In Bulgaria there are reserves, natural landmarks, protected sites, tended reserves and natural parks.

The first reserve -Silkosia-was founded 70 years ago in the Strandzha Mountains. There are 55 reserves in Bulgaria

The Vitosha National Park was founded on 27th October 1934. It is the first national park in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula and one of the first in Europe after the national parks in Sweden (1909) and Spain (1918). Today there are 14 national parks in Bulgaria with a common size of 431 202 hectares, three of which are with higher level of protection and the remaining 11 are less protected.

The tended reserves in Bulgaria are 35. They are less protected and allow planned intervention for the purposes of science and education.

The protected sites in Bulgaria are 142. These are regions with characteristic sceneries or endangered, rare and vulnerable plants and animals.