Blank

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

Sofia 1092, ”Diakon Ignatii” str. № 3, tel.: 92 20922; fax: 987 96 93

ENVIRONMENTAL FILE

NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA

ASSIGNED USE AND LOCATION OF NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA

ASSIGNED USE

Novo selo Training Area (NSTA) is a Bulgarian military training facility established in 1962 .Near NSTA is the village of Mokren.It is predominantly used for training infantry, tank and artillery units for the purposes of country`s defense.

Since 2004 joint training exercises of Bulgarian and American units have been conducted there.

LOCATION OF NSTA

ASSESSMENT OF THE EXISTING CONDITIONS

Novo Selo Training Area is approximately 144 square kilometers and is situated 70 km from the port city of Burgas. The installation is designated and is used since 1962 and now, according to the Agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Bulgaria and the United States, joint training exercises of the armies of both countries have been held.

Now a military base for supporting a population of about 2500 soldiers is under construction.

Before 1962 the area of NSTA included the small village Novo Selo, woodlands and pastures. In 1961- 1962 the land was transferred to the Ministry of Defense and the population of the village Novo Selo went to the near village of Mokren. An administrative building, storages and fuel station are built at NSTA.

The lands of the Sliven Region have been populated since ancient times, and evidence from these ancient times are the archaeological foundings. Thracians have left cultural landmarks in almost all of the settlements in the region.

Archaeological research of the Thracian culture started in the 20^th century, especially after World War ІІ , mainly in Southern Bulgaria. As a result of intensive excavation works in the 1960s and 1970s of 20^th century, a number of Thracian tombs and sanctuaries were discovered. More significant among them are the tomb of Sveshtari, the tomb of Kazanlak, Perperikon, the tomb of Aleksandrovo. Ancient settlements and remnants from the Thracian, Ottoman and Byzantine culture are common throughout the country, among them the Karanovo site is one of the biggest in Europe.

The Register of Historic and Archaeological resources lists more than 40 000 historic sites and monuments, 11 000 of which are classified as of nation wide importance.

Cultural resources are managed under the Law on Cultural Monuments and Museums, which defines cultural monuments as immovable and movable authentic material evidence of human presence and activity and for the process in nature, which has scientific and/ or cultural value and public importance.

Information on this area is reportedly limited, as the site was not accessible for a historic/archaeological survey in the past 50 years.

Based on information on historical and cultural resources at the site by the National Institute for Cultural Monuments in Sofia, remnants of a late antique fortress is located at the northern edge of the NSTA. The exact location is not known. The antique fortress and its surrounding area are registered in the National Register of Historic and Archaeological Resources as a monument of local importance. A variety of archaeological monuments have been located within 5 km to the east from the NSTA. According to the specialists from the Historical Museum in Sliven (the competent authority regarding local archaeological resources such as ancient roads, mounts etc.) there are no other archeological monuments at NSTA.

There are several opportunities for cultural and educational tourism. Activities such as speleological (cave) tourism, mountaineering, paraplaning in Blue Stones Nature Park, exploring rock phenomena and caves and visiting the protected nature areas are just a few of the many recreational opportunities.

North from NSTA, between Zheravna village and Kotel town there are two ethnographic complexes. The nearest town of Kotel is also among the „100 Tourist sites of Bulgaria”.Natural Science Museum in Kotel, the Architecture and Ethnography Reserve „The house of Yordan Yovkov” are in the program list sites of cultural and historical significance and is supported by the Bulgarian government.

PROTECTED AREAS, PROTECTED ZONES (SPECIAL AREAS OF CONSERVATION ) AND LOCATION

Terrain of NSTA falls within five protected zones, refer to Article 6 of the Biological Diversity Act and one protected area, refer to Protected Areas Act.

Blue Stones Natural Park is a protected area.

Protected zones are:

BG 0000164 „Sinite Kamani”

BG 0000196 „Reka Mochuritsa”

BG 0000139 „Luda Kamchiya”

BG 0000420 „Grebenets”

BG 0002058 „Sinite kamani - Grebenets”

Protected zones:

BG 0000164 „Sinite Kamani”

BG 0000196 „Reka Mochuritsa”

BG 0000139 „Luda Kamchiya”

BG 0000420 „Grebenets”