A methodological framework for mapping and assessment of ecosystem services provided by the natural heritage in Bulgaria

Abstract

Natural heritage (NH) includes natural features that can be described as outstanding universal value at a national level. It refers to the importance of ecosystems, biodiversity, and geodiversity for their existence value, and the ecosystems can be considered as the spatial units for its mapping and assessment. The ecosystem services (ES) concept provides an appropriate basis in the form of assessment and mapping methods that enable linking the state of ecosystems with human well-being. Thus, it can be used as a platform to find solutions to the problems related to the conflicts between conservation and the use of the NH. In this paper, we aim to present the process of developing a methodological framework for mapping and assessment of ecosystem services provided by the natural heritage in Bulgaria for recreation and tourism. The conceptual framework of the ecosystem-based assessment of NH in Bulgaria is based on the assumption that the generation of NH for the needs of tourism can be presented as the linkages between the natural systems and tourism in the form of ES potential, flow, and demand. The results demonstrate that the NH can be presented as a spatial phenomenon conceptualized by the flows of benefits from ecosystems to people which contribute to human well-being. The mapping and assessment procedures are fully developed for application at a national level, while for the regional and local level, few pilot studies mark some basic foundations for further development.

Mapping of ecosystems in Bulgaria for the needs of natural heritage assessment

“…The dataset about the ecosystems in Bulgaria, developed in this study, will be used as a spatial framework for the mapping and assessment of ecosystem services provided by the natural heritage at national level (Nedkov et al 2021a). Furthermore, that dataset is an important source for the delineation of spatial units for the needs of ecosystem accounting.…”

“…As a geospatial element of the socio-ecological system, NH sites are in close interrelation with the embedding ecosystems and contribute to the benefits they provide to people. Therefore, the ecosystems can be used as a spatial unit for mapping of ecosystem services provided by the NH (Nedkov et al 2021a). Maps of ES are made for a broad set of purposes and the main requirements for them are reliability, accuracy, resolution, and clarity, whose importance varies according to the mapping purpose (Jacobs et al 2017).…”

Cultural ecosystem services for development of nature-based tourism in Bulgaria

“…The role of natural heritage for the development of recreation and tourism has been studied in several publications (Popova 1993, Tengberg et al 2012, Gordon 2018, Osipova et al 2014, Georgiev 2006, Toncheva 2014, Vasileva 2018, Ihtimanski et al 2019, Nedkov et al (2014Nedkov et al ( , 2018Nedkov et al ( , 2021a, Havinga et al 2020. These studies illustrate well the link between NH and ecosystem services for recreation, health, education, sports, spiritual practices, etc.…”

“…All protected areas are also sites of national natural heritage (Nedkov et al 2021a), and some of them are included in the World Heritage List. Tourism is one of the few permitted anthropogenic activities within most protected areas.…”

Natural heritage: Provision of cultural ecosystem services from the Malyovitsa Range of the Rila National Park

“…In this study natural heritage is interpreted as "a geospatial natural element of the social-ecological system that carries material and spiritual benefits of enduring, sustainable significance for past, present and future generations" (Scientific Report 2019, Heritage BG Project: Nedkov et al, 2021a). Today, more than ever, society's concern for natural heritage is a promising topic for interdisciplinary scientific interactions and broad societal cooperation in the field of conservation policy as well as recreation and tourism.…”