Project “Most Important Karst Aquifer Springs” (MIKAS) and Bulgaria's participation in it

Abstract

Karst has a wide distribution, both throughout the world and in Bulgaria. The groundwater formed in it are important for providing water for the population and for the existence of a number of ecosystems. Considering the importance of karst springs, an international project "Most Important Karst Aquifer Springs" – MIKAS was started. The project aims to bring together the joint efforts of scientists from different countries in order to characterize and promote the most important springs in the respective countries. Its organization is carried out by an international Advisory Board, and National experts from the respective country are involved in its implementation. The main task is to prepare Global and National lists of karst springs representing world and national natural heritage for each country. Determining the importance of each source is carried out after applying historical, aesthetic, economic, scientific and ecological criteria. In order to unify the selection of representative springs by the experts from the different countries, the Advisory Board has proposed a methodology for preparing accompanying forms with complex information, including maps, photos, graphics and others. As a sample, two completed forms are attached to the adopted Methodology – for the Khanis spring, Iraq, proposed for inclusion in the Global List and for the Vrelo Mlave – for the National List of Serbia. In Bulgaria, it has been established that there are over 150 karst springs of regional and local importance on its territory. Part of the accepted general criteria is applicable to each of them with different weight. From these springs, after review and discussion of the existing information, it is planned to select a part of them for a more detailed evaluation and possibly their inclusion in an extended National list. The weighting of the various criteria will be determined and a summary assessment and ranking will be made based on it. On this basis, a National list will be prepared, which will include the most highly rated karst springs with the necessary illustrative material for each spring. This list will be presented to the Project Advisory Board and it will be discussed with them which of the springs could be included in the Global List.