Team of the Regional Environment and Water Inspection – Plovdiv carried out a thorough inspection in the “Red Wall” reserve and its surroundings after receiving a tip from a citizen. The received report claims that in the “Red Wall” reserve, around it and in the area of the “Bezovo” hut, there are many diseased and withered trees, dry wood mass and noise, which prevent the use of tourist trails and are a prerequisite for forest fires.
The employees of RIOSV – Plovdiv have visited all available hiking trails in the area indicated in the signal: “Bezovo” hut – Bezovo peak; “Bezovo” hut – “Stariya bunar” area – Bezovo peak – “Gonda voda” area. These routes are part of Trail No. 5 – one of the eleven approved pedestrian tourist eco-trails passing through the reserve. The experts’ conclusion is that the trails are in good condition for mountain hiking. They found the presence of fallen leaf mass mainly in the sections passing through beech forest, which is normal for this forest ecosystem. In some places on the paths, there are single dry branches and fallen trees, but they do not hinder the normal passage of tourists along them.
With regard to the concerns about fires expressed in the report, the ecoinspection informs that, in order to protect the territory from fire disasters, RISV – Plovdiv annually prepares a fire prevention plan, agreed with RSPBZN – Asenovgrad, equips and maintains fire prevention depots in working order. During the fire season, the control and security of the reserve is strengthened in order to provide timely notification and take immediate action in the event of a fire.
Red Wall Reserve is exclusive state property. It is managed and managed by RIOSV – Plovdiv. The area indicated in the alert does not fall within the boundaries of the reserve. These are forest territories managed according to the Law on Forests by the structures of the Ministry of Agriculture. They fall into the “Rhodope – Middle” protected area of the “Natura 2000” network.
RISV – Plovdiv recalls that in order to protect the valuable plant and animal species and their habitats, the preservation of the landscapes, ecosystems and genetic diversity located in the reserve, it is prohibited to divert visitors and enter it, pollution with domestic and other waste, picking, collecting, uprooting and any other damage to plant species, disturbing animals, lighting fires and bivouacing.
A number of prohibitions are also provided for in the Order for the declaration of the “Rhodope – Middle” protected area bordering the reserve. Motor vehicle racing off existing roads and designated areas, movement of motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs and buggies off existing roads in non-urbanized areas, removal of landscape features, and much more are not permitted there. As a measure to achieve the conservation goals of the protected area, sustainable forest management is also promoted in it by preserving the biotope trees and a sufficient amount of dead wood in the forest ecosystems.
