PLANTS WITH PROTECTION STATUTE, ENDEMITES AND RELICTS OF PRESLAVSKA MOUNTAIN PROTECTED AREA

The study of species with protection statute, endemites and relicts of Preslavska Mountain Protected area, is performed for the first time. The total number of species with conservation status established by us is 44 (6.23% of the total number of species). One of those species is included in Appendix II of Directive 92/43/EEC. Thirteen of the species are included in CITES. Sixteen species are included in the IUCN Red List of Bulgaria under the following categories: endangered - 7, vulnerable - 4, nearly threatened - 3 and least concerned - 2 species. In the Red Book of Bulgaria there are 4 endangered species and 8 are rare plants. In the Biological Diversity Act, 13 species are included in Appendix 3 and further 21 species - in Appendix 4. The species with highest conservation value are 13 in number. Six species (0.85%) are endemites. These are 2 Bulgarian endemites and 4 Balkan endemites. The flora of the protected area includes a significant number of relict species - 34 (4.82%): 33 species are Tertiary relicts and one species is a Quaternary relict. The largest number of species of protection statute, endemites and relicts, confirms the importance of Preslavska Mountain as a protected site included in the European network of protected areas Natura 2000.