Note: Intro -- Preface: Sustainability of Europe's Mountains -- Contents -- Contributors -- Part I: Sustainable Policies in Mountain Regions -- Chapter 1: Mountain Development Policies in Bulgaria: Practices and Challenges -- 1.1 Analysis of the Regulatory Framework of Mountain Areas Development -- 1.2 Geographic Problems of Policy Formation for Mountain Development: The Bulgarian Experience -- 1.3 Challenges to Mountain Policy in Bulgaria -- References -- Chapter 2: Cooperation Models and Pluri-Activity to Exhaust Value-Added Potentials in Mountain Regions -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Data and Methods -- 2.3 Research Findings -- 2.4 Certification of Food Products -- 2.5 Food Quality and Quality Products -- 2.6 Logistics Cooperation -- 2.7 Discussion -- 2.7.1 Factors Favoring and Hindering Cooperation -- 2.7.2 Regional Food Cooperation Schemes: Examples from South Tyrol and Common Characteristics -- 2.8 Conclusion -- References -- Part II: Natural Resources and Ecosystem Services: Adaptation to Climate Change -- Chapter 3: Applications of GIS-Based Hydrological Models in Mountain Areas in Bulgaria for Ecosystem Services Assessment: Issues and Advantages -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.1.1 Hydrological Modeling -- 3.1.2 Mountain Ecosystems and Their Services -- 3.2 Materials and Methods -- 3.2.1 Case Study Area -- 3.2.2 Application of Hydrological Models for ES Assessments -- 3.2.3 GIS-Based Hydrological Modeling: ArcSWAT -- 3.2.4 Data Requirements and Specification: Advantages and Issues -- 3.2.4.1 Land Use, Soils, and Topography -- Land Cover/Land Use -- Soils -- Slope -- 3.2.4.2 Climate -- 3.2.5 Assessment and Visualization of ES -- 3.3 Results -- 3.4 Discussion -- 3.5 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 4: Mapping Carbon Storage Using Land Cover/Land Use Data in the Area of Beklemeto, Central Balkan -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Study Area. , 4.3 Data and Methods -- 4.4 Initial Data -- 4.5 Image Processing -- 4.6 Interpretation and Mapping -- 4.7 In Situ Measurements -- 4.8 Carbon Sequestration Modeling -- 4.9 Research Findings -- 4.10 Discussion -- 4.11 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 5: Consequences of Non-intervention Management for the Development of Subalpine Spruce Forests in Bulgaria -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Data and Methods -- 5.2.1 Study Sites -- 5.2.2 Data Collection -- 5.3 Results -- 5.3.1 Disturbance Regimes -- 5.3.2 Forest Structure -- 5.3.3 Regeneration Patterns -- 5.4 Discussion -- 5.5 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 6: Technical Climate Change Adaptation Options of the Major Ski Resorts in Bulgaria -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Data and Methods -- 6.3 Research Findings -- 6.4 Discussion -- 6.5 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 7: Hydric Significance of Landscape in a Mountain River Basin -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Data and Methods -- 7.2.1 Scoring River Basin Attributes -- 7.2.2 Weighting River Basin Attributes -- 7.2.3 Study Area -- 7.3 Research Findings -- 7.3.1 Hydric Significance -- 7.4 Discussion -- 7.5 Conclusions -- References -- Part III: Mountain Economies -- Chapter 8: Small-Scale Mountain Tourism in Bulgaria: Development Patterns and Sustainability Implications -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Research Scope and Methodology -- 8.3 Research Findings and Discussion -- 8.3.1 Tourism Potential and Local Development Context -- 8.3.2 Tourism Development Driving Forces -- 8.3.3 Current Tourism Supply and Demand Patterns -- 8.3.4 Tourism Development Patterns in Terms of Current Business Practices -- 8.3.5 Local Tourism Development Process: Sustainability Implications -- 8.4 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 9: Beyond Existing e-Tourism for Mountains: Findings from the Case of Zagori, Greece -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Study Area and Methods -- 9.2.1 Study Area. , 9.2.2 Data: Concepts and Analysis -- 9.2.2.1 Information -- 9.2.2.2 Navigation and Security -- 9.2.2.3 Visual Occlusion and Disorientation -- 9.2.2.4 Augmented Reality Plus Viewsheds Integration -- 9.3 Research Findings and Discussion -- 9.3.1 A Guide Toward Mitigating Limitations and Enhancing the Touristic Experience in Zagori -- 9.3.1.1 Information -- 9.3.1.2 Navigation and Security -- 9.3.1.3 Visual Occlusion and Disorientation -- 9.3.2 Conceptualizing the Integration of the Appropriate Elements in a Proper Architecture -- 9.4 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 10: Sustainable Tourism in Mountain Destinations: The Perceived and Actual Role of a Destination Management Organization -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 The Role of Destination Management Organizations in Terms of Sustainability -- 10.3 Data and Methods -- 10.4 Research Findings -- 10.4.1 Qualitative Expert Interviews -- 10.4.2 Quantitative Survey with Mountain DMOs -- 10.5 Discussion -- 10.6 Conclusions -- References -- Part IV: Mountain Ecology, Risks and Protected Areas -- Chapter 11: Biodiversity Protection of the Forest Ecosystems on the Base of Representative Geoecosystems -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 Materials and Methods -- 11.3 Results and Discussion -- 11.4 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 12: Predicting the Potential Distribution of Ailanthus altissima, an Invasive Terrestrial Plant Species in Măcin Mountains National Park (Romania) -- 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Study Area -- 12.3 Integrated Methodology and Data -- 12.4 Results and Discussion -- 12.5 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 13: Determination of the Landscapes Regulation Capacity and Their Role in the Prevention of Catastrophic Events: A Case Study from the Lom River Upper Valley, Bulgaria -- 13.1 Introduction -- 13.1.1 Flood-Regulating Ecosystem Services. , 13.1.2 Spatial Units for Assessment of Ecosystem (Landscape) Regulation Services -- 13.1.3 Indicators for Assessment of Ecosystem (Landscape) Flood Regulation Services -- 13.2 Materials and Methods -- 13.2.1 Study Area -- 13.2.2 Data Collection and GIS-Based Modeling -- 13.2.3 Assessment Approach -- 13.2.3.1 Flood Regulation Necessity -- 13.2.3.2 Indicators for Assessment of Landscapes Flood-Regulating Capacity -- 13.3 Results -- 13.4 Discussion -- 13.5 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 14: GIS- and RS-Based Modelling of Potential Natural Hazard Areas in Mountains. Case Study: Vlahina Mountain -- 14.1 Introduction -- 14.2 Study Area -- 14.3 Data and Methods -- 14.3.1 Soil Erosion -- 14.3.2 Landslide Susceptibility -- 14.3.3 Potential Flood Areas -- 14.3.4 Forest Fire Risk -- 14.4 Research Findings -- 14.5 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 15: Spatial Discrepancies of Ecological Networks in the Border Region of Serbia and Bulgaria -- 15.1 Introduction -- 15.2 Material and Methodology -- 15.3 Research Findings -- 15.4 Discussion -- 15.5 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 16: Invasive Plant Species in the Northern Part of Mala Planina -- 16.1 Introduction -- 16.2 Data and Methods -- 16.3 Research Findings -- 16.4 Conclusions -- References -- Part V: Population and Heritage Challenges -- Chapter 17: Monitoring Glacier Changes with the Use of Archive Images: The Example of the Julian Alps (NW Slovenia, NE Italy) -- 17.1 Introduction -- 17.2 Glaciers in the Julian Alps (SE Alps) -- 17.3 Method: Processing Archive Images -- 17.4 Results -- 17.5 Potential Use of This Method in Southeastern Europe -- 17.6 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 18: Tourism and the Commodification of Cultural Heritage in the Eastern Black Sea Mountains, Turkey -- 18.1 Introduction -- 18.2 Data and Methods -- 18.3 Research Findings. , 18.3.1 Cultural Heritage of the Yaylas in the Eastern Black Sea Region -- 18.3.2 Transhumance Culture and Rural Lifestyle -- 18.3.3 Local Music and Dance -- 18.3.4 Festivals -- 18.4 Tangible Heritage (Built Heritage) -- 18.5 The Commodification of Cultural Heritage in Yaylas -- 18.6 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 19: The Role of Cultural Heritage in the Development of Mountain Tourism: Case Study Mountain Rudnik, Serbia -- 19.1 Introduction -- 19.2 Natural Resources of Mountain Tourist Destination Rudnik -- 19.3 Cultural Heritage in the Area of Rudnik Mountain -- 19.4 The Role of Cultural Heritage in the Development of Tourism in the Case of the Mountain Destination Rudnik -- 19.5 Conclusions -- References.