Member State Activity – Bulgaria

HNV Farming in Bulgaria

Bulgaria High Nature Value Farming

The first steps towards the identification and mapping of HNV farmland in Bulgaria were taken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF) in 2007, for the purpose of offering support to the farmers in such areas through the RDP agri-environment payments. This identification was based on 13 CORINE land cover 2000 classes, combined with data on relevant Natura 2000 sites and IBAs; semi-natural grassland communities dependent on agricultural practices; sites for newts (Triturus spp.), European souslik (Spermophilus citellus), marbled polecat (Vormella peregusna) and Romanian hamster (Mesocricetus newtoni); areas with viable tortoise populations (Testudo spp) and Prime Butterfly Areas. This data was then cross-referenced with the physical blocks in the Land Parcel Identification System.

According to the existing data in Annex 5, Attachment 4 to measure 214 of the Bulgarian Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (BRDP), the area that could be classified as HNV farmland is 1,630,035 ha (32.4% of the UAA) and comprises:


High Nature Value Farming
permanent grasslands 951,256 ha
permanent crop 40,155 ha
arable land 359,611 ha
mixed use 279,013 ha

There are no further monitoring data on HNV farmland status in Bulgaria. The only available data is for the HNV farmland that is supported by agri-environmental payments. The Midterm evaluation of BRDP shows that for 2009 the supported HNV grasslands were 20,781 ha.

back to overview


European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism
Online: http://www.hnv-farming.eu/member-state-activity/bulgaria/
Date: 2024/03/29
© 2024 EFNCP – All rights reserved.