16. 11. 2008. Sava LIFE Monitoring Mission successfully undertaken in September

Yet another LIFE monitoring mission was successfully undertaken in the frame of the Sava Biodiversity Protection project from 22-24 September 2008. Led by the LIFE III Programme Coordinator and Desk Officer - Mr. Alban de Villepin and Mrs. Anne de Wolf, accompanied by Mr. Egger Topper, external monitor, and the entire Project Management Team, the mission was introduced to a number of project partners and stakeholders. Apart from visiting the State Institute for Nature Protection and the International Sava River Basin Commission in Zagreb, the mission had the opportunity to become acquainted with concrete conservation actions in the Odransko Polje Protected Landscape. Near to the internationally recognized Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, this adjacent floodplain area shows how well planned agri-environmental measures can support both biodiversity conservation and the local economy. After obtaining an insight into the activities of local farmers’ associations, the mission moved to the neighbouring Barda?a Wetland in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the five officially proclaimed Ramsar sites along the Sava River. The mission concluded by discussing the possible next steps in implementing particular actions as regards the project working groups, and also how to secure the proper sustainability of the actions undertaken that, in the long run, should lead towards improved protection of the Sava floodplains. For more information please contact Boris Erg at boris.erg@iucn.org or Lubomira Vavrova at lubomira.vavrova@iucn.org

At the Odransko polje Landscapes (HR) - Kresimir Baljak

07. 11. 2008. Protected Areas in Function of Sustainable Development International Conference to be held on 6-8 November supported by IUCN

Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with relevant organizations and institutions from BiH organises in Bihac the International conference on the protected areas titled „PROTECTED AREAS IN FUNCTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT“ in the period 6-8 November 2008. The goals of the Conference are: - Creation of consensus on importance of protected areas and their influence on economy development of rural areas; - Ppromotion of natural and economy potentials, and first of all tourist resources of Federation and BiH through protected areas as bearers of total offer of BiH; - Creation of conditions for linking of protected areas in the European network NATURA 2000 and smaragd network; - Consideration of the existing state and difficulties with proposals of their overcoming and improvement - Presentation of scientific and professional experiences to this date and knowledge on the protected areas a basis of sustainable development, and presentation of new knowledge and new initiatives related to the planned development of protected areas and sustainable tourism; - Setting of concrete models of resolving difficulties and improvement oft he existing state in the area of legislation, financial support, protected areas management, promotional and marketing activities, and more active interactions between agriculture and tourism, as well as the preservation and protection of traditional construction. The topics of the Conference are: - Protected areas, the experiences from BiH and the region; - The ways of protected natural areas management; - Levels of categorisation of protected natural values; - Proclamation of new areas protected in accordance with the Law on protection of nature; - Domesticated and wild species and habitats; - List of endangered species. For more information please visit www.fmoit.info/index.php?lang=english

Traditional Land Use/IUCN Archives

22. 08. 2008. Danube River Basin International Youth Research Camp „Dragoman” Danube Environmental Forum announces a youth camp

The Youth Research Camp will take place in Bulgaria at the Dragoman Marsh and Chepan Hill (40 km from Sofia) from 1-14 September 2008 in co-operation with BALKANI Wildlife Society’s Workcamp Dragoman. Participants can decide if they want to stay for the whole 2 weeks or only attend second week. We are looking for young people from countries of the Danube River Basin; at least 20 but no more than 30 participants. The age of participants must be between 18 and 30 years. The camp will be free -- the participants only have to pay their own travel expenses. Participants will work in 5 different groups: • Bird Ringing • Reconstruction of Dragoman Marsh educational trail and facilities • Marking of Chepan Hill educational trail • Work on the Wetland Conservation Center • Education and lessons sessions. Each group will have a leader; an expert who will work together with the participants. Our goals are to improve participants’ field work skills, promote the importance of field work and to improve the nature site. To register contact natura2000@balkani.org or call at +359 887 628318 / +359 885 285659. Concept: Dragoman Marsh lays in West Bulgaria close to the Serbian Border. It is surrounded by calcareous hills of which the most important is the Chepan Hill – home of many rare and relict plants. Due to drainage after the 1930s, the marsh disappeared. After draining stopped in 1996, active work of Balkani Wildlife Society led to continuous recovery of the wetland. 250 bird species were registered since (140 breeding). In 2006 a completely new heronry formed in the reeds - first breeding site for Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) in southwest Bulgaria and second for Great White Egret (Egretta alba) in all Bulgaria. Currently Dragoman Marsh is the only wetland in Bulgaria with chances to be fully restored. This workcamp is a continuation of the activities of Balkani for study, restoration and sustainable use of the natural resources in the area. Many interesting birds use the marsh in autumn as resting and feeding place on their long journey to Africa. Birds will be monitored and ringed in order to study their migration and behavior. An educational wooden trail was constructed in 2004 in the marsh but due to the raise of the water now is unusable. The trail will be reconstructed with help of local people and volunteers. Another 13 km long trail will be created on the Chepan Hill on a variety of habitats – grasslands, rocks and forests. The best route will be selected and marked. In 2008 Balkani obtained a building in Dragoman town (2km from the marsh) for the creation of the first Wetland Conservation Center in Bulgaria. During the workcamp the reconstruction and adaptation of the building will start. Ideas for the development of the center will be discussed. The area of the Dragoman Marsh is being restored up to a level that it can fullfil the criteria for designation of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention). During the camp research and lectures about Ramsar will be done and right after the camp a proposal will be submitted.

Birds of Dragoman Marsh

04. 08. 2008. Zasavica proglasena za novo medjunarodno vlazno podrucje prema Ramsarskoj konvenciji Peto prirodno dobro duz Save koje uziva status medjunarodno znacajnog vlaznog podrucja

26. jun 2008. - U okviru primene medjunarodne konvencije o zastiti vlaznih podrucja tzv. Ramsarske konvencije, ciji je potpisnik i Srbija, Sekretarijat ramsarske konvencije uvrstio je Specijalni rezervat prirode „Zasavica“ na listu medjunarodno znacajnih vlaznih podrucja 13. marta 2008. godine, kada je podneta nominacija od strane Ministarstva zastite zivotne sredine, na osnovu strucne studije Zavoda za zastitu prirode Srbije. Iako je proglasenje novog ramsarskog podrucja usledilo brzo posle nominacije, ono i ne predstavlja veliko iznenadjenje, jer je „Zasavica“ izuzetno prirodno dobro koje ispunjava vise kriterijuma za ovaj znacajan medjunarodni status. Zasavica je zasticeno prirodno dobro kao specijalni rezervat prirode, i uvrsteno je u IBA podrucje (Medjunarodno znacajno podrucje za ptice). Recica Zasavica duzine 33 km na severu Macve, predstavlja jednu od retkih oaza iskonske prirode, u cijim su se jedinstvenim recnim i mocvarnim ekosistemima zadrzale brojne retke biljne i zivotinjske vrste. Tako je Zasavica danas jedino utociste biljke aldrovanda Aldrovanda vericulosa i do nedavno jedino potvrdjeno staniste ribe crnka Umbra krameri u Srbiji, jedno od poslednjih mesta u zemlji na kojem se gnezdi patka njorka, prirodna retkost sa svetske Crvene liste, i prvo mesto u Srbiji gde je dabar Castor fiber, u Srbiji davno iscezla vrsta, vracen na svoje nekadasnje staniste. Izvanredan primer odrzivog pasarenja i uzgoj autohtone rase podolskog goveda i mangulice, uslovi za brojna naucna istrazivanja, i drugi aspekti dobra, doprineli su da ovo jedinstveno zasticeno prirodno dobro za kojeg legenda kaze da predstavlja otisak „zmajevog repa“, dobije i ovaj medjunarodni status. „Zasavica“ je tako postala deveto ramsarsko podrucje u Srbiji, pored prirodnih dobara: „Obedska bara“, „Ludasko jezero“, „Stari Begej-Carska bara“, „Slano Kopovo“, „Vlasina“, „Gornje Podunavlje“, „Labudovo okno“ i „Pestersko polje“, na ukupnoj povrsini od 53.714 hektara. Preuzeto sa: Zavod za zastitu prirode Srbije, http://www.natureprotection.org.yu/srp/vesti/?conid=323

Pogled sa kule na Valjevcu - Vladimir Dobretic

04. 08. 2008. Eko-kamp za mlade v Lonjskom polju V okviru obelezevanja 1. junija - Dan Save, je v vasi Krapje potekala delavnica za mlade

13.6.2008. - V okviru obelezevanja 1. junija, ki je bil proglasen kot Dan Save, je v vasi Krapje potekala delavnica za mlade (30. in 31. maj 2008, Krapje, Park Prirode Lonjsko polje, HR). Delavnice so se udelezili mladi iz vseh drzav podpsinic Okvirnega sporazuma o Savsekm bazenu, in sicer iz BiH (Srednja medicinska skola Tuzla in Srednja strucna in tehnicka skola Gradiska), iz Hrvaske (Srednja sola Tina Ujevica in Tehnicka skola Kutina iz Kutine), iz Srbije (Mitrovacka Gimnazija) in iz Slovenije (Gimnazija Brezice in Solski Center Krsko-Sevnica). Prvi del delavnice je bil namenjen predstavitvi bioloske raznovrstnosti ob reki Savi, ter kako pomembno je, da to zascitimo in ohranimo (IUCN), Ramsarskih obmocij v porecju reke Save, in sicer Cerkniskega jezera (SLO), Lonjskega polja (HR), Bardace (BiH) in Obedske bare (SRB). Po uvodnih predstavitvah je del dijakov sodeloval na raziskovalem delu, del pa na ustvarjalnem delu delavnice. Vec informacij o dogajanju na delavnici je razvidno na spletni strani Savske komisije www.savacommission.org.

ISRBC/Samo Groselj

04. 08. 2008. Strengthening the partnership with the International Sava River Basin Commission IUCN has taken a prominent role in the recent events organized by the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC), in frame of the International Sava Day (1 June)

6 June 2008 – Working actively on the conservation of biodiversity of the Sava River floodplains, the Sava Biodiversity Protection Project Management Team (PMT) has commenced extensive talks with the ISRBC on the foreseen contribution to the overall protection of the Sava riverine and floodplain ecosystems by participating in the elaboration of the future Integrated Sava River Basin Management Plan. Recently, the PMT actively participated in the series of events starting with an Eco-camp in the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park in Croatia and ending up with a high level workshop presenting the Strategy on implementation of the Framework Agreement for the Sava River Basin (FASRB). Certainly a highlight of the first International Sava Day was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) and the ISRBC, setting the framework for improved cooperation and coordination between the two commissions concerned. The MoU has been signed on the 5th of June by Mr. Sasa Dragin, ICPDR President 2008 and Mr. Kemal Karkin, ISRBC Chairman.

IUCN Archives

04. 08. 2008. Initial project year rounded up with the Steering Committee meeting in Zagreb Second regular SC meeting held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of Croatia

29 November 2007 - The first year of the project “Protection of Biodiversity of the Sava River Basin Floodplains” was rounded up with the second regular meeting of the project’s Steering Committee, held on 29 November in Zagreb under the auspices of the Croatian Ministry of Culture – Nature Protection Directorate. The meeting brought together representatives of the line ministries of the countries through which the Sava River flows, representatives of the project management team, working group coordinators, NGOs and representatives of partner organizations. In addition to presenting the progress achieved since the initial meeting of the Steering Committee held in April 2007 in Sarajevo, the overall project results for 2007 and the activities conducted within the framework of each of the existing four working groups - biodiversity, land use, GIS and public awareness - were presented. The meeting offered the members of the Steering Committee to become acquainted with how the project is unfolding, and to give their comments and suggestions as to the future course for planning activities, in order to ensure their compliance with existing strategies and programmes at the national and regional levels. A discussion was held on how to best align project activities with the objectives and activities of the Sava Commission, in order to ensure wise management of the resources of the Sava River and its floodplains. Finally, plans for 2008 were presented. The coming year will bring intensive work on collecting and organizing field data, and will continue to present the heritage of the Sava River Valley.

IUCN Archives

04. 08. 2008. First Stakeholder meeting at Bardaca wetlands Stakeholders of all Sava countries gathered to discuss the most relevant issues

24 September 2007 - The first Stakeholder meeting in the project “Protection of Biodiversity of the Sava River Basin Floodplains” was held on 24 September at Bardaca (BiH), which was recently recognized as an internationally important wetland area according to the Ramsar Convention. Bardaca is situated in the Municipality of Srbac, near the confluence of the Vrbas River into the Sava, and represents one of the most preserved wetland areas in the entire Sava River Valley floodplain. The meeting brought together more than 50 participants from all four countries through which the Sava flows – Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. Participants included all partners in the project, representatives of numerous organizations, institutions, protected area managers, associations and non-governmental organizations active in the Sava River region. The meeting brought together a wide range of experts in the field of nature conservation, forestry, water management, agriculture, tourism, development activities and others. The full-day meeting was conceived to allow participants to exchange information about current events in the Sava region, ongoing or recently completed projects and to present individual state strategies in the development of ecological networks along the Sava River. The working part of the meeting was structured to actively analyse public participation and the possibility of including interested parties in the protection and sustainable development of the Sava River Valley. Given that this project is unfolding in the context of cross-border cooperation, these meetings are exceptionally important, not only in terms of strengthening cooperation, becoming better acquainted with current events and exchanging information, but are also aimed at defining a harmonized joint strategy for the protection and conservation of biodiversity and the authentic landscapes along the Sava River.

IUCN Archives