Rodope Mountain, Greece Photograph by © WWF-Canon/Michel GUNTHER   Southern Europe: Bulgaria with small extensions into Greece, Macedonia, and Yugoslavia. Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests   12,200 square miles (31,600 square kilometers) -- about twice the size of Hawaii Critical/Endangered

· Hot and Cold
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Hot and Cold

In this ecoregionthe Rodope Mountain Mixed Forests, you could spend the day skiing snowy peaks, picnicking in a grassy mountain meadow, or enjoying the hot sun of the dry lowlands. This ecoregion follows the Rodope Mountain chain through Bulgaria and extends into Greece, Macedonia, and Yugoslavia. These montane forests have both broadleaf and coniferous trees in various combinations depending on altitude, latitude, soil, and climate. Habitats include alpine tundra-like meadows, pine forests, and mixed forests, along with riparian habitats. The rich variety of plants is why the ecoregion is considered a center of plant diversity and endemism.

Special Features

From peaks almost 9,850 feet (3000 m) high to lowlands in the south, this ecoregion and its neighbor—the Balkan Mixed Forest ecoregion—support more than 3,000 species of plants. At least 50 plants are endemic to this and nearby ecoregions. They include the endemic monstrum , a relic belonging to a family of plants now found mostly in the tropics. Two other species found in the higher altitudes are a Birdseye primrose (Primula farinose), and the curious shrubby violet (Viola delphinata) which that grows on Mt. Pirin and Mt. Olympus and on a few other limestone mountains farther south. A small population of horse chestnut, a tree endemic to the Balkans, is found in the eastern Balkan Mountains, but is threatened because of its popularity as an ornamental in Europe.

	Though called by different names, brown bears and grizzly bears are the same species, Ursus arctos. They care called "brown" or "grizzly" depending on the region they live in.

Wild Side

The same wide range of habitats that supports the high diversity of plants also supports a high diversity of animals. Raptors, like the amazing golden eagle, long-legged buzzards, Levant sparrowhawks, red-footed falcons, and Montagu’s harriers can be seen here, particularly because of the diverse landscape of forests, pasture, and high cliffs that provide essential habitat for hunting prey and nesting. Threatened animals include the long-nosed viper, aquatic warbler, ferruginous duck, European fire-bellied toad, and blue ground beetle. Among the birch and juniper trees (some of which are more than 130 years old), wild cats stalk small birds and mice while red deer, roe deer, and brown bears forage for seeds, fruits, and roots. At the sound of a "tap, tap, tap" heads turn to see of if it is a black woodpecker or a white-backed woodpecker making a racket. In the past this ecoregion supported more predators including lynx and wolves. The reason for their disappearance is unknown, however, much like the imperial eagle who has also disappeared from this region.

Cause for Concern

Overgrazing of livestock has already damaged large tracts of vegetation. Intensification and expansion of it continues to threaten the future of this ecoregion. Another major concern is the future status of protected areas. As Bulgaria enters a new post-communist era the economic distributions may divert resources to uses other than conservation. Other threats include industrial pollution, unsustainable natural resource exploitation, and development of land. Water diversion projects, hunting, deforestation, and increased tourism are also threats.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.