Morus sp. cultivation in Natura 2000 sites: environmental constraints and considerations

Morus sp. is a versatile resource with diverse benefits; however, its cultivation may entail negative environmental impacts. Environmental legislation imposes constraints to mitigate these effects. The current study presents a three-tier classification approach to assess the severity of constraints imposed by environmental legislation on Morus sp. cultivation. The approach is tested in a case study area located in BG0000254 Besaparski vazvishenita, Bratsigovo Municipality, Bulgaria. Approximately 23.6% of this area is under strict protection, thereby prohibiting cultivation. In about 21.3% of the area, Morus sp. cultivation is feasible but most probably an Appropriate Assessment procedure will be required to ensure nonsignificant negative impact. In the remaining 56.4% of the area, notification/screening is necessary, with the likelihood of not requiring a full Appropriate Assessment procedure. Thus, despite a significant portion being under strict protection, there remains potential for Morus sp. cultivation within the study area, albeit with varying procedural complexities. Thе proposed constraints classification approach can inform land use planning, facilitating informed decision-making in site selection not only for Morus sp. but for all types of permanent crops.