Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Gradimir GRADEV, Dimitar POPOV, Stilyana YANEVA, Irina KIROVA, Tatyana BILEVA
This paper aims to review and assess the potential ecosystem services (ESS) provided by the White Stork and its habitats in the village of Belozem. The village was described in 2005 by Green Balkans as the Bulgarian representative in the European Stork Villages Network. Gradually, stork population in the area of Belozem has increased, reaching about 60 pairs in 2023. The high number and concentration of birds provide good conditions for conducting representative ecological studies of the species and its habitats. Given that the species is characterized as farmland birds, it inhabits the following Ecosystem types - Cropland and Grassland (Agroecosystem), Sparsely vegetated land and Wetlands (Nature), as well as Rivers and lakes (Freshwater) as foraging habitats, and Urban type as a nesting site. The following key ESS provided by White Stork in the target area are identified - cultural and regulating ESS. Particularly diverse and associated with an annual stork festival, an information centre, the only ones in the country, a stork monument and park, etc. are Cultural ecosystem services provided by thе species in the area of Belozem.
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