Complex geoecological assessment of habitat 91M0 as a natural capital for SCI “Zapadna Stara Planina i Predbalkan”

The xerothermic oak forests are one of the most exposed of the anthropogenic impact forests in Bulgaria as they are most deeply connected with traditional economic practices in the country. The aim of present study is to assess the potential of habitat 91M0 as a natural capital for the one of the biggest Natura 2000 sites in Bulgaria. This assessment can be the basis for a comprehensive study of the ecosystem services provided by this type of forest habitat. The study includes complex approach for assessment – cartographic analysis of the habitat polygons; ecological diversity and dominance coefficients of the habitat 91M0; geophysical assessment of the structure of the habitat and mathematical models for the resilience and anthropogenic pressure, all done comparatively for the site, forest and non-forest habitats and other oak habitats. Habitat 91M0 is highly fragmented scattered over the area of the SCI without connection between individual polygons. At the same time, the vertical structure and the assessment of the resilience define these forests like a very plastic and adaptive to the various environmental factors and increase their ecological and economical importance. The historical economic impact of the xerothermic oak forests is preserved until nowadays and they are a natural capital with great importance for the Natura 2000 sites.