Long-term changes of surface water in water bodies near Mala Planina as an Ecosystem Service

Abstract

The main aim is to investigate long-term changes of surface water bodies, located in a
close proximity to Mala Planina as an ecosystem service. The studied basins are Aldomirovtsi Marsh
and Bistritsa Dam. Long-term changes in surface water are crucial for the functioning of ecosystems
and their healthy state. The basis is a global study, dealing with mapping of global surface water
and its long-term changes, applied to a local scale. Changes in global surface water at 30-metre
resolution for the past 32 years are quantified and the indicators taken into account are: water
occurrence, water occurrence change intensity, water seasonality, annual water recurrence, water
transitions and maximum water extent. The habitat ecosystem service, provided by Aldomirovtsi
Marsh, is at present, although a decrease of the surface waters is observed. Bistritsa Dam’s surface
waters are more permanent, providing fish and development as a place of tourist and recreation
character.