Batova is a Natura 2000 protected area under the directive for the protection of wild birds. It covers the Batova River basin and most of the Frangen Plateau, including the coastline from Albena to Golden Sands and the adjacent shallow sea area. It covers an area of 38,149.5 ha.

The protected area is located north of Varna. To the north it borders the villages of Sokolnik, Odertsi, Hrabrovo, Lyahovo and Obrochishte, to the east with the Black Sea coast south of the Albena resort to Golden Sands. From Golden Sands in the southwest, the border passes north of the village of Kamenar, and the districts of Varna – Vinitsa, Vladislavovo and Aksakovo. Near the village of Izvorsko, it passes north through Novakovo and Debrene to Sokolnik.

Deciduous forests of cer, blagun and common hornbeam and cultivated areas predominate. The rest of the territory is occupied by open grassy spaces, overgrown in some places with shrub vegetation, pastures, meadows, orchards and vineyards located around the settlements.

In the area of the mouth of the Batova River is located the "Baltata" reserve, which preserves a natural longose forest and swamp and swamp water-loving plants. Longwood forest is mainly of field ash, field elm, pedunculate oak, field maple and black alder with an understory of hawthorn, common dogwood and dogwood, combined with water-loving grasses. Typical for the forest are lianas and creeping plants - povet, fiddler, humpback and others.

184 species of birds have been found in the protected area, of which 70 are included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. It is important for the protection of the little bald eagle. Medium Pied Woodpecker, White-necked Flycatcher, Green Woodpecker, Gray Bunting, Black-backed Warbler, Short-toed Lark, Great Olive Mockingbird, Hawk-billed Warbler, Garden Bunting and others are found.

The Via Pontica flyover passes through the protected area. Above the valley of the Batova river, three streams of migratory birds gather, coming from Dobrudja - from the interior of the Dobrudja plateau, those that naturally follow the coastline and the birds that at Cape Kaliakra fly directly across the sea to the protected area. From here passes the most concentrated flow of migrating storks and pelicans in North-Eastern Bulgaria. The largest number of migrating pink pelicans and cranes along the Northern Black Sea coast have been recorded in the protected area. During migration, birds of prey regularly roost in forests. Significant numbers of petrels migrate in the coastal areas.

Useful links:

Official tourist portal of Bulgaria - https://bulgariatravel.org/

Explore Bulgaria the most comprehensive catalog of sights and events - https://opoznai.bg/

Official website of the Varna Tourist Chamber - http://vct-bg.org/

Official page of the Ministry of Tourism - https://www.tourism.government.bg/

Official portal of Aksakovo Municipality - https://aksakovo.bg/

Official website of the Forestry Executive Agency - http://www.iag.bg/

Official page of the Bulgarian Tourist Union - https://www.btsbg.org/

Eco-educational platform for sustainable lifestyle and climate adaptation. https://ecohub.bg/