Forest Ecosystems in Bulgaria Under Environmental Change—Carbon Sequestration Potential and Vulnerability Zones

Mountain forests fulfil multiple functions, including the provision of goods as timber, fuelwood, non-wood forest products, and services as regulation of flows, purification of air and water, carbon storage, protection from natural hazards, and provision of cultural services. The role of mountain forest to provide a wide range of ecosystem services is increasingly acknowledged especially in the context of environmental changes in a social aspect. Currently, there is a strong scientific interest to what extent the potential of mountain forests to store carbon could be enhanced under global environmental changes. The aim of this study is to analyse the carbon sequestration of mountain forests from different vegetation zones in Bulgaria under realistic and pessimistic scenarios of climate change using LPJ-GUESS Ecosystem Model and to define tendencies in their vulnerability and adaptive potential. The general trends are presented and vulnerability zones are defined for forest mountainous territories of Bulgaria.