Natural heritage: Provision of cultural ecosystem services from the Malyovitsa Range of the Rila National Park

Nature-based tourism and recreation are attracting attention today as the most favourable form of direct connection between people nature, a very successful tool to motivate protect their natural heritage. This study aims develop test methodology assess potential an acknowledged heritage site in Bulgaria - Malyovitsa Range Urdini Cirque ‘Rila’ National Park provide cultural ecosystem services. A holistic approach is applied, using landscapes main territorial unit, source information. For purpose practicing representative types mountain tourism: ‘mountain hiking’, ‘nature education’ tourism, ‘ski touring’ ‘mountaineering’ total 15 services were assessed based on 25 biophysical social indicators. ‘Primary forest moraine materials’ with mugo pine igneous rocks’ receive highest score. Based results obtained, assessment mainstream activity access hiking provided by was carried out two touristic routes high deliver this service identified. The directed towards responsible parties support conservation Rila through sustainable management (recreational) research conducted within scientific programme project “Conceptualization, Flexible Methodology, Pilot Geospatial Platform for Access Bulgarian Natural Heritage European Digital Single Market Knowledge Information Services” BG05M2OP001-1.001-0001 Establishment Development “Heritage BG” Centre Excellence (Operational Program “Science Education Intelligent Growth”, priority Axis 1 “Research technological development”).