The newly introduced methodology of the Ministry of Environment and Water for mapping coastal dunes was recognized at the highest international level! The scientific article "A standard procedure for dune mapping along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast" was published in the specialized issue "Advances in Coastal Dunes" of Frontiers in Marine Science - a leading publication in Q1, the highest scientific quartile for assessing impact, quality and scientific output.

The publication confirms the modern integrated approach to mapping coastal dunes, introduced by the Ministry of Environment and Water in 2024. This approach combines photogrammetric surveys with unmanned aerial systems (UAS), geomorphological and phytocenological studies, as well as mapping of natural habitats. The results show that the scientific basis and practical application of the methodology are at a high international level. This is an important step towards more effective protection of dunes along our Black Sea coast.

The methodology provides a framework for comprehensive mapping of the four main types of dunes, according to the Black Sea Coastal Development Act (BSCDА): nascent mobile dunes, mobile (white) dunes, fixed (gray) dunes with grass vegetation, and forested dunes. The accurate representation of dunes on specialized maps is key for their long-term preservation and sustainable management.

The article is the result of the joint work of experts from the Directorate "National Nature Protection Service" at the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Bulgarian Academy of Science (BAS) and represents an important contribution to the protection of our natural wealth. The author team unites scientists from different scientific fields: Senior Asst. Prof. Dr. Eng. Bogdan Prodanov and Senior Asst. Prof. Dr. Radoslava Bekova (Institute of Oceanology - BAS, Varna), Chavdar Gusev, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Desislava Sopotlieva, and Senior Asst. Dr. Magdalena Valcheva (Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Studies – BAS), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahinora Baltakova and Prof. Dr. Rosen Tsonev (Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”), and Julian Popov, former Minister of Environment and Water.

The Ministry will continue to promote the use of scientifically sound methods and active cooperation with academia as the basis for future policies in the field of nature conservation and biodiversity.

The scientific publication is available here:

Prodanov B, Gussev C, Sopotlieva D, Valcheva M, Bekova R, Baltakova A, Tzonev R, Popov J (2025) A standard procedure for dune mapping along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast: an integrated approach combining UAS photogrammetry, geomorphological and phytocoenological surveys. Frontiers in Marine Science, 12.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1579724

Official methodology of the Ministry of Environment and Water for dune mapping (2024):

https://www.moew.government.bg/static/media/ups/tiny/file/Nature/Protected_areas/Duni/Metodika_duni.pdf