Initiating Effective Transboundary Conservation
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Initiating effective transboundary conservation A practitioner’s guideline based on the experience from the Dinaric Arc Edited by Boris Erg, Maja Vasilijević and Matthew McKinney INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE Initiating effective transboundary conservation A practitioner’s guideline based on the experience from the Dinaric Arc The designation of geographical entities in this publication, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN, WWF, SNV, or the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN, WWF, SNV, or MFA. This publication has been made possible in part by funding from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Belgrade, Serbia Copyright: © 2012 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Erg, B., Vasilijević, M., McKinney, M. (eds.). (2012) Initiating effective transboundary conservation: A practitioner’s guideline based on the experience from the Dinaric Arc. Gland, Switzerland and Belgrade, Serbia: IUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe. ix+98pp ISBN: 978-2-8317-1545-2 Design by: Imre Sebestyén Jr. / UNITgraphics.com Cover photo: Hiking trail to the clouds, Mount Dinara, Croatia © BIUS / Mihael Drakšić Produced by: IUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe Printed by: Stojkov, Novi Sad Available from: IUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe Dr Ivana Ribara 91 11070 Belgrade, Serbia [email protected] Tel +381 11 2272 411 Fax +381 11 2272 531 www.iucn.org/publications iv Table of contents Foreword ........................................................................................................... vi Preface ...............................................................................................................vii Acknowledgements .............................................................................................viii Abbreviations and acronyms ....................................................................................ix 1. Introduction .....................................................................................................1 Partners ......................................................................................................2 Environment for People in the Dinaric Arc ............................................................3 2. Background to transboundary conservation ..........................................................5 2.1 Transboundary conservation: An emerging concept in environmental governance ....6 Maja Vasilijević 2.2 Transboundary conservation areas: History and global trends .........................12 Maja Vasilijević 2.3 Challenges and opportunities of transboundary conservation in the Dinaric Arc ...16 Maja Vasilijević 3. Guidelines ......................................................................................................23 3.1 Guidelines for initiating transboundary conservation. .24 Matthew McKinney and Maja Vasilijević 3.2 Diagnostic tool for transboundary conservation planners: Suggested questions to determine feasibility for transboundary conservation ..................................42 Maja Vasilijević 4. Case studies ..................................................................................................61 4.1 Why transboundary conservation in the Dinaric Arc? .....................................62 Boris Erg 4.2 Lessons from the Western Balkans on initiating transboundary collaboration through a high-level regional political agreement ..........................................64 Deni Porej 4.3 Plitvice Lakes National Park and Una National Park ......................................68 Veronika Ferdinandova and Zrinka Delić 4.4 Mount Dinara ......................................................................................73 Lada Lukić-Bilela, Roman Ozimec, Davorin Marković and Samir Đug 4.5 The Neretva Delta ................................................................................79 Emira Mešanović Mandić 4.6 The proposed transboundary Tara-Drina Biosphere Reserve ...........................84 Aleksandra Mladenović 5. Conclusions ...................................................................................................91 Taking a success story forward .......................................................................92 Boris Erg 6. References .....................................................................................................94 v Foreword The Dinaric Arc of the Western Balkans is one of the most exciting regions in Europe with a great potential for exercising regional and transboundary cooperation. Ever since the launch of the Dinaric Arc Initiative in 2004, numerous cooperation and development programmes, initiatives and site-specific projects have been implemented, many of which have been aimed at creating regional cooperation platforms and strengthening transboundary cooperation. The Finnish Development Cooperation in the Western Balkans stands out as a prominent programme in the region, with the Environment for People in the Dinaric Arc project successfully catalysing the necessary political support and action on the ground. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA) is part of this process, which is based on the sustainable use of natural resources and takes into account the carrying capacity of nature, while also securing the provision of ecosystem services. The implementation of the Environment for People in the Dinaric Arc project is not only biodiversity conservation. It also helps combat the impacts of climate change and applies an ecosystem-based approach in the adaptation to climate change. The Dinaric Arc represents an important region in terms of its biodiversity values, hosting large tracts of unspoiled nature and wilderness. It is also characterized by numerous transboundary sites due to the large number of countries and administrative borders. But nature knows no borders, and therefore all these sites require effective cross-border cooperation. So is the objective of this publication. Building on the experience from the Dinaric Arc, it provides a new methodological tool for all those interested in initiating transboundary conservation around the world. It is also important that this project, in a post- conflict situation, supports rehabilitation and reintegration. Collaboration over borders is trust-building. Nature conservation professionals across borders have the same objectives, and common understanding is easily gained. What is important in transboundary conservation is to secure a high level of participation of local communities and integration in cross-border management processes for the benefit of nature and all those who share the resources. The project managed to advance the regional cooperation agenda on nature conservation, while addressing priority issues in priority transboundary sites in the region. Apart from assessing feasibility for establishing transboundary protected areas, the project has successfully managed to mobilize local actors in defining joint priorities and actions in nature conservation, thus fostering the local cooperation agenda. This only proves that successful transboundary cooperation depends as much on broad political support as on the enthusiasm of the people working on the ground. Ms. Päivi Laivola de Rosière Director Unit for EU Enlargement and Western Balkans Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland vi Preface Where conservation and borders coincide Although transboundary conservation is sometimes regarded as a new and innovative approach to conservation management, it has been applied over many decades in many different parts of the world. Official recognition of these approaches includes the conclusion of specific agreements, e.g. the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park between Canada and the USA founded in 1932. Perhaps more importantly, communities in adjacent states have been cooperating on natural resource management in many regions, in some cases long before the sovereign borders were established, or more recently, when new borders suddenly appear, such as in Southern Sudan. They have done so on the basis of need, whether it has been to resolve issues regarding the management of shared seas, mountain ranges or river basins, or to foster regional peace and cooperation. One principal issue of concern is how to go about putting transboundary conservation practice in place, though a more compelling issue is to determine why to do so. This is where this volume comes into its own. It reflects on and reinforces the lessons and experience of undertaking transboundary conservation programmes, and so usefully sets out some existing and some new guidance for those involved. More importantly in my view, it proposes a diagnostic approach to determining what the underlying purpose is for the transboundary initiative, and to guide the practitioner to respond to this