WATER RESOURCE BALANCE FOR VITOSHA NATURE PARK AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT UNDER CONDITIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Abstract

The “Development of Water Balance for the territory of the Vitosha Nature Park” is the first comprehensive study on the water resources of the Vitosha Mountain. Water and natural resources are under increasing pressure from climate change. In this context the emphasis is laid on the analysis of the trends in the natural and anthropogenic factors, climate change and extreme phenomena (floods and droughts), and recommendations for management. A new methodological approach to the assessment of the Water Balance has been elaborated. A simulation model is developed to assess the vulnerability of water resources. An innovative approach is applied to the development of measures for integrated management of the water and natural resources (forests, peatlands) for the purposes of the Vitosha NP and the surrounding settlements. The aim is to implement adaptive management and monitoring, under conditions of climate change, and to achieve the objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Natura 2000