6633 of the Ministry of Forestry on 5 December 1949 under the name Tisova Barchina to protect the largest natural habitat of Greek juniper (Juniperus excelsa) in Bulgaria.

[3] The territory of the reserve is divided into two separate sections by the southern reaches of the Kresna Gorge on the Struma River.

About 80% of the reserve's territory is covered by forests dominated by Greek juniper, a relict species that evolved in Asia Minor.

Rarer tree or large shrub species include Jerusalem thorn (Paliurus spina-christi) and prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus).

[3] There are a number of Mediterranean herbaceous plants such as Fritillaria graeca, Colchicum bivonae, Anemone pavonina, woodland tulip (Tulipa sylvestris), etc.