Strasbourg, 24 April 2006                                                               T-PVS/Emerald (2006) 5

[T-PVS/Emerald05e_06 ]                                                                                                English only

CONVENTION ON THE conservation of EUROPEAN wildlife

and natural habitats

Group of Experts for the setting up

of the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest

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Emerald Network Pilot Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina

- Report-

1. Background

Bosnia and Herzegovina started setting up the Emerald Network in 2005 by participation in the Emerald Network Pilot Project. This project had an objective to recognize Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCI) on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to develop limited database containing both abiotic and biotic parameters for the chosen sites. According to the contract that was signed between representatives of the Council of Europe and Centre for Ecology and Natural Resources which was engaged by Federal Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning to organize and carry out required project activities, final report on the Emerald Network Pilot Project should be submitted to the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention in January 2006.

During the period of one year that was forseen for the achievement of all project tasks, activities were as follows : preparation and holding of workshop that was attended by numerous bosnian experts from different field of science and representatives of the Council of Europe, EEA and expert consultant of the Council of Europe, establishment of national expert's team, identification of habitat types in Bosnia and Herzegovina according to the Resolutions No.4 and No.6, making decision on potential ASCIs and final choice of famous endemic centre Mt. Prenj-Čvrsnica-Čabulja within whom are situated eight sites designated to be ASCIs, followed by designation of next three sites, identification of species and habitat types on these sites, filling out the software form provided by the Council of Europe and preparing of the final report on project activites and its results. Federal Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning  was informed on undertaken activities and closely co-operating with representatives of National Expert's Team.

2. Pilot Project's Framework

Emerald Network Pilot Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina was launched by signing the contract by bosnian team leader Ph.D Sulejman Redžić, on one side, and on other by  in the December 2004. Federal Ministry of the Environment and Physical Planning has named Centre for Ecology and Natural Resources (CEPRES) at the Faculty of Science in Sarajevo, whose director is Ph.D Sulejman Redžić, to be in charge for the implementation of required project's activities, taking into account its experiences gained previously through many, both national and international, projects in the field of environmental management and protection. According to the contract, CEPRES had to create national team of experts and to co-ordinate its activities, in order to finally come up with designation of 10% of total ASCIs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the arrival of  final project's phase, initial plan has been changed by the Council of Europe by extending agreed 10% of ASCIs up to 40%. Because of that, ongoing and planned activities had to be re-scheduled. About the same time, Council of Europe has proposed continuation of Pilot Project in the Second Project that should be accomplished during the year 2006 by the same co-ordinator and with following out put :

·         60% of all ecological data on ASCIs

·         Distribution maps for species and habitats in GIS

·         Digitalized boundaries of ASCIs in GIS

By the compiling this report final agreement on launching of the Second Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been signed yet.

3. National Expert's Team

Establishment of the national Expert's Team was part of preparation for the first workshop, which was held in Sarajevo on 7-8th  March 2005. Team members attended this workshop in order to get acquinted with Emerald Network's basic concept and software technicalities. Special attention by forming of the expert's team was payed to the participation of experts coming from both bosnian entities, due to the very complex and sensitive institutional structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Engaged experts were coming from  various institutes, museums, universities and management staff of some protected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Criteria applied by choice of national team experts were based on multidisciplinary approach and intention to gather the best quallified people in certain domain.

Name of team member	Description of duties	Employed at
Sulejman Redžić, Ph.D	Team leader	CEPRES, Faculty of Science, Sarajevo
Senka Barudanović, Ph.D	Vegetation expert	CEPRES, Faculty of Science, Sarajevo
Dubravka Šoljan, Ph.D	Flora expert	Faculty of Science, Sarajevo
Suvad Lelo,Ph.D	Vertebrates expert	Faculty of Science, Sarajevo
Sadbera Trožić-Borovac, Ph.D	Invertebrates expert	Faculty of Science, Sarajevo
Dražen Kotrošan, M.Sci	Ornithologist	State's Museum, Sarajevo
Rifat Škrijelj, Ph.D	Ichtyologist	Centre for Ichtyology and Fishery, Faculty of Science, Sarajevo
Edina Muratović, M.Sci	Flora expert	Faculty of Science, Sarajevo
Milenko Radović, Ph.D	Zoology expert	Faculty of Science, Banja Luka
Nada Šumatić, Ph.D	Botany expert	Faculty of Science, Banja Luka
Dragan Romčević	Vegetation expert	National Park „Kozara“
Stjepan Matić	Zoology expert	Nature Reserve „Hutovo blato“
Radenka Srndović	Physical planning expert	National Park „Sutjeska“
Sabina Trakić, ass.	Technical assistant	CEPRES, Faculty of Science, Sarajevo

Tab.1 List of national expert's team members

4. Carried out activities

4.1.Working Plan

Activities in the framework of Pilot Project were ongoing from January to December 2005, starting by signing of the contract and ending by preparation of the final report. Working plan was arranged as shown in Tab.2.

List of carried out activities during realisation of Pilot Project „Setting up of Emerald Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina“ was as follows:

1.      Building up of infrastructural system;

2.      Organization of workshop;

3.      Decision making on potential ASCIs;

4.      Analysis of existing data on potential ASCIs;

5.      Final choice of ASCIs;

6.      Gathering data on chosen ASCIs;

7.      Approximative determination of borderline for chosen ASCIs;

8.      Development of database on biotic and abiotic parameters for chosen sites;

9.      Entry of data into Emerald software;

10.  Preparing of the final report on carried out activities during Pilot Project;

11.  Submission of the report to the Council of Europe.

Tab.2 Timetable of carried out activities in the framework of Pilot Project

4.2.  Biogeographical zones in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina comprises following biogeographical zones :

                          I.      Mediterranean

                       II.      Continental

                     III.      Alpine

4.3.  Emerald species and habitat types in Bosnia and Herzegovina

      In Bosnia and Herzegovina were recognized following species covered by       

      Resolution No.6 and habitat types covered by Resolution No.4, which should be

      objective of special conservatory measures according to Recommendation No.

      4.3.1. List of Emerald species             

      PLANTS

     

      PTERIDOPHYTA

      MARSILEACEAE

      Marsilea quadrifolia L.

     

      OPHIOGLOSSACEAE

      Botrychium simplex Hitchc.

      Ophioglossum polyphyllum A. Braun

      ANGIOSPERMAE

      AMARYLLIDACEAE                                                       ORCHIDACEAE

      Narcissus angustifolius Curt.                                             Cypripedium calceolus L.

                                                                                               

     

      UMBELLIFERAE

      Eryngium alpinum L.

      VERTEBRATES

      RODENTIA

      Sciuridae

      Citellus citellus

      Castoridae

   

      

      Castor fiber

      CARNIVORA

      Canidae

      Canis lupus

      Ursidae

      Ursus arctos

      Mustelidae

      Lutra lutra

      Mustela lutreola

      Felidae

      Lynx lynx

     

      ARTIODACTYLA

      Bovidae

      Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica

  

      Birds

      PELECANIFORMES

      Phalacrocorax pygmaeus

      CICONIIFORMES

      Ardeidae

      Ardea purpurea

      Botaurus stellaris

      Egretta garzetta

      Ixobrychus minutus

      Nycticorax nycticorax

      Ciconiidae

      Ciconia ciconia

      ANSERIFORMES

      Anatidae

      Aythya nyroca

      Cygnus cygnus

      FALCONIFORMES

      Accipitridae

      Aquila chrysaetos

      Aqila heliaca

      Circus aeruginosus

      Gypaetus barbatus

      Gyps fulvus

      Haliaeetus albicilla

      Milvus milvus

      Falco naumanni

      Falco peregrinus

      Falco vespertinus

      GALLIFORMES

      Tetraonidae

      Tetrao tetrix tetrix

      GRUIFORMES

      Rallidae

      Crex crex

      Porzana parva

      Porzana porzana

      Gruidae

      Grus grus

      Otidae

      Otis tarda

      CHARADRIIFORMES

      Charadriidae

      Recurvirostra avosetta

      Laridae

      Sterna hirundo

      STRIGIFORMES

      Strigidae

      Bubo bubo

      CAPRIMULGIFORMES

      Caprimulgidae

      Caprimulgus europaeus

      PICIFORMES

      Picidae

      Dendrocopos medius

      Dryocopus martius

      Picoides tridactylus

      Picus canus

      PASSERIFORMES

      Alaudidae

      Lullua arborea

      Laniidae

      Lanius collurio

      Turdinae

      Luscinia svecica

      Reptiles

      CHELONIA

      Testudinidae

      Testudo graeca

      Testudo hermanni

      Emys orbicularis

      OPHIDIA

      Colubridae

      Elaphe quatuorlineata

      Viperidae

      Vipera ursinii

      

      Amphibians

      CAUDATA

      Salamandridae

      Triturus cristatus

      Triturus dobrogicus

      Proteidae

      Proteus anguinus

      ANURA

      Discoglossidae

      Bombina bombina

      Bombina variegata

      Ranidae

      Rana latastei

     

      Fishes

      OSTEICHTHYES

      PETROMYZONIFORMES

      Petromyzonidae

      Lampetra fluviatilis

      Lampetra planeri

      SALMONIFORMES

      Salmonidae

      Hucho hucho

      Salmo marmoratus

      CYPRINIFORMES

      Cyprinidae

      Barbus meridionalis

      Leuciscus souffia

      Phoxinellus ssp.

      Cobitidae

      Cobitis taenia

      Misgurnus fossilis

      SCORPAENIFORMES

      Cottidae

      Cottus gobio

      PERCIFORMES

      Percidae

      Zingel ssp.

      4.3.2. List of Emerald habitat types in Bosnia and Herzegovina

22.	STANDING FRESH WATER
22.3	Amphibious communities
!22.351	Pannonic riverbank dwarf sedge communities
22.4	Euhydrophyte vegetation
22.41	Free- floating vegetation
22.43	Rooted floating vegetation
22.432	Shallow-water floating communities
24.	RUNNING WATER
!24.2	River gravel banks
3.	SCRUB AND GRASSLAND
31.	Temperate heath and scrub
!31.1	European wet heaths
!31.2	European dry heaths
31.4	Alpine and boreal heaths
31.42	Alpenrose heaths
34.	STEPPES AND DRY CALCAREOUS GRASSLANDS
34.11	Middle European rock debris swards
!34.5	Mediterranean xeric grassland
35.	DRY SILICEOUS GRASSLANDS
!35.11	Mat-grass swards
37.	HUMID GRASSLAND AND TALL HERB COMMUNITIES
37.1	Lowland tall herb communities
!37.13	Continental tall herb communities
!37.2	Eutrophic humid grassland
!37.3	Oligotrophic humid grassland
37.7	Humid tall herb fringes
37.71	Watercourse veils
!37.711	Angelica archangelica fluvial communities
!38.25	Continental meadows
4.	FORESTS
41.	Broadleaved deciduous forests
!41.1	Beech forests
!41.2	Oak-hornbeam forests
!41.4	Mixed ravine and slope forests
!41.5	Acidophilous oak forests
!41.8	Mixed thermophilous forests
42.	Temperate coniferous forests
!42.16	Southern Balkan silver fir forests
!42.245	Balkan Range spruce forests
!42.27	Omorika spruce forests
42.4	Mountain pine forests
!42.41	Rusty alpenrose mountain pine forests
!42.42	Xerocline mountain pine forests
42.6	Black pine forests
!42.62	Western Balkan Pinus nigra forests
44.	TEMPERATE RIVERINE AND SWAMP FORESTS AND BRUSH
!44.1	Riparian willow formations
!44.3	Middle European stream ash-alder woods
!44.43	South-east European ash-oak-alder forests
44.91	Adler swamp woods
5.	BOGS AND MARSHES
51.	Raised bogs
!52.	Blanket bogs
!54.2	Hard water springs
!65.	CAVES

Tab. 3 Habitat types in Bosnia and Herzegovina covered by Resolution No.4

      4.4 System of protected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina

     

      Categories within system of protected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina are as follows :

Name of category	Level of protection	Area (ha)
Strict Natural Reserve	I	776
Special Reserve	II	389
National Park	II	20625
Nature Monument	III	2951.46
Managed Nature Reserve	IV	5148
Nature Landscape Reserve	V	510
Protected Landscape	V	367.36

Tab.4 Categories of nature protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina

There are 154 areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina that are covered by any of above named categories. Unfortunatelly, only 0,5 per cent of country total is protected which is going to be changed very soon. Setting up of Emerald Network should speed up process of nature conservation and development of pattern for the sustainable environmental management on the national level. National strategy of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the environmental management was elaborated and summarized in National Environmental Action Programm (NEAP, 2003). Federal Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning currently increases its efforts in order to provide fast implementation of measures prescribed by NEAP. One of the issues will be to broaden areas that should become objective of special conservatory measures, due to its exceptional natural values in accordance with Recomendation No.16. On international scale protected is Hutovo blato,  designated to be Ramsar site in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the area situated in the south of the country, near estuary of Neretva river, covering 350 ha of territory. This is an example of excellent trans-boundary co-operation, for Hutovo blato is situated close to the borderline between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, which enables efficient environmental management of broad area on the both sides of the frontier. But, generally spoken, policy of nature management in Bosnia and Herzegovina has to be reestablished on modern principles which take into account international streams regarding nature conservation. Former state's system had a different approach on this matter which makes current situation to be very complex. It will take an extra effort on every level to apply new nature conservation approach and to over ride remains of previous system.Thus setting up of Emerald Network should be a big step forward in this regard by helping up to build trained personel structure that would be acquainted with new methodologies and approaches in the field of nature conservation.

5. Evaluation of the project implementation and gained experiences

Beginning to build up Emerald Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to create pilot database on its ASCIs was an important  for following reasons :

·         Emerald Network is an important contribution to the new newly undertaken steps toward european streams in the field of nature conservation;

·         pilot database represents basic mean for development of future ecological networks;

·         it is opportunity to get acquainted with usually applied methodology;

·         building up national team of skilled experts;

·         being training for personel that would be involved with nature conservation in future;

·         being excellent and useful preparation for Natura 2000.

In the course of project were encountered following problems:

·         Lack of recentlly obtained ecological data on some areas;

·         Lack of centralized system containing any kind of data;

·         Lack of  digitized maps;

·         Uncompatibility of Palaeractic classification with regionally applied syntaxonomy;

·         Lack of regionally important endemic species in the resolution No. 6.

In order to accomplish project's target, we came up with following solutions :

·         Majority of ecological data were recovered from the yearbooks of Institutes and Museums or earlier published scientific papers;

·         Newly implemented projects on both national and international scale were usefull source of information especially on habitat's distribution, too;

·         By comparation of results achieved by different institutions in some areas of the country, for expert team includes personel from all around of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was possible to extrapolate data on national level. Thus locally obtained data were basis for estimation on national level;

·         Lack of digitized maps is solved by consulting relevant paper maps;

·         It took extra effort to bring into accordance Palaearctic classification and syntaxonomy that is valid in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which ment creation of limited database as a key for transformation of habitat types in both directions;

·         High level of endemism in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which wasn't recognized on international scale, is recorded in appendix as a proposal list that should become part of updated Resolution No.6 list.

6. How the building up of the Emerald Network will continue

Setting up of Emerald Network should be continued through the Second Project whose out put would be:

·         60% of all ecological data on ASCIs;

·         Distribution maps for species and habitats in GIS;

·         Digitalized boundaries of ASCIs in GIS.

According to the preliminary discussions between parties that were involved in the implementation of Pilot Project, financial sources for the Second Project should come from the Council of Europe ca. 10 000EUR, which is unsufficient to achieve all tasks in relation to the project. Financial support from national sources isn't feasable, because Federal Ministry of the Environment and Physical Planning owns very limited financial sources that should cover up many other ongoing projects. Thus follow-up activities in the framework of Emerald Network establishment would require extra fundings from the Council of Europe (up to 4,500EUR), for whom Bosnia and Herzegovina is intending to apply for.

ANNEXES

1.Financial statement of expenditure

Item	Costs (EUR)
Workshop preparation	1500
Expert's costs	n.a
TOTAL	n.a

Tab. 5 Financial statement of expenditure with the breakdown of costs

2. List of selected Emerald sites

Emerald Code	Name	Area (ha)
BA0000001	Kanjon Rakitnice	2000
BA0000002	Gornji tok Neretve	2500
BA0000003	Kanjon Idbra	2500
BA0000004	Zlatar	1600
BA0000005	Diva Grabovica	600
BA0000006	Kanjon Bijele	300
BA0000007	Rijeka Doljanka	1400
BA0000008	Rama	1000
BA0000009	Maglić-Volujak-Zelengora
BA0000010	Vranica
BA0000011	Vlašić
BA0000012	Popovo polje
TOTAL

Tab. 6 Selected Emerald sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina