IUCN South-Eastern European e-Bulletin

Issue 13 • June 2007

Editorial

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the 13th issue of the IUCN South-Eastern European e-Bulletin. Many interesting activities took place this spring and some new projects were implemented in the region.

For IUCN, some main topics these past months were marine biodiversity – the ecological stability of the oceans being increasingly threatened by over-fishing, coastal development and global warming, the World Environment Day 2007 – which provided us with an occasion to reflect on some issues that will shape the future of our planet, and the Conference of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which started on Sunday 3rd June in The Hague.

Many of your articles reflect these topics in this issue of the SEE bulletin, strongly focusing on awareness raising and en-vironmental education in the region, while also pointing out the threats to some of the regions most valuable areas. We are happy to see that the news and events cover a broad variety of themes and topics - as always.

Many thanks to all of you who have contributed with articles and pictures. The guidelines for submitting articles for the IUCN SEE e-bulletin can be found on the last page of this issue.

With best wishes,

Aleksandra Nesic and Katharina Diehl IUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe

Programme Office for South Eastern Europe

Tomasz Pezold joins SEE Team

In April 2007 Tomasz Pezold from IUCN CE Office joined IUCN SEE team as new Project Officer. He studied an Inter-faculty Programme in Environmental Protection at the Warsaw University.

His professional employment started in 2003 when he was working as a Project Coordinator Assis-tant in projects aimed at the integration of nature conservation into agriculture policy, rural deve-lopment and agri-environmental programmes in Central European countries. Since May 2004, he is a Project Coordinator, focusing on the implementation of the European Ecological Network Natura 2000 across the CEECs region.

Welcome, Tomasz, to the IUCN SEE team!

World Conservation Congress 2008 - Call for Contributions

The World Conservation Congress is the world’s largest and most diverse conservation event. Held every four years, the Congress aims to improve how we manage our natural environment for human, social and economic development.

The previous Congress, held in Bangkok in November 2004, brought together 5,000 people from all corners of the world, to discuss, debate and decide on environmental and development issues. The next Congress will be held in Barcelona from 5 to 14 October 2008. Detailed information about the Forum can also be downloaded for offline reading on http://www.iucn.org/con-gress/2008/docs/forum_paper_04_2007.pdf

Proposals for contributions to the Congress can be submitted under http://www.iucn.org/congress/2008/contributions/ For in-formation you may contact IUCN SEE Programme Office or IUCN Regional Office for Europe in Brussels.

Building on IUCN’s long history of bringing together diverse sta-keholders and providing scientific leadership, the IUCN World Conservation Congress will bring different sectors together to work together, share knowledge and experiences, develop inno-vative and inspiring solutions and make practical and moral com-

mitments to help us to move forward together on the path to sustainability.

The framework for contributions:

1. Sharing know how 2. Reaching agreement 3. Moving to action

Contributions to the Forum don’t need to address all these objectives but should contribute to at least one, and can address all three when appropriate.

Over 8,000 people are expected to attend the Con-gress, the world’s leading event for decision makers, from all sectors, in conservation and development.

Asociatia Speologicã Exploratorii (ASE) in Romania joins IUCN

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has more than 1,000 members worldwide, 830 of which are NGOs. After the IUCN Council’s approval in May 2007, the “Asociatia Speologicã Exploratorii (ASE)”, an NGO from Romania has joined the Union. Currently there are 15 IUCN members in South Eastern Europe.

ASE was established in 1961 and the head office is located in Resita – Caras/Severin in Romania. It is very active in the field of nature conservation, management of protected areas, eco-tourism and environmental education as well as cooperation on regional, national and international level. Currently the ASE is working on projects focusing on bat monitoring and on the establishment of a geo-park in the Caras/Severin region. For more information please visit www.exploratorii.ro or contact Ms Raluca Crista at exploratorii@gmail.com.

Content

NEWS1 Radiated tortoises and chameleons confiscated in Croatia returned to Madagascar2 Macedonian Minister for Environment visits Lower Austria3 CD2010 Poster Competition4 Attention: Brown Bear5 New Approach to the Restoration of Lake Ohrid Trout Native Population 6 Balkans Peace Park Coalition7 Twelve protected areas selected for the project “Working for Nature – Nature for Working“8 Lake Shkoder/Skadar Integrated Ecosystem Management Project9 „Integrated river basin management“ - taught at schools?10 Process begins for ships and environment to share Danube River11 Canal Danube-Sava – a gigantic “development” project12 Danube Delta proclaimed “Landscape of the Year 2007–2009”13 Carei Plain - Bátorliget Transboundary Protected Area14 Living Neretva Project15 Developing Eco Villages Network16 Sava Floodplains Biodiversity Protection project in progress

EVENTS1 Guest lectures at the Faculty of Forestry2 “Management of transboundary Ramsar Sites” Study Tour 3 Meeting of International Forestry Students Association4 Biodiversity and Global Changes5 Research workcamp in SNR Stari Begej-Carska Bara 6 Waters Unite - 3rd International Central Danube Canoe Tour

SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS1 International Seminar “Countdown 2010: people, protected areas and biodiversity conservation”2 Europarc Conference and General Assembly of the EUROPARC Federation

FUNDING1 Swiss Cohesion Contribution: Framework Agreements to be negotiated now2 Successful NatuRegio project in Romania and Bulgaria starts its next round

COMMUNICATION & PUBLICATIONS1 One in six European mammals threatened with extinction2 Countdown 2010 for Marine Ecosystems

1 Radiated tortoises and chameleons confiscated in Croatia returned to Madagascar

Croatia: On 1st April 2007, at Zagreb Airport, Custom officers stop-ped a Croatian citizen coming back from Bangkok, Thailand, via Bu-dapest, Hungary carrying in his luggage 10 tortoises and 175 chame-leons. The animals were confiscated and placed in quarantine.

The species have been identified as: Radiated Tortoises Geochelone radiata (CITES I species); Flat-casqued Chameleon Calumma globifer and Parson‘s Giant Chameleon Calumma parsonii (CITES II species). The value of this shipment on the international market is 150.000 €.

Because of inadequate transport conditions in cargo space seven chameleons died on the way, and due to the fact that they are very submissive to stress, we had continuous mortality of chameleons. They are extremely sensitive animals that are hard to be kept in cap-tivity, so Croatia had to ensure their permanent placement as soon as possible.

It was determined that there is no registered breeding of these spe-cies in captivity and that they are native only to Madagascar. Mada-gascan government agreed to take the animals back, so after almost two months the radiated tortoises and chameleons returned to Ma-dagascar and are currently placed in a rescue centre. Altogether 77 chameleons and 10 radiated tortoises returned home safely.

Because the perpetrator did not declare the goods and had no ve-terinary and CITES documents, the court procedure is in progress according to several laws.

Contact details: Zrinka Domazetovic, Ministry of Culture, Nature Protection Directora-te, CITES MA in Croatia, zrinka.domazetovic@min-kulture.hr

2 Macedonian Minister for Environment visits Lower Austria

FYR Macedonia: In spring 2007, the Macedonian Minister for Envi-ronment, Mr. Imer Aliu, visited Lower Austria to discuss environmen-tal issues and possibilities for a closer cooperation with his Lower Austrian colleague Josef Plank. Besides waste treatment and waste disposal, the main issues focused on the implementation of the EU water framework directive and national parks and protected areas. Both parties agreed on a closer and intensive cooperation. Lower Austria offered assistance in the legislation, planning and manage-ment of waste water treatment and water supply.

As an example for (transboundary) protected areas, Lower Austria presented the National Park Thayatal, located at the Austrian-Czech border. The National Park Thayatal offered to establish a close co-operation with Macedonian protected areas regarding visitors infra-structure and management strategies.

A bilateral expert meeting on waste management, water and protected areas shall be organised later this year in FYR Mace-donia. For more information, please contact Robert Brunner at the Nationalpark Thayatal, office@np-thayatal.at.

News

Seized Geochelone radiata

Seized Calumma

Calumma

Josef Plank, member of the provincial government of Lower Austria, Immer Aliu, Minister fror Environment, FYR Macedonia,

Photo © NÖ Landesregierung.

3 CD2010 Poster Competition

Countdown 2010: Countdown 2010 offers a poster competition for schools of the South-East European and the Black Sea area, as part of the SEENET programme for partners from Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey, Croatia, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The SEENET program works for the practical implementation of the so called ecological networks. The theme of this poster competition is therefore connectivity.

This is an excellent opportunity for children between 7 and 12 to learn more about the importance of connectivity of nature areas, to take part in a high profile international initiative and to win a cash prize for your school/class and for the winner to be present at the giving prize ceremony at the European Ministerial Conference on Environment (Belgrade, October, 2007).

Entries are accepted until 25 June 2007. To learn more, please go to http://poster.seenet.info or contact Wiebke Herding, wiebke.herding@countdown2010.net.

4 Attention: Brown Bear

Slovenia: On 16 May 2007, a “New Generation of the Sloveni-an People‘s Party” started a campaign “Attention: Brown Bear“ that can be followed up on http://www.nova.generacija.org/index.php?stran=vsebina&id=336&PHPSESSID=8f1b7b7511a4e1d3e683c8392fe9c4f9.

Reportedly, the campaign would like to raise attention to “unbea-rable conditions, under which people have to live in a brown bear core area” in Slovenia. The youth branch of the Slovenian People‘s Party (SPP) claims a reduction of the brown bear population from an estimated 500-700 bears to 300 animals and to shrink the brown bear core area, which largely coincides with Natura 2000 sites.

Both claims contradict provisions by the Habitat Directive and consequently the commitments of Slovenia towards the European Commission. What is particularly noteworthy is the fact that the president of the SPP is also the Minister of Environment, who is is in charge of rare and endangered species listed by the Habitat Directive and Bern Convention. So far, the SPP more than doubled brown bear cull as early as 2003 (from previous ca. 50 bears to 113 animals) and maintained this quota high afterwards. Thus, 126 bears were killed in 2006 and mortality is scheduled to be approximately 130 bears in 2007. The European Commission accepted these figures as part of sustainable population management, despite the small geographic area of Slovenia (ca. 20,000 km2) and the fact that the brown bear population estimates have so far not been established by a scientifically sound method. Compensations paid off for damages, which increased 30-fold in the last decade, are frequently interpreted as indicative of the brown bear population expansion. Such interpretations, however, ignore that SPP provided good grounds for this kind of conflicts by generously subsidised sheep farming within the brown bear core area in the1990s.

For more information, please contact Boris Kryštufek, email: boris.krystufek@zrs.upr.si.

5 New Approach to restore Lake Ohrid Trout

Prespa Lake, FYR Macedonia: Since March 2004, fishing is to-tally banned at the Macedonian part of Lake Ohrid, mainly due to the drastic decrease of the population of the two endemic trout species: Lake Ohrid trout (Salmo letnica) and Lake Ohrid belvica (Acantholingua ohridana). In 1935 the Hydrobiological Institute in Ohrid established a process of artificial spawning of Lake Ohrid trout and stocking of the lake, to support the biological and socio-economic balance. Stocking the lake with trout offspring in order to maintain the trout population in its biological optimum on the one hand and allowing fisherman to catch and sell fish during the trout spawning season when first delivering the eggs for artificial fertilization and further breeding on the other hand, was common procedure until the winter spawning season 2004.

A new approach to the whole process was implemented in the spawning season of 2005, aiming at an increase of the trout population conservation and restoration. By reorganizing the process from fishing to stocking, several goals were achieved. The biggest achievement was that the fish, captured from the lake‘s native brood stock, could be released back to the lake alive after they had recovered from the anesthesia during which the fish werde handled for collecting eggs and milt, basic morphometric measurement and adequate marking – so the populations reproductive potential was preserved. During the three spawning seasons 2005-2007, the marked specimens appeared with different frequency from the same and from dif-ferent years within the abovementioned time period.

Zoran Spirkovski (zoranspi@hio.edu.mk) and Dusica Ilik-Boeva (dusicaib@hio.edu.mk), PSI Hydrobiological Institute, FYR Macedonia.

Poster issued by the Slovenian People‘s Party in Ljubljana on May 17, 2007 (left; Photo: A. Kryštufek). On the right is a modified version with the president of the Slovenian People‘s Party and the Minister for En-vironment (published in the weekly ‘Mladina’, 19 May 2007; reprinted with the permission of Mladina).

6 Balkans Peace Park Coalition

Balkans Peace Park Project: Six NGOs, two from each of the three regions Albania, Kosovo (territory of Serbia under ad-ministration of the United Nations according to UN Resolution 1244) and Montenegro, have formed a new BPP Coalition. By November 2006, they had obtained signatures for six municipalities whose regions are in the BPP on a Letter of Good Intent, a document affirming their goodwill towards the BPP. News that the Prokletija region of Montenegro has been nominated to become a national park, will draw closer the links that the BPPP has already made here, with the two other national parks within its boundaries: Rugova in the Kosovo territory of Serbia under administration of the United Nations according to UN Resolution 1244, and the Thethi National Forest Park in Albania. The Annual General Meeting of the BPPP will be held in Reading (outside London) on 9th June; amongst other topics for discussion will be the IUCN-European Green Belt and the upcoming BPPP/UNEP sponsored meetings arranged in Plav ll-l4 June. The Plav meetings will specifically focus on Monte-negrin aspirations within the BPPP.

Further information on the website www.balkanspeacepark.org and at a.t.i.young@bradford.ac.uk.

8 Lake Shkoder/Skadar Integrated Ecosystem Management Project

Lake Shkoder/Skadar: On 5 April 2007 in Shkodra city the public disclosure of the Joint Strategic Action Plan prepared by the Lake Shkoder Integrated Ecosystem Management Project (LSIEMP) was made with a wide participation of the Albanian central and lo-cal stakeholders, representatives of the World Bank, Albanian and Montenegrin Ministries of Environment and SNV MN. The JSAP was completed by two national consultant teams, the Association for Protection of Aquatic Wildlife of Albania (APAWA) and the Cen-ter for Ecotoxicological Research of Montenegro (CETI). The whole process was supervised by the consultant company SNV MN.

On behalf of both countries the objectives, the components and the work done for the preparation of the Lake Shkoder Integrated Ecosystem Management Project were presented by the Albanian Project Coordinator Mr Agim Shimaj.

The Project has four components: • Joint Lake Planning and Management; • Monitoring and Research development; • Improvement of Protected areas and Natural Resource Management; • Realization of Urgent Environmental Investments.

The consultant team members presented the activities undertaken for the completion of the JSAP, the structure, aim and objectives of the JSAP and activities proposed in national level and jointly between Al and MN. The JSAP got good feedback from the discussions of the participants which in general evaluated this document as very good.

On behalf of the AL MOEFWA, the vice minister Mr Taulant Bino confirmed the strong support of this Ministry for the JSAP and emphasized as very important the prioritization of activities within the previewed GEF budget. This support was confir-med on behalf of MN by Mr Viktor Sobotic, MN LSIEMP Project Coordinator. Drita Dade from the WB informed the partici-pants on the coming mission of the WB for the Project appraisal and stressed the importance of determining the priorities where the investments within the GEF funding should be addressed. Mr Lorenc Luka, mayor of Shkodra, expressed his strong commitment and support for the project in general and the JSAP in particular. Jan Vloet from SNV appreciated the JSAP and expressed his willingness to promote further and quicker joint cooperation and structures.

The meeting conclusions were made by Zamir Dedej, director of nature Protection in the MOEFWA: the cooperation between AL and MN in this Project has been very successful and this JSAP is an outcome of this cooperation; there is strong support from the central and local authorities for the JSAP; the prioritization of activities within the GEF funding is essential; the par-ticipation of the local authorities and stakeholders is important for the success of the Project; the Project should coordinate with other donors in the area; the establishment and strengthening of the national and joint structures is important.

Agim Shimaj, Project manager of LSIEMP, email: a_shimaj@yahoo.com

7 Twelve protected areas selected for the project “Working for Nature – Nature for Working“

Europarc Federation: From 40 protected areas offering very interesting and diverse internships, EUROPARC has selected twelve to carry out the twelve pilot-internships financed by the EUROPARC project “Working for Nature – Nature for Wor-king”. The project started at the beginning of this year and aims to support young people interested in nature protection, particularly in management of protected areas.

One of the main project components is the establishment of an internet platform, which will improve information exchange between people looking for and protected areas offering internships. Protected areas will be able to put their offers on the website independently, thus simplifying the search for internships. In addition, it will be possible to apply for internships directly via an online application form, which will be sent to the corresponding protected area.

Having chosen the internship positions the call for applications was relesased beginning of June. People interested in the internships are asked to get in touch with project co-ordinator Petra Dippold at p.dippold@europarc.org.

The map shows the twelve protected areas, chosen for the pilot project.

1. Saimaa Park District (FIN)2. Gauja National Park (LV)3. Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer National Park (D)4. Bayerischer Wald Nature Park (D)5. Podyji National Park (CZ)6. Duna-Drava National Park (H)7. Apuseni Nature Park (RO)8. Central Balkan National Park (BG)9. Kozjanski National Park (SLO)10. Alpi Marittimi Nature Park (I)11. Peneda-Geres National Park (P)12. Tilos Island Nature Park (GR)

10 Process begins for ships and environment to share Danube River

Vienna, UN Information Service (25 April): A one-year process began with a kick off meeting in Orth an der Donau in Austria on 25-26 April to reach an agreement on how to maintain and develop inland waterway transport on the Danube River without damaging the environment. The joint initiative is being organised under the leadership of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) in cooperation with the Danube Navigation Commission and the International Com-mission for the Protection of the River Sava. The ICPDR is an international organization consisting of 13 cooperating states and the European Union. Since its establishment in 1998, it has grown into one of the largest and most active international bodies engaged in river basin management in Europe.

The over 50 participants are all key stakeholders concerned about the future of Danube inland navigation. They include rep-resentatives from the navigation sector, governmental water and river basin managers, conservation NGOs and the European Commission. The overall goal of the process is to reach, by the end of 2007, a stakeholder agreement on the basic guiding principles and criteria of a “Joint Statement on the Development of Inland Navigation and Environmental Sustainability in the Danube River Basin”.

“Inland navigation is neither automatically damaging nor beneficial to the environment,” says ICPDR Executive Secretary Phi-lip Weller. “But through careful planning and thoughtful consideration, environmentally sustainable inland waterway transport is possible and can even reverse some of the impact that previous river regulations caused. It is a goal that is both realisable and necessary for all interests.”

The process aims to ensure that currently planned infrastructure projects related to navigation are developed in an environ-ment-friendly way and within an overall framework for the entire Danube Basin. This especially includes projects under the EU’s Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) programme geared to developing the Danube into a major transportation corridor for cargo. Examples include a project on the Danube between Vienna and Bratislava and one in the Lower Danube near Calarasi in Romania.

“Inland navigation can contribute to making transport more environmentally sustainable, particularly where it replaces road transport,” said Mr. Weller. “But it can also significantly influence river ecosystems, jeopardizing the goals of EU legislation which aims for the “good ecological status” of all waters by 2015.” In this respect, the outcome of the process should also help Danube decision-makers to develop their river basin management plans required by the EU for 2009.

The second meeting will be held in late June in Bucharest, Romania. The third meeting planned for October will focus on drafting the Joint Statement. A public release of the Joint Statement is expected at the end of 2007.

For further information, please contact: Jasmine Bachmann, International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), email: jasmine.bachmann@unvienna.org

9 „Integrated river basin management“ - taught at schools?

Danube River Basin: The Danube basin links 19 countries and to-gether with its tributaries the Danube connects 81 million people. But rarely the Danube is understood as the water ribbon linking peoples and landscapes throughout Europe. Reason enough to think about common interests and ties and to develop teaching material that gets young people to appreciate the Danube river basin in all its aspects and with all its challenges.

The idea for teaching materials explaining the integrity of a river basin was born in the context of the “Green Danube Partnership”, agreed in 2005 between The Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola HBC and the International Commission for the Danube (ICPDR) and then developed with the aim to raise awareness on the Da-nube river basin – its ecological treasures, its economic values, its environmental problems.

The DANUBE BOX is a comprehensive education kit for teachers and others working with children of the age between 9 and 12. It can be used in and outdoors and fully reflects the methods of modern environmental education and education for sustainable development and includes several media: handbook for teachers, Danube poster, playing cards, worksheets, and a CD-ROM with pictures from all over the Danube river basin, info maps, back-ground material and a large quiz.

The teaching materials have been developed in German and Eng-lish, but are being translated into national languages of the Danu-be countries. The DANUBE BOX is already in use in Austria since this school year; the translation and the implementation of the national versions for Romania, Hungary and Serbia are currently under way, and more versions are in discussion.

Further information on the subject of the Danube Box, on the work of the ICPDR and the individual Danube countries can be found on www.icpdr.org, and on www.danubebox.org as by July 07. Contact: Doris Gfrerer, doris.gfrerer@unvienna.org.

11 Canal Danube-Sava – a gigantic “development” project

Croatia: The physical plan for the Danube-Sava Canal (Prostorni plan poducja posebnih obilježja višenamjenskog kanala Dunav-Sava) is currently presented to the public in the offices of Brods-ko-Posavska and Vukovarsko-Srijemska counties until 11th June 2007.

Euronatur is very concerned about plans to drain the Spačva-Bo-sut depresseion. The NGO criticised, that the physical plan shows only the corridor of the canal (with its function for navigation), but not the other three functions, which would be: irrigation, drainage and enrichment of low discharge – all three very much related to building activities and with impacts on a much wider area. The drainage component of the “Multipurpose Canal Danube-Sava” alone covers 173.000 hectares and will have a huge impact on the Sava and Danube if the highly important retentions function of the Spacva-Bosut depression would be destroyed.

The physical plan shows only 10.600 hectares and no solution is shown for the storage of 48 Million cubic meters of excava-ted earth. About 50.000 hectares of most productive Pedunculate Oak forest depend on the hydrological system of the rivers Bosut and Bidj, which would partly be overbuilt and totally regulated by the Danube-Sava Canal. The value of the standing wood mass is about 1 billion €. The foresters fear huge losses from a changing water regime.

The Forester Society of Croatia and Euronatur propose alternatively the up-grading of the harbour in Vukovar and the trans-port by train to Zagreb, Rijeka and Ploce. This would not only save the Slavonian Oak Forests, the Natura 2000 site Spačva-Bosut and the Sava with its Nature Park Lonjsko Polje, but also 600 Million € – this being the estimate costs to build the Danube-Sava Canal.

According to optimistic prognoses of planners, not more than 10 ships per day would be able to cross through the canal 30 years after its opening. Euronatur wrote to all members of the Croatian Parli-ament and asked them to stop the project and to save Croatia from a great economic and ecological loss.

The draft Physical Plan/Prijedlog Plana can be downloaded at http://www.mzo-pu.hr/doc/PPPPO_kanala_Dunav_Sava.pdf. Euronatur reacted with a letter to the members of the Croation Parliament, which is displayed together with more background information on www.euronatur.org. For details, please contact Martin.Schneider-Jacoby@euronatur.org.

The idea of building a canal was first born in the 18th century, and all along the idea was alive, but not realized.

Now, the canal is planned to be built between Vukovar on the Da-nube and Slavonski Šamac on the Sava. It would be 61km long, 58m wide and 4m deep (navigation class Vb). The main purposes, as it is obviously multifunctional, are navigation, irrigation, draina-ge and technological water supply. All of these purposes are not justified, as there are many other more applicable and cheaper so-lutions. For the transport of goods, there is a railroad; for irrigation a system of pipes would need to be developed.

The impact on environment, landscape and biodiversity of the area would be inevitable. The groundwater levels will be changed and this can cause severe problem in water supply from local wells and in forestry (one of the main economical activities there). The area is recognized for its largest remaining floodplain forest com-plexes, such as the Spačva. The area is a habitat for many wildlife species, from which several are endangeredand therefore under protection.

It is a point of discussion whether a most valuable forest ecosys-tem should be sacrificed for a navigation canal that might trans-port goods of 7 mio t/year in 30 years. It is doubtful whether the benefits will outweigh the unnumbered costs and possible losses – which could also be one answer to the question of why the canal was never realised before.

For more information, please contact Irma Popovic, Green Action, Croatia at irma@zelena-akcija.hr, www.zelena-akcija.hr.

Euronatur

Map showing the Croatian development plans regarding the Danube-Sava-Adria canal (Republika Hrvatska 1999)

12 Danube Delta proclaimed “Landscape of the Year 2007–2009”

Tulcea, Romania: Every two years, a European crossborder region of high ecological va-lue is designated “Landscape of the Year” by International Friends of Nature (IFN) with the aim to draw public attention to the landscape in question and to promote the sustainable development of the region concerned.

With the Danube delta, IFN is designating one of the most outstanding, yet also most fra-gile natural areas in Europe. Situated in the borderland of Romania and Ukraine, the delta is the final and perhaps most beautiful section of the Danube river at the point where it flows into the Black Sea.

The largest wetland in Europe stands for an extraordinary ecological and cultural diversity, shaped by people living between river and sea. In close cooperation with the local popu-lation and with local stakeholders, Friends of Nature intends to trigger a long-term and crossborder process that links the preservation of this diversity with the creation of local sources of income. The official opening took place in Tulcea on 3rd June 2007. For more information, please check the website www.landscapeoftheyear.net.

13 Carei Plain - Bátorliget Transboundary Protected Area

Romania and Hungary: The Carei Plain - Bátorliget transboundary area between Romania and Hungary is situated at the eastern margin of the Pannonian Plain. It is characterised by high biodiversity – partly protected by some existing nature reserves and Natura 2000 sites – and it consists of a mosaic of traditional pastures, sandy steppe grasslands, steppe oak forests, continental mesic oak forests, hardwood gallery forests, willow and birch bogs, traditional lowland hayfields, mar-shy and boggy meadows, tall sedge clump formations, but also poplar and robinia plantations and arable land. The faunal composition of this area is very rich and the area is important for birds of prey, amphibians and reptiles, glacial relict species, insects and big game populations.

The first meeting with regard to the possibility of designating a transboundary protected area between the two countries, took place in 2004. The discussions are in an advance stage now, due to the International Workshop “Feasibility check of the Designation of a Transboundary Protected Area between Romania and Hungary”, which was held in Satu Mare, Romania, in April 2007, and was organized by Cristian-Remus Papp, within the frame of the MSc. Programme „Management of Protected Areas” (offered by the „Alpen-Adria” University and E.C.O. - Institut für Ökologie, from Klagenfurt, Austria), with the support of county and local institutions and organizations from Romania.

Participants from both sides of the border discussed during this workshop the possibility of establishing a transboundary protected area, more specifically, a transboundary nature park. They agreed to support the preparation of the feasibility check of this transboundary park, which will be carried out through a Master Thesis of Cristian-Remus Papp, Romania, participant of the above-mentioned Programme. The next step after this will be the completion of a project proposal for the feasibility study of the establishment of such a transboundary protected area.

For more information, please contact Papp Cristian-Remus, rem_x21@yahoo.co.uk.

14 Living Neretva Project

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH): WWF MedPO and WWF Norway together initiated a project in Neretva basin with the following main objectives:

• To set the ground for mapping biodiversity values and hotspots in the Neretva basin in accordance to the Habitat Directive (HD) principles• To initiate a multi-stakeholder process for integrated ri- ver management in accordance to Water Framework Directive (WFD) principles• To strengthen civil society and to ensure proper public participation in river management and support democratic development

As one of the first steps a seminar was held on WFD principles and its links with the HD, titled as “Towards EU Standards in the Neretva River Basin (BiH): Linking Water Management and Biodiversity Conservation”, on April 12-13 2007, in Sarajevo. WWF organized the seminar in order to support local capacities for the upcoming implementation process of the Habitats Directive in BH, so as to support local efforts in the field of selection of the best methodology for identification of the envi-ronmental water flow (and the water management needed) that will maintain the natural characteristics of the river Neretva.

Living Neretva project is supported by the WWF MedPO and WWF Norway, and is financed by the Norwegian Government. For further information, please visit the Living Neretva website on http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/eu-rope/what_we_do/balkans/projects/index.cfm?uProjectID=BA0001or contact Branko Vucijak, Neretva freshwater projects coordinator, bvucijak@wwfmedpo.org.

15 Developing Eco Villages Network

Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro: In October 2006, IUCN SEE Office in Belgrade has star-ted a regional project “Countdown 2010: Development of Eco Villages Network in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro” in cooperation with three partner NGOs: Request from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Sunčani vrhovi from Serbia and Most from Montenegro.

Each of the partners is working with a chosen a group of villages in his country. In cooperation with the local people from the villages, project partners will work out development projects for each of the villages which will enable communities to use and conserve their existing natural resources through eco tourism, organic food production and production of traditional arts and handicrafts. The principal project goals are to improve livelihood of local communities in rural areas by providing skills and additional income options, and to promote sustainable use of natural assets considering integrated biodiversity conservation.

Besides full engagement of local communities and all relevant stakeholders on a local and regional level, the project will strengthen cooperation between NGOs and local communities in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will create a suitable basis for transboundary cooperation and continuous work in preserving nature as prerequisite for human well-being. The logo has been developed by the project partners while defining the visual identity of the association of villa-ges participating in the project. They are meant to become the first members of a wider network in years to come.

For more information, please contact Milica Dajović, Project Coordinator, mil@net.yu

16 Sava Floodplains Biodiversity Protection project in progress

Sava Floodplains: Supported by the LIFE-Third countries finan-cial instrument and the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation, the Protection of Biodiversity of the Sava River Basin Floodplains project primarily intends to ensure protection and sustainable management of the unique landscape and biodiversity along the Sava River. Through supporting neighboring countries sharing the river to identify, protect and manage floodplain areas of importance for the landscapes and biodiversity by applying the criteria of the EU Birds and Habitats directives, this project aims to design a coherent transboundary ecological network along the river, as well as to introduce land use practices that support the protection of the landscape and biodiversity.

In order to ensure balanced transbounda-ry cooperation, an international partner-ship has been set up for this project - in coordination with the World Conservation Union and Wageningen International, the Center for Ecology and Natural Resour-ces of the Faculty of Science in Sarajevo,

the Agricultural Institute of the Republic of Srpska, the State Ins-titute for Nature Protection of Croatia and the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia. This will provide important expert input to the project working within the four project working groups. An expert N2k contribution of the State Institute for Nature Protection of Slovenia is also foreseen. After the inception phase report has been endorsed at the first Steering Committee meeting in Sara-jevo, working groups started drafting the respective work plans. Opening season of field research is supposed to provide substan-tial amount of data on biodiversity needed to shape the future ecological network along the Sava River, while GIS experts already launched a discussion on how the existing SDI database could be applied in the scope of this project.

For more information, please contact Mr. Joerg Lohmann, International Project Director, joerg.lohmann@iucn.org or Mr. Boris Erg, Local Project Manager, boris.erg@iucn.org.

Events

1 Guest lectures at the Faculty of Forestry

Belgrade, Serbia, 19 April 2007: After previous guest lecturers, which were from USA and Finland, as part of a modern approach to the educational process of our faculty, Prof. Dr. Dragan Nonic invited Mr. Boris Erg, IUCN Project Manager for South-Eastern Europe and Dr. Darij Krajčič, director of the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation, to be guest lecturers for students in the Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade. They gave lectures about their respective organisations and current projects in which they are involved.

Mr Erg talked about the following projects: the DAI Initiative, the protected regions along the Danube and Sava rivers and in the Stara planina mountain region. The European Green Belt initiative was presented, and the great importance it has for the SEE region. In his lecture Mr. Erg explained the significance of this work and of nature conservation in general. Dr. Krajčič mainly talked about technical aspects of creating and running nature conservation projects and current topics in nature conservation in Slovenia.

The auditorium consisted of students of the last (VIII) semester of the Forestry Faculty. It is important to present the future generations with different possibilities of action in this field as well as to enlighten forestry students on how to think about nature conservation. This way the students can develop their point of view about forests and nature and will also be able to better comprehend the project management in nature conservation.

For more information, please contact Tobolka Albina, alci021@yahoo.com or Grubic Djordje, djgrubic@yahoo.com.

2 “Management of transboundary Ramsar Sites” Study Tour

Austria, Hungary, Croatia, BiH, 28 April – 8 May 2007: Supported by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention, the Trilateral Ramsar Platform (Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Austria) organised a study tour end of April, covering the following topics:

• Obtain experience related to preparation and implementation of common management principles and plans for transboundary Ramsar sites (RS).

• How can shared transboundary wetlands support conservation of traditional and development of new regional identities.

• Joint cross border management/planning activities.• Joint cross border activities within the Communication, Education

& Public Awareness programme (CEPA).• Examples of common activities in the field of RS` management.• Examples of coordinated reaction to actual threats to trans-

boundary wetlands.• Visit important European transboundary RS.• Establish new contacts and to develop a fruitful international

cooperation regarding management and sustainable/wise use of wetlands.

Eighteen participants from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria – including representatives from ministries, State Nature Conservation, administrations of protected areas, State Forests, river basin management, NGOs, as well as representatives of the Secretariat of Ramsar Convention and IUCN – visited transboundary Ramsar sites in Austria (Neusiedlersee, Seewinkel), Hungary (Fertö-Hanság NP, Béda Karapancsa NP), Croatia (Kopacki Rit, Lonjsko Polje & Mokro Polje, Delta Neretve) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bardaca, Hutovo Blato).

Results of the study tour will be used as basis material for the establishment of common principles and objectives in the management of trilateral Ramsar sites in the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and Austria (Floodplain of Morava, Dyje and Donau Confluence) and for the series of Ramsar Handbooks focused on conservation and management of transboundary Ramsar sites.

For more details, please contact Mrs Libuše Vlasáková (Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic), main coordinator of the tour: libuse_vlasakova@env.cz.

Lonjsko Polje RS: the study Tour Group with the park director: Goran Gucic (on the left)

Local breeds of Ratzka sheep as genus reservoire for this species which is protected within the Lake Fertö National Park/Ramsar Site

3 Meeting of International Forestry Students Association

Braşov, Romania, 29 April-6 May 2007: Students from the Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, participated in the South Euro-pean Regional Meeting of International Forestry Students Associa-tion. Topic of this year SERM was “Forest management and nature conservation”.

Opening presentations were held by our host – the dean of the Facul-ty of Silviculture and Forestry Engineering, Transilvania University of Braşov, Prof. Dr. Ioan Abrudan, and representatives of Romsilva and National Park Piatra Craiului. On the third day we, Jelena Nedeljkovic, Albina Tobolka and Djordje Grubic, together with other participants presented our country reports about sustainable forest management and nature conservation.

The rest of the time spent in Romania was dedicated to sightseeing and multicultural exchange among participants from thirteen universities in the region of Southern Europe. The host student organisation - SILVA, headed by postgraduate student Mihail Hanzu, organised our time well, so we had chance to see Tâmpa protected area, Piatra Craiului National Park, the old city of Sibiu – the cultural capital of Europe for 2007 – and the Posada Game Museum.

The importance of this meeting for us as forestry students was, that we had the chance to learn about problems about forest management and nature conservation in the neighboring countries and the whole region of southern Europe. We used this opportunity to create many friendships that will hopefully someday turn into cooperation to overcome existing problems.

For more information, please contact Djordje Grubic, email: djgrubic@yahoo.com.

4 Biodiversity and Global Changes

Bucharest, Romania, 14-25 May 2007: EarthVoice Romania (EVR), a professional non-profit, non-governmental organization and a member of IUCN, has the mission to implement the scientific, teaching and management products into different social, economic and decision-making sectors. The organization operates as an interface between those who are developing the knowledge and between the public. Thus the membership is based on academic and scientific staff, teachers, Ph.D., Master and undergraduate students.

Education, training and raising of public awareness concerning biodiversity and sustainability represents one of the objectives of EVR. In this context, the period between 14th – 25th of May 2007 was dedicated for the celebra-tion of biodiversity. EVR together with the School Inspectorate of Bucharest designed and developed the project named: „BIODIVER-SITY and GLOBAL CHANGES”. The project was implemented in 44 school units from Bucharest.

On the 24th of May 2007 we proceeded by showing of the projects re-sults – this activity beeing a good oportunity to bring to the attention of the public opinion the major issues that are generated by humanity. Presented results included the following:

• Children/Pupils/Youths or/and teachers essays and papers,• Artistic events and art work with activities in the field of environ-

mental education for biodiversity conservation,• Lessons taught by specialists of EarthVoice România,• Teachers debates/workshops regarding utility of education for bi-

odiversity conservation at preuniversitary level,• Demonstrative and interdisciplinary courses approaching biodi-

versity in its broad meaning through: – The diversity of ecological systems viewed as life-supporting

entities, – The diversity of biological systems of each species category

and of the taxons in taxonomic terms, or „biodiversity in its narrow meaning”

– The diversity of genetic structure of populations and spe- cies, „genetic resources” (the human species included)

– The etno-cultural diversity of socio-economic systems.

This is an example for the EarthVoice Romania’s mission that works as a catalyst for operating, at national scale, the new model of development aimed to assure the social and ecological security.

For more information, please contact Dr. Nicoleta Adriana Geamănă, Programme Coordinator from EarthVoice România., earthvoice.romania@yahoo.com.

5 Research workcamp in SNR Stari Begej-Carska Bara

Carska Bara, Serbia, 25-27 May 2007: Biology student study and research society “Josif Pančić” and Society of young researchers of institute of geography “Branislav Bukurov”, both from Novi Sad, organized a research work camp in the Special Nature Reserve “Stari Begej-Carska Bara”. The main aim was the study of animals and plants (BSSRS) in the reserve, as well as in the nearby village Belo Blato (SYRIG). There were 17 participants and people from other NGOs.

BSSRS mainly explored birds breeding populations in the reser-ve. Some important breeding species discovered included the River Werbler and Icterine Werbler, Wryneck, Black and Whiske-red Tern, Black-necked Grebe... The group also did ringing of 46 caught birds representing 7 species. Three mist nets were in the reedbeds of the nearby fishpond Ečka. The most numerous spe-cies was Reed Werbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), while the most interesting catch was 6 specimen of Savi’s Werbler (Locustella luscinioides).

SYRIG carried out interwievs with local habitants of the village Belo Blato concerning the natural heritage of the reserve „Stari Begej – Carska bara“. 70 persons of diferent age, nationality and gender were successfully interwieved. The young researchers were also engaged in clearing some areas of the reserve from rubbish left by visitors.

Educating pupils of the Primary School „Žarko Zrenjanin“ from Zrenjanin was a joint activity – these organisations spoke about tourism and ecotourism, field work, methods of bird ringing, birds and nature in general etc.

Main sponsors of the camp were the NGO Local Ecology-educational Challenge „Stari Begej-Carska Bara“ (LEC) which provided food, the Travel Agency „Magelan Corporation“ which provided transport and NIS-NAFTAGAS Middle Banat who provided bottled water. Cooperation between LEC and both student societies from Novi Sad will only advance and leed towards greater and more effective research camps and activites.

For more information, please contact Marko Sciban, sciban@EUnet.yu.

6 Waters Unite - 3rd International Central Danube Canoe Tour

Central Danube Floodplains, 27 June-1 July 2007: BITE - Baja Youth Nature Protection Society and Plavi Dunav NGO from Apatin, both member organizations of the Danube Environmental Forum (DEF), for the third time jointly organize the interna-tional canoe tour which intends to draw attention to the natural values of the Central Danube Floodplains, the friendship of nations living in the region, and the importance of international NGO partnership.

Simultaneously, on the occasion of the International Danube Day on 29th June, the local community Backi Monostor will host the central event, gathering participants from neighbouring countries and presenting the local, regional and international in-itiatives that intend to protect the exceptional heritage of the Central Danube Floodplains, such as the European Green Belt initiative and the WWF‘s efforts on developing rural tourism activities.

The participants of the canoe tour will be rowing together for five days on the Danube and its oxbows and channels spanning adjacent floodplains in Croatia, Hungary and Serbia. The canoe tour aims to raise awareness on the need to preserve a com-mon natural and cultural heritage of the Central Danube Floodplains and to let everybody know that the Danube floodplains represent a common borderless habitat, not only for flora and fauna, but for its human population as well.

For more information, please contact Tamás Enikő Anna, DEF Secretariat, def@baja.hu, or Boris Erg, boris.erg@iucn.org.

Seminars & Workshops

1 International Seminar “Countdown 2010: people, protected areas and biodiversity conservation”

Majella National Park, Italy, 24 September - 13 October 2007: “Countdown 2010: people, protected areas and biodiver-sity conservation” is an international Seminar on the management of protected areas and biodiversity, promoted by Italian Protected Areas Federation (Federparchi), Majella National Park, IUCN WCPA and CEC Commissions and WCPA European Training Task Force. The Seminar is supported by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Abruzzo Region Government.

This is a result of successful long term cooperation between IUCN WCPA Europe and CEC, aimed at the development of common programmes to meet the needs and requirements for more effective management of protected areas.

Based in the Majella National Park (Abruzzo Region), from September 24 to October 13, 2007, this first seminar will focus on methods and techniques of monitoring, managing and conserving biodiversity in protected areas, analyzing case studies and best practices worldwide.

The target number will be a maximum of 30 participants involved in Protected Area management. The priority will be for Managers with some experience of Protected Areas. However staff from Government Agencies, Local Authorities, NGOs, as well as Academic and private sector representatives will be considered.

The aim is to respond to and implement international resolutions and recommendations (World Park Congress, World Conservation Congress) and conventions (CBD and others) relevant to the seminar themes (Biodiversity Conservation, effective PA management, networking and connec-tivity of PAs); and to contribute to Countdown 2010 and to a better management of Biodiversity by people for PAs.

Applicants are requested to complete the attached booking form, print out and send as soon as possible, to: Istituto Pangea – onlus, c/o Centro Visitatori del Parco Nazionale del Circeo, Via Carlo Alberto, 04016 Sabaudia – LT, ITALY

Enrolment on the seminar is limited and early application is strongly recommended. Applications will close on June 15, 2007.

For more information, please contact: Dr. Rita de Stefano, Director of Istituto Pangea, e-mail: campus@istpangea.it or rdestefano@libero.it.

2 Europarc Conference and General Assembly of the EUROPARC Federation

Český Krumlov, Czech Republic, 26-30 September 2007: The overall theme of the confernce will be: Nature – Bridging Borders, the date is: 26 – 30 September 2007

Location: Český Krumlov, Czech Republic, located in the south west of the country, close to the Šumava National Park and the Czech-Austrian and Czech-German borders

Organisers: EUROPARC Czech Republic, the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic and the EUROPARC Fede-ration

Honorary speaker: Václac Havel, Czech writer and politician, former President of the Czech Republic

Sub-themes to be treated in keynote speeches and workshops:• Perceptions of borders and bridges in nature, landscapes and the human mind• Co-operation for sustainable management of NATURA 2000 sites• Ecological and nature protection aspects of European bio-corridors• Principles of a common strategy for sustainable tourism activities• The “bridging” EUROPARC Junior Ranger programme• Protected areas and climate change• Site protection in military training areas

Participants: some 300 protected area experts from 38 European countries

The detailed conference programme and registration form will be available at the confe-rence website on www.europarc2007.org from beginning of June 2007.

For further information please contact the conference office on office@europarc2007.org or view the conference website.

Conference venue Český Krumlov, Czech Republic, photo: L. Svaček

Funding

1 Swiss Cohesion Contribution: Framework Agreements to be negotiated now

Swiss authorities have started to negotiate framework agreements on the Swiss Cohesion Contribution with each of the 10 new EU member states individually. The framework agreements will determine the eligible funding areas in each country. In order to make a difference for nature, the content of these framework agreements is of crucial importance.

• Environmental issues should be considered as an important funding area of its own, focusing not only on environmental infrastructure, but also on topics like biodiversity, nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

• Environmental aspects should be considered a cross-cutting issue in all projects which might affect the environment. This has to be reflected in the project approval structure by including environmental experts and NGO representatives in the decision making committees.

• Block grant money, set aside from the total funds assigned to each country, should be designated for small projects to be proposed and implemented by NGOs.

• Coordination with neighbouring countries to pool funds for transboundary initiatives, e.g. Carpathian region, Green Belt.• The approval process for projects and programmes should be as easy and transparent as possible.

Signature and coming into force of the framework agreements are planned for the second half of 2007 and their operational implementation for the end of 2007.

Facts and figures of Switzerland‘s cohesion contribution:Contribution CHF 1 billion ( � € 0.60 billion)Objective Reducing economic and social disparities within EuropeDuration 5-year commitment period; 10-year payment periodBeneficiaries 10 new EU member states: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, SloveniaFunding areas Security, stability and support for reforms; environment and infrastructure; promotion of the private sector; human and social development

For information, please contact Sonja Ribi, Secretary to the Swiss national IUCN Committee, email: info@iucn.ch.

2 Successful NatuRegio project in Romania and Bulgaria starts its next round

Europarc Federation: The NatuRegio project which is being run by the EUROPARC Federation (D) in co-operation with the Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature Conservation (D), Euronatur (D) and the University of Lüneburg (D) starts its second round on 1 May 2007. As last year there will be again ten scholarships awarded to young environmental professionals from Romania and Bulgaria. Successful applicants will take part in a nature conservation training programme in Germany, which is constituted as a three-month trainee programme in protected areas and nature conservation institutions and six one-week training seminars. During that time the trainees are expected to develop a project idea in line with the needs of their home organisation. After having completed the training programme in Germany they will implement the project at home.

The two stays in Germany are scheduled from 20 August to 11 November 2007 and 7 January to 13 February 2008.

Applicants must specify their current area of work in the field of nature conservation in Bulgaria or Romania and should be employed by a Bulgarian or Romanian nature conservation institution.

The application form is available at http://www.naturegio-bg-ro.de/content/view/18/40/ and is to be submitted by 17 June 2007 at the latest to Ms Doris Blume-Winkler on doris.blume-winkler@nna.niedersachsen.de or via mail to:

Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature ConservationDoris Blume-WinklerHof MoehrD-29640 SchneverdingenGermany

For detailed information on the project and the application please view the project’s website at www.naturegio-bg-ro.de.

Photo: Gabriel Schwaderer

Communication & Publications

2 Countdown 2010 for Marine Ecosystems

Berlin, 18-20 April 2007: The Workshop “Countdown 2010 for Marine Ecosys-tems” took place in Berlin, 18-20 April. Human impacts such as overfishing, contamination, acidification, and climate change are driving the loss of marine biodiversity and decrease the benefits that humans can derive from the seas. Our seas and oceans are essential for global food security, for sustaining eco-nomic prosperity, and for the environmental health of our planet.

Approximately 100 experts from 18 European Union Member States, UN orga-nizations, regional seas conventions and NGOs met in Berlin during the German EU Presidency, to discuss three main themes related to marine biodiversity:i) the marine Natura 2000 network; ii) future EU marine policy (the Marine Strategy Directive and the Maritime Policy); iii) protecting biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.

The “Key Messages for Enhancing Marine Conservation” emphasise the impor-tance of the active contribution of the European Union to improve the conserva-tion and sustainable use of marine biodiversity and outline important immediate steps towards reaching the EU target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010.

In addition, you might check for workshop presentations and statements for download on the webpage www.countdown2010.net/marine.

For more details, please contact Bernd Bruhns, Communications Officer, email: bernd.bruhns@iucn.org.

1 One in six European mammals threatened with extinction

Brussels, Belgium and Gland, Switzerland, 22 May 2007: The first assessment of all European mammals, commissioned by the European Commission and carried out by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), shows that nearly one in every six mammal species is now threatened with extinction. The population trends are equally alarming: a quarter (27%) of all mammals has declining populations and a further 33% had an unknown trend. Only 8% were identified as increasing, including the European bison, thanks to successful conservation measures.

Europe is now home to the world’s most threatened cat species, the Iberian Lynx, and the world’s most threatened seal, the Mediter-ranean Monk Seal, both classified as Critically Endangered.

Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: “The results of the report highlight the challenge we currently face to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010, as European governments have promised. It is clear that the full implementation of the Habitats Directive, which covers nearly all mammals found threatened in this assessment, is of utmost importance to protect Europe‘s species“.

The assessment shows that Europe’s mountains and the Balkan Peninsula are home to the greatest diversity of species. This wealth of biodiversity forms an arc which extends from the Pyrenees through the Alps towards the Carpathians and Rhodopes in southeastern Europe. The greatest concentration of threatened species was found in Bulgaria.

The European Mammal Assessment is available at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/ema/

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is available at http://www.redlist.org

For more information, please contact Carolin Wahnbaeck, IUCN Media Relations Officer, carolin.wahnbaeck@iucn.org

European Mammal Assessment Boundaries

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ROfE‘s Structure

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For a history of IUCN and an explanation of the global structure please visit www.iucn.org. ROfE is comprised of four IUCN offices located in Brussels, Belgrade, Tbi-lisi and Moscow. The head office in Brussels, is a mee-ting point where the Programme Office for the Southern Caucasus, The IUCN Programme Office for the Com-monwealth of Independent States in Moscow and the IUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe in Belgrade can disseminate information and strategies. Together as ROfE we strive to meet our goals for a sustainable Europe by utilizing local expertise and the strength of the global IUCN network.

ROfE in Belgrade

Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe

Dr. Ivana Ribara 9111070 BelgradeSerbiaTel: +381 11 2272-411Fax: +381 11 2272-531Email: aleksandra.nesic@iucn.org Edited by Katharina DiehlEmail: katharina.diehl@iucn.org

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