Environment Minister, BAS President Present Latest Edition  of Bulgaria's Red Book of Endangered Species

Sofia, July 17 (BTA) - The latest three-volume edition of Bulgaria's Red Book of endangered species was presented here on Friday by Environment and Water Minister Ivelina Vassileva and President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Acad. Stefan Vodenicharov.

The Red Book includes 808 plant and fungus species, 287 animal species and 166 natural habitats. Over 200 scientists have contributed to the new three-volume edition.

The reason for publishing a new Red Book is due to the many changes that have taken place, such as urbanization, transport, a much more active lifestyle, as well as the fact that they all have a significant impact on biodiversity, said the Red Book's lead author Acad. Vassil Golemanski. The threatened species are listed according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's new criteria.

The Red Book also has an electronic edition with multimedia applications, a photo gallery and maps.

The use of natural resources has drastically increased in the last 50 years and the environmental situation on the planet has been deteriorating continuously since 1970, while the biological diversity has decreased by 28 per cent, Minister Vassileva quoted a report by the World Wide Fund for Nature. She added that these processes are also taking place in Bulgaria, although not at the same pace.

Vassileva recalled Bulgaria's unique biological diversity, noting that this country's network of nature reserves ranks it behind Finland and Norway. She further said that OP Environment 2007-2013's budget for the biodiversity priority axis was 202 million leva. A total of 79 projects are being implemented in the sector, 19 of which have already reached completion. A total of 198 million leva are provided for the 2014-2020 period for activities related to the protection of biodiversity.

Bulgaria is among the first countries in Europe to publish its own national Red Book. In 1984-1985, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences published the first edition in two volumes - Plants and Animals. The new Red Book is published with the financial support of the Ministry of Environment and Water.