Park, designated in the year 2000. Two reserves – the islands “Milka” and “Kitka” are established in the area respectively in 1956 and 1981 to protect the unique riverine forests. The “Persina marshes” Maintained reserve with a buffer zone, as well as the “Persina iztok” Protected Area were designated in 1981 to protect the representative wetlands, with typical habitats and breeding grounds for terns, ducks and geese. In 1998 the Persina Island was appointed as CORINE Site because of its European value for habitats, rare and threatened plant and animal species, including birds. Whole the area of Belene Island complex was designated as Wetland of International Importance under The Ramsar Conventionin 2003. In 1989 the area was designated as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. The proposed SPA borders a proposed Special Protection Area in Romania.

6. SITE MANAGEMENT

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6.1 Body(ies) responsible for the site management:

Organisation:	Persina Nature Park Directorate;Regional Inspectorates of Environment and Water -Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo;Danubean River Basin Directorate;Forestry Departments - Nikopol; Svistov;
Address:
Email:

6.2 Management Plan(s):

An actual management plan does exist:

	Yes
	No, but in preparation
X	No

6.3 Conservation measures (optional)

No information provided

 

7. MAP OF THE SITE

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