IUCN SEE e-Bulletin Issue 38 · Summer 2014

IUCN South-Eastern European e-Bulletin

Photo: IUCN, Sailing to Barcelona/S.Marincic

Dear Readers,

With great pleasure we share with you the Summer 2014 issue of the IUCN SEE e-Bulletin. It gathers the nature conservation news from our region and brings the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ to the centre of our attention. The IUCN Red List assesses the extinction risk of species globally for already 50 years – we are hereby joining the world celebration of its contribution to nature conservation. The IUCN Red List is the most comprehensive information source on the status of wild species and their links to livelihoods, also seen as a ‘Barometer of Life’. In cooperation with the nature conservation authorities in our region, we have also compiled the overview of national assessments of species’ status. Read more about it in the Focus section.

Wish you a pleasant reading,

Boris Erg, Director of IUCN Programme Office for South- IUCN SEE e-Bulletin Issue 38 · Summer 2014

IN THE FOCUS IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

NEWS & EVENTS 1. European Day of Parks 2. celebrates International Biodiversity Day

3. Wild plants the stars of innovative online toolbox c o ntent 4. Communication skills for the Protected Areas’ staff 5. Conservation planning -from Bihac for the Dinaric Arc 6. The World Water Day 7. Floods in the : long-term solutions needed for people, nature and economy 8. The SEA-Med project 1st Regional Training Workshop 9. Locating bats in Galicica National Park 10. Harmonizing management practices of water ecosystems 11. WWF promoted HABEAS web GIS tool in Bosnia and Herzegovina 12. Opening of the exhibit to celebrate Planet Earth Day 13. Albanian protected areas -national conference 14. European Schools for a Living Planet 15. Four new ‘winged messengers’ among Prespa’s Dalmatian pelicans 16. Balkans Peace Park Project 17. On the brink of extinction in 18. Energy Efficiency Lighting System 19. Serbian Landscapes checking on Sustainable Tourism 20. Gornje and Kopacki Rit saved from destruction 21. Every stork nest will be counted 22. Birds without Borders 23. Stakeholder Exchange within the GreenNet Project 24. Ulcinj Salina, where one falls in love with birds 25. Another wind farm threat in Slovenia 26. Protected loess profiles in Zemun 27. Tourism promotion for the Regional Natural Park of Uleza 28. The Second Environment Film Festival in

PUBLICATIONS & COMMUNICATION 1. Protecting the Planet 2. A call from the wild: SOS Newsletter 3. State of the World’s Sea Turtles (SWOT) Report 4. Natural-history heritage of Tomislavgrad (BIH)

TRAININGS & SEMINARS – ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. Green Belt Conference 2. greenAlps project final conference

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 1. Terra Viva Grants Directory 2. Plantlife Roger Crofts Community Award 3. Charles Stewart Mott Foundation 4. Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund 5. The Rapid Response Facility (RRF)

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Mushroom in Marchairuz, Switzerland by Joëlle Dufour Honey-eater photographed in the forest in Kayanza province, Burundi by Intu Boedhihartono

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is guiding conservation action and policy decisions over the past 50 years. Throughout 2014 its significant contribution is celebrated worldwide. The IUCN Red List is widely recognized as the most comprehensive and objective global approach for the evaluation of plant and animal species conservation status. It is a living tool which requires permanent revision, in order to reflect the possible changes of the species’ status.

The IUCN Red List was first conceived in 1964 and set a standard for species listing and conservation assessment efforts. Ever since, the Species Survival Commission (SSC), supported by the IUCN Species Programme, been evaluating the conservation status of species and subspecies on a global scale - highlighting those threatened with extinction and promoting their conservation.

Over time, IUCN recognized that a more objective and scientific system for determining threat status was needed, one that drew on advances in the science of conservation biology and other disciplines. There was also a need for a more accurate system for use at the national and regional levels. The IUCN Red List Categories evolved over years and the more precise and quantitative Red List Categories and Criteria were adopted by IUCN in 1994. They introduced eight categories based on criteria linked to population trend, size and structure, and geographic range.

In 1988 all bird species were evaluated, and in the 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals assessed for the first time the conservation status of every mammal species in the world. These were major milestones in conservation - not only was the overall status of mammals and birds determined, but it meant an establishment of a baseline for future trends monitoring. For the 1996 list 5,205 species were evaluated resulting in

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25% of all mammals and 11% of all birds being listed as threatened. In 2013 there were over 73,600 species on the IUCN Red List and all mammals, birds, amphibians, sharks, reef-buliding corals, cycads and conifers have been assessed.

The IUCN Red List is used by government agencies, wildlife departments, conservation-related NGOs, natural resource planners, educational organizations, and many others interested in reversing, or at least halting the decline in biodiversity. The IUCN Red List has many uses in conservation including:

• Conservation Planning – informing species-based conservation actions and identifying globally important sites for conservation (including Important Plant Areas, Important Bird Areas, Key Biodiversity Areas and Alliance for Zero Extinction sites).

• Decision-making – Influencing conservation decisions at multiple scales, from environmental impact assessments to international multilateral environmental agreements.

• Monitoring – Indicating the current status of species and revealing trends in their extinction risk over time, to track progress towards biodiversity targets.

In the past 50 years many species groups including mammals, amphibians, birds, reef building corals and conifers have been comprehensively assessed. However, there is much more to be done and increased investment is needed to build The IUCN Red List into a more complete ‘Barometer of Life’. To do this the number of species assessed from the current count of more than 73,600 to at least 160,000 has to be increased by 2020, improving the taxonomic coverage and thus providing a stronger base to enable better conservation and policy decisions.

Watch the IUCN Red List animated video http://youtu.be/VukyqMajAOU

An updated IUCN Red List web portal has been launched recently, enabling the easy serch and access to information.

www.iucnredlist.org www.facebook.com/iucn.red.list @IUCNRedList

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In addition to the IUCN Red List that records the species conservation status globally, countries elaborate separate lists of threatened species, often based on the IUCN Red list Cathegories and Criteria and Guidelines for their application at national and/or regional levels.

For most species, the threat assessments concur. In other words, most species are either considered threatened both nationally and globally, or else not considered globally threatened and not listed nationally. The elaboration of national Red Lists in the countries of South-Eastern Europe differs within a wide range. Some of the countries have not initiated the work as yet (Macedonia and ), others have made some progress on national data gathering (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia) whilst some of them are the region´s leaders, such as Slovenia and Croatia.

In the table that can be accessed here you can find summarized information on the national Red Lists published in South-Eastern Europe. The information has been kindly provided by the responsible nature conservation authorities.

Baron’s mantella, a variegated golden frog found in the subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests of Madagascar by Dennis Hosack

5 IUCN SEE e-Bulletin Issue 38 · Summer 2014 1. European Day of Parks

In 22 countries across Europe on 24 May, national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas opened their doors to visitors celebrating the European Day of Parks 2014. This year hundreds of special activities connected to the theme “Parks for Nature. Parks for well-being. Parks for peace.” celebrated the day. Walks, excursions and exhibitions were held by more than 80 protected areas from Finland to Spain and from Ireland to Romania. They have highlighted the significant role that protected areas play in providing a wide range of social, environmental and economic benefits to people.

National Parks of Montenegro have joined the celebration, with the support of Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, NGO Green Home, UNDP, GEF and NLB Montenegro Bank. During the event in Podgorica, interested citizens learned about the five National Parks that are proclaimed in Montenegro, the offer of the tourism agencies and tasted the authentic products of the communities living in or near the protected areas. The programme included

Photo: National Parks of Montenegro Photo: the education (introducing the flora and fauna of Montenegro), promotion (presenting the local products, food, handcrafts and touristic offer) and entertainment (traditional music and instruments like diple and kavale).

IUCN, INCA and NGO Green Home participated in the event through their project Sustainable Management of Transboundary Lake Skadar, supported by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. Raising awareness of the importance of PAs for human well-being significantly contributes to a common objective of the partners – to ensure the sustainable management of this shared Lake.

For more information please contact Milica Novaković, National Parks of Montenegro at [email protected] or Jovana Janjusevic, NGO Green Home at [email protected].

2. Croatia celebrates International Biodiversity Day

Every year Croatia supports International Biodiversity Day through educational, recreational and other activities organized by the Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection, the State Institute for Nature Protection, protected area authorities and many others. This year the central celebration was organised in Zagreb in Maksimir Park on 18 May, by the State Institute for Nature Protection and the Public Institution Maksimir, with the participation of the Zagreb Zoo, Croatian Environment Agency, Public Institution Nature Park , Croatian Natural History Museum and some primary schools and NGO-s. It encompassed educational activities, such as exhibitions (NATURA 2000 species, Protected biodiversity in Croatia, Invasive species), workshops (geology, CITES corner, How to make a bathouse?, Determination of freshwater invertebrates), etc. Guided tours on flora and fauna of the park were organised for school children.

Maksimir Park originally developed on the outskirts of Zagreb in the late 18th and the early 19th century, but today it is completely surrounded by urban areas. In this new environment, it is a resort for many plant and animal species, in spite of its small surface area of 316 hectares. The Park is an important monument of landscape architecture with an inapplicable value in urban environment. Croatian Environment Agency prepared a publication and a poster “PRIRODA JE (I) U GRADOVIMA”

6 NEWS & EVENTS that are results of the successful cooperation with the Public Institution Maksimir. The publication provides an overview of the state of the Maksimir´s biodiversity.

For more information please contact Martina Cigrovski Mustafić, Croatian Environment Agency at [email protected].

3. Wild plants the stars of innovative online toolbox

An online interactive “Traditional and wild” toolbox, has been created by TRAFFIC to showcase the use of a variety of wild plant species for traditional medicine and food in , the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland and beyond. Created as part of an EU-funded Traditional and wild project it is aimed at preserving knowledge about sustainable harvesting of wild plant resources in Central Europe and available in Polish, Hungarian, Slovenian and Czech, with some sections in Roma.

The toolbox guides visitors on a journey through the wonderful world of wild plants, challenging them to test their knowledge about the plants themselves and traditional harvesting practices. The information contained can be used in a variety of contexts, for training purposes and workshops to enrich knowledge about wild plants. The toolbox also features the FairWild Standard through an online cartoon, which explains how it can guide efforts to ensure plants are managed, harvested and traded in a way that maintains populations in the wild and benefits rural producers. The toolbox has already won “Site of the Day” award for its innovative creative design and ease of use from the prestigious theFWA.com and cssdesignawards.com websites.

For more information please contact Kristina Rodina, TRAFFIC Europe at [email protected].

4. Communication skills for the Protected Areas’ staff

The experts and managers from 15 Protected Areas of Albania improved their communication skills through a training aimed at managing various tasks on national parks promotion. This communication training was held on 12-13 March in Tirana. WWF’s experts explained to the Albanian forest service specialists how to use different communication techniques in order to extend the message of recognition and protection of national parks. The

Photo: INCA Photo: participants have acquired basic skills of public communication related to speaking to the media, working with journalists, leaflet preparation or guiding visitor groups, in order to best promote natural heritage and precious resources their parks hold. WWF Dinaric Parks is a project committed to the preservation and promotion of a regional network of 80 national parks. In Albania, the project is being implemented by WWF Mediterranean and INCA (Institute for Nature Conservation in Albania).

For more information please contact Genti Kromidha, INCA at [email protected].

7 IUCN SEE e-Bulletin Issue 38 · Summer 2014 5. Conservation planning -from Bihac for the Dinaric Arc

Nature conservation authorities from the countries of the Dinaric Arc have gathered in Kostelski Buk, Bihac this May to discuss current projects and most pressing issues in the nature conservation. They reiterated the need for regional cooperation, and agreed about the common goal – identification of issues of interest for the region and generation of new ideas for nature conservation. Representatives of Ministries of Environment, Institutes for Nature conservation and IUCN discussed on-

Photo: Amina Omicevic Photo: going regional activities, such as a comprehensive Assessment of the State of Nature Conservation Systems, capacity building programme, and exchange of knowledge and experience. The meeting, co-hosted by the Federal Ministry for Environment and Tourism, was held within the IUCN’s project “Towards Strengthened Conservation planning in South Eastern Europe”.

For more information please contact Sanja Pokrajac, IUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe at [email protected], or visit www.iucn.org/ConsPlanningSEE.

6. The World Water Day

This year’s World Water Day focused on “Water and Energy”. This was a good occasion for the Institute for Nature Conservation in Albania (INCA) to bring to the public attention issues such as the sustainable hydropower and the destruction of river basin in Albania. Civil society and non-profit organizations have continuously raised their voice for a sustainable use of country’s water resources, particularly rivers. Over 450 licenses were given for the construction of hydropower stations that would generate Photo: INCA Photo: minimal power and cause huge environmental damage. In most of the cases, the IEA procedures and relevant documentation do not comply with the country’s legal standards and those of the European Union, even in trans- boundary water basin contexts. The partners called upon the public and the Albanian responsible institutions, to make concrete steps for saving the river Vjosa from the massive deviation as per the decision of the Greek government. They expressed their support to the Greek civil society efforts that sent the case to the Supreme Court, through the blog http://protectaoos.blogspot.com.

The press conference was organized by INCA and the Network for Nature Protection supported by other environmental organizations such as PPNEA, EDEN, Eko-movement, and the international organizations such as the WWF and the Greek NGO Med-INA.

For more information please contact Zamir Dedej INCA on [email protected].

7. Floods in the Balkans: long-term solutions needed for people, nature and economy

“WWF is deeply saddened by the dramatic losses of life and homes and our thoughts are with the victim’s families”, said Andreas Beckmann, Director of WWF -Carpathian Programme. The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that Europe will experience severe weather conditions more often, including more devastating floods. Recent flooding in the Balkans has underscored the need to focus on ecologically-sound flood

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management practices to shield urban areas from extreme weather events. Long-term solutions for flood management are required that work with nature by giving space back to the rivers.

“Floodplains act as natural reservoirs allowing large volumes of water to be stored and slowly and safely released down rivers and into the groundwater. If cut off from the main river beds and

Photo: Martin Harvey Photo: drained for e.g. agriculture, or increasing urban areas as has happened across most of Europe in the last century, their potential for flood retention is lost and the risks from floods are increased”, says Duska Dimovic, WWF Serbia Country Manager. Still, an integrated and more transparent flood management approach is needed to stop the dangerous cycle of permitting farming or industrial activities in high risk flood areas, like floodplains, and then building higher and higher dykes to protect them. All economic, ecological and human factors must be considered and actions must be taken to provide long-term solutions, by reconnecting the former floodplains to their rivers.

For more information please contact Aleksandra Stamenkovic, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme at [email protected].

8. The SEA-Med project 1st Regional Training Workshop

The 1st Regional Training Workshop of SEA-Med project was held in Vlora, Albania, 29 March - 5 April 2014 near the Karaburun- Sazan Marine Protected Area. It gathered about 40 participants from different countries participating in this regional project as Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Turkey, Croatia and Albania, as well as experts from Greece, Germany, Croatia, and Italy. The workshop focused on the capacity building and networking and was

Photo: INCA Photo: held within the project “Sustainable Economic Activities in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas”, with the assistance of WWF Med-PO and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, USA). Prior to the workshop the project staff meeting was held and a field trip organized to the park area. This regional training workshop is one of the three planned in the frame of the SEA-Med project.

For more information please contact Marinela Mitro, INCA at [email protected].

9. Locating bats in Galicica National Park

A two-day workshop on bat echolocation analysis for monitoring of bat populations was co-organized by Galicica National Park (GNPs), the Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) and GIZ on 25-26 April 2014 and hosted in GNP’s Information Centre in Stenje. Participation included representatives from Galicica National Park, Pelister National Park and the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES), as well as Skadar Lake National

Photo: E. Papadatou E. Photo: Park and the central authority of National Parks of Montenegro. Students from the University of Tirana, working for bat surveying in Albania, also benefitted from the experience of the trainer in the Prespa basin.

The workshop focused on bat echolocation and delved in detail with sound analysis techniques. The practical part of the workshop included recording and analysis of bat sound across transects. Discussions also revolved around possible choices in designing monitoring protocols, which GNP will apply in a pilot phase during 2014. Participants agreed that fundraising efforts should

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concentrate on designing and calibrating protocols, while national parks across the Balkans could benefit from joint and linked proposals.

Baseline research and surveys on bat conservation, initiated by the SPP, have already been undertaken within the Prespa basin. This work has led to the development of the trilateral “Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan for the bats of Prespa”, which was completed in 2011. Dr. Elena Papadatou was involved in the development of the Action Plan and based on her broad experience on bat surveying and conservation, she was invited to convene this workshop.

For more information please contact Irene Koutseri, Society for the Protection of Prespa at [email protected].

10. Harmonizing management practices of water ecosystems

A week-long celebration of Shkodra/Skadar Lake promoted the protection and sustainable development of the lake. From 17 to 21 June, it included a transboundary conference, handcrafts fair, a concert, film festival and photo exhibition, boat tours, lake cleaning and many more. Titled “Harmonizing management practices of water ecosystems”, the conference was organized by the Albanian Ministry of Environment represented by its Minister, Mr. Lefter Koka and Ms. Djana Bejko, the Deputy Minister. Photo: INCA/Ilirjan Qirjazi Photo:

Amongst the attendees there were the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Montenegro, Mr. Petar Ivanovic and Ms. Ivana Vojinović, the Deputy Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism of Montenegro, representatives of the Regional Council, NGOs, the Prefecture, the Shkodra city Mayor, mayors of the surrounding Communes. The conference participants agreed to support lake protection emphasizing the importance of immediate action and the need for more activities and projects that would help the area development. Relevant Ministries from Albania and Montenegro are working towards a Memorandum of Understanding that would establish a joint management platform - secretariat for coordination of the activities which will be based on integrated approach for the conservation of Skadar Lake.

The conference was endorsed by the project “Supporting the Long-Term Sustainable Management of Transboundary Lake Skadar”, implemented in partnership by NGO Green Home, the Institute for Nature Conservation in Albania – INCA and IUCN, and financed by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. INCA’s coordinator, Mr. Zamir Dedej introduced the project, its goals and gaps identified in the management of this protected area. Project aims at development of the National Park Skadar Lake management plan 2015-2020, proper zonation of Shkodra Lake nature reserve in Albania, as well as at strengthening cross border cooperation of relevant institutions and supporting conservation action on the ground.

For more information please contact Zamir Dedej, INCA at [email protected].

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11. WWF promoted HABEAS web GIS tool in Bosnia and Herzegovina

WWF is finalizing the first phase of the project on sustainable forest management in BiH, and one of the final activities was promotion of HABEAS, the web GIS tool that was developed by WWF Mediterranean Portuguese team. At first, it was used only in Portugal to identify and map high conservation value forests (HCVF) for forest certification needs. Along time, the tool has been

Photo: WWF MedPO Photo: developed as a base for PES scheme used by forest owners who are paid for preserving the cork oak forests also for their hydrology service.

Since IKEA invested in the project of certification of forests in Tuzla Canton in BiH (56000 ha were certified!), the same web GIS tool was used to map the high conservation value forests in Tuzla Canton. The presentation of HABEAS was held on the Forest University in Sarajevo in June 2014. Over 30 students and forest experts found out how HABEAS is used in Portugal, and how cork oak forest owners gain financial benefit by using it. Forest owners (private or state) can use this tool to approach companies asking for their investment in maintenance of forest ecosystems services that these companies use and are therefore interested to improve them. This topic initiated the discussion on identifying the companies / sectors that Bosnian foresters could approach.

For more information contact Petra Boic Petrac, WWF MedPo at [email protected].

12. Opening of the exhibit to celebrate Planet Earth Day

On 22 April 2014, a photo exhibition was opened in the Juraj Šižgorić Library in Šibenik. A result of cooperation between the Public Institute of National Park and the Šibenik Photo Club, the exhibition contributed to Earth Day celebration. This year the exhibition’s topic were the upstream localities of Krka National Park, such as Roški slap, , Manojlovac falls, Brljan falls and Bilušića buk. On the same day a recycling workshop was held at the branch of the Public Institute of Krka National Photo: NP „Krka“ Photo: Park for children from the Lozovac Primary School. The emphasis was placed on the creation of pieces and jewellery from recycled materials, such as newspapers, old magazines and used plastic bags.

The aim of Earth Day is to raise public awareness of the dangers threatening life on Earth, and the need to protect the environment and preserve biological diversity and suitable conditions for the coexistence of man and nature. The rapid industrial development has lead to an increased need for energy that caused the increased use of fossil fuels and the release of large quantities of noxious substances into the earth and air.

For more information please contact Katia Župan, Krka National Park at [email protected].

13. Albanian protected areas -national conference

First National Conference on Albanian Protected Areas, an initiative of WWF in collaboration with INCA and the Ministry of Environment, was held in Tirana 11-13 June. The conference was one of the most important events of Dinaric Arc Parks project in Albania. More than 50 specialists, experts and protected areas’ managers discussed the current situation of protected areas in Albania, discrepancies between existing legal framework and law enforcement, as well as challenges to be faced on sustainable management of these natural resources.

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The speakers invited Albanian administration to pay attention to protected areas as they comprise 16% of Albanian territory and they offer complex economic benefit, by providing Albanian citizens with their environmental services and serving as outdoor recreational destinations. Representatives of the Ministry of Environment and the National Agency of Tourism informed the audience on their work progress and future intentions, while invited donors such as UNDP and KfW introduced local initiatives Photo: WWF MedPo Photo: and several ongoing projects. On the second day, the working groups sessions focused on sustainable tourism management, evaluation of the benefits that come from protected areas and improvement of communication process with Albanian public. A study trip to National Park of Divjaka was organized on the third day of Conference with some Albanian media and participants. First PA Conference in Albania aimed to support the establishment of a national association of protected areas that could further be connected with the colleagues from the Dinaric Arc Parks network.

For more information please contact Odeta Stavri, WWF Med PO at [email protected].

14. European Schools for a Living Planet

The final event of the cross boarder environmental initiative „European Schools for a Living Planet“ took place in Moieciu de Sus, Romania, 2-4 June. Held for the sixth time, the initiative gathered 33 school classes from eleven European countries that prepared and carried out different environmental projects. The project participating countries include Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Austria, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Ukraine and Hungary. Schools’ projects included self-made school gardens, street events, theatre plays and exhibitions as well as students- teaching-students actions. Important conclusions were related to the exchange process on the lessons learned and possible Photo: WWF Photo: obstacles projects could face, as well as the strengthening of the intercultural network. The participants also agreed on the creation of the cornerstone of the transnational „ESFALP River Day“, which will be held in fall 2014. „With ‘European Schools for a Living Planet’, we want to teach our students, that they can change things. With our workshops, we provide them with methods to do so and articulate their opinion in public and motivate others, to take care of the environment“, says Barbara Tauscher, Head of the WWF Environmental Education Program in Austria. More information on „European Schools for a Living Planet“ can be found under www.wwf.at/esfalp.

15. Four new ‘winged messengers’ among Prespa’s Dalmatian pelicans

In June, a further four GPS/GSM transmitters were placed on the Dalmatian pelicans in the Prespa Park by the Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP). The SPP has been monitoring pelican movements since 2012, and this technology is particularly useful for monitoring endangered species like the Dalmatian pelican, providing the valuable data on the birds’ presence in wetlands of the Balkans and Turkey, the dangers they face and the causes of their mortality.

It is evident that the conservation of this magnificent yet globally

Photo: Alexandrou Photo: O. endangered species, one of the oldest birds on Earth, depends

12 NEWS & EVENTS on a large number of wetlands throughout several countries that enable their migration and the breeding period providing for their food and rest. Therefore, cooperation between the countries of Southeast Europe is vital to ensure coordinated protection of the birds. In this collaborative context the second national Pelican Census was successfully undertaken in 45 Greek wetlands this spring, by the SPP together with the Hellenic Ornithological Society, the Management Bodies for 12 protected areas and over 20 volunteers. In total, 4,043 Dalmatian pelicans and 437 great white pelicans were counted, similarly to 2013 count. Furthermore, in Prespa the census was carried out at a transboundary level in co-operation with the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES) and the Prespa National Park in Albania. It is evident that coordinated efforts are already in place and the next step will be the organization of a Balkan-wide pelican census.

For more information please contact Marianna Vlassi, Society for the Protection of Prespa at [email protected].

16. Balkans Peace Park Project

To widen and deepen regional partnerships in the pursuit to establish a transboundary Peace Park in the mountain regions of Albania, Montenegro and , Balkans Peace Park Project (B3P) committee member Teresa Lappe-Osthege visited the region in early May. While the main purpose of the trip was to research different sentiments towards the project to identify strengths and weaknesses, meetings with academics and young activists opened up new opportunities for cooperation. In collaboration with former Balkans Peace Park Project Albania Photo: Teresa Lappe-Osthege Teresa Photo: (B3PA) chairman Nick Shqau, Teresa taught a seminar in the MSc Sustainable Tourism at the University of Shkodra, introducing students to the idea of a transnational Peace Park in their region and discussing their ideas and concerns. An initial meeting was held with the founders of the young Montenegrin NGO Follow Us which works to raise awareness of environmental issues while simultaneously bridging cultural, ethnic and religious divides. The possibility to launch a joint small-scale project is currently being explored. It might accompany the launch of the summer camp in Plav, Montenegro, which is scheduled for July 2014 and would be a crucial step towards strengthening transboundary cooperation and reaffirming the shared concern for the conservation of the regional environment.

For more information please visit www.balkanspeacepark.org or contact Peter Spafford, B3P at [email protected].

17. On the brink of extinction in Serbia

The Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) is one of the several raptor species whose number and abundance stagnates or grows through Central and Eastern Europe, while in Serbia it is rapidly declining. It is an endangered species globally, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia is implementing the conservation project on the Saker Falcon in Serbia, funded by Photo: Oto Sekereš Photo: the British Nature Conservation Foundation „Rufford“. One of the main project partners is the Public Enterprise “Elektromreža Srbije“, with whom the Society has a continuous cooperation since 2007. Project will enable the mounting of 30 specially designed nest boxes on electric pylons. Boxes will help the breeding of Saker Falcons and allow the electrical power distribution and maintenance of pylons. The nest boxes will have sides and a roof which

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will protect the eggs and nestlings from strong winds and rain. Once the nest boxes are set up the ornithologists will monitor the settlement process. In addition, field workers will be trained for conservation of Saker Falcons, following the good example of colleagues from Romania, Hungary, Austria and Slovakia.

For more information please visit www.pticesrbije.rs.

18. Energy Efficiency Lighting System

On 15 April 2014, on the occasion of closing event for the project “Energy Efficiency Lighting System in Themistokli Gërmenji Park”, several promotional activities were organized in Korça. The project enabled the setting up of the LED technology lighting systems for the main parks in Korça: Themistokli Gërmenji and Vangjush Mio.

The activities started with an awareness campaign on energy efficiency organized at “Themistokli Gërmenji” City Park where school children distributed leaflets and placed posters on the new lightning technology. It was followed by the inaugural ceremony attended by the Prefect of Korça Mr.Konomi, the Mayor, Mr.Filo, GEF-SGP Local Coordinator, Mr.Gaçe, Head of INCA, Mr.Dedej and other representatives of local community and NGOs, students, citizens, etc. As the evening progressed, the park Photo: INCA Photo: was lit by the LED bulbs. The project” was funded by GEF and Korça Municipality. It aimed not only to contribute to the country’s energy efficiency through the new LED lighting system technology installation, but also to provide a new approach by creating a model to be used in other parts of public lighting system. The use of LED lamps in public lighting is an alternative way that leads to the reduction of energy consumption.

For more information please contact Ilirjan Qirjazi, INCA at [email protected].

19. Serbian Landscapes checking on Sustainable Tourism

Two wonderful protected landscapes in Serbia - Special Nature Reserve Gornje Podunavlje and National Park Fruska – are very much aware of how vulnerable nature here can be. They are the first in Serbia to have applied for EUROPARC’s European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas – an important step towards sustainable tourism which does not damage the very nature people come to see.

Photo: NP Fruska Gora (Serbia), EUROPARC NP Fruska Gora (Serbia), Photo: EUROPARC Consulting, with its great expertise in sustainable tourism, is responsible for evaluating these applications and has just successfully completed the two inspections of the territories. Its verifier is now preparing the two evaluation reports to be submitted to the EUROPARC Evaluation Committee later this year. Although relative newcomers to tourism, both areas have recognised that it is easier and better to incorporate sustainability early. By starting slow, their tourism industry can continue to grow and be fully sustainable in the long run. Linking with protected areas and tourist destinations in neighbouring countries (Croatia, Hungary) would open exciting new possibilities. The diversity of natural and cultural resources would be enhanced and allow the areas to compete better on the European market than they could as small and divided protected areas.

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Parks are in the nomination process for this certificate as part of a WWF project “Dinaric Arc Parks”, having founded the Forum for all tourism stakeholders, created an action plan and a tourism strategy for the period of five years. The results of this visit will be known in October.

For more information please contact Petra Boić Petrač, WWF MedPO at [email protected] or Wilf Fenten, EUROPARC Consulting at [email protected]. A full article is available here.

20. Gornje Podunavlje and Kopacki Rit saved from destruction

In April, the Croatian Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection has stopped one of the largest planned destructions of nature on the Danube River. A 53-kilometer long natural stretch of the Danube along the Croatian-Serbian border has been under huge pressure from the Croatian inland navigation agency to be regulated and channelized. As a result, the Kopacki Rit Nature Park in Croatia, an internationally renowned bird paradise, as well as Serbia’s most important Danube´s Nature Reserve - Photo: Boris Erg Photo: Gornje Podunavlje, would have literally dried out. “Stopping this senseless destruction of one of the most valuable floodplains of the entire Danube is a major success for the preservation of European nature,” says Arno Mohl of WWF.

The decision of the Croatian Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection from 26 March 2014 comes after the massive resistance of conservation organizations such as WWF, Euronatur, Birdlife International, Wetland international as well as local NGOs. More than 20,000 people have supported a petition to save Kopacki Rit in 2012. The EU Commission and the EU Parliament had opposed the regulation project, which is contrary to EU law. Kopacki Rit lies in the strictly protected core zone of the future five-country Mura--Danube Biosphere Reserve, which is also listed as a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance. The river regulation project would have seriously damaged it, threatening biodiversity. Some 300 species of birds, 64 species of fish and up to 50 wild cats live in Kopacki Rit, which is also known as “Amazon of Europe”.

For more information please contact Aleksandra Stamenkovic, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme at [email protected].

21. Every stork nest will be counted

Bird Study and Protection Society of Serbia has announced the White Stork census in Serbia, 20 June-10 July. The census is part of the 7th international count of white stork nests that aims to gather the data and compare the population trends of this species.

“We care about every stork nest and because of this we would like to, with the help of anyone willing, to count all of the stork nests in Serbia; to mark all of their locations, to describe the types of places they nest Photo: Jožef Gergelj Photo: in, and how many hatchlings they are able to feed,” said biologist Sandra Jovanovic, coordinator of White Stork census in Serbia. “The last count of storks was done 14 years ago, but only in , where less than 1000 pairs of this endangered and protected species had nested,” said Marko Tucakov, ornithologist in the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province. “We know for sure that we have villages that are globally important for White Storks, like for example Taraš, near , where 38 pairs of storks have nested this year. Potisje and Potamišje are the major

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places of the nesting of our storks,” says Tucakov. Through this census the experts will gather the data on nests located in dangerous areas, and reacts by relocating them for the safety of storks and people.

For more information please visit www.pticesrbije.rs.

22. Birds without Borders

Within the project „ORNIBA-Bird Species Protection in Balkans: Joint Intervention by Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro“ financed by European Union through the IPA Cross-Border Programme Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro, and implemented by NGOs: Oxfam, „Naše Ptice“, „Novi val“ from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Center for Protection and Research of birds and Tivat Municipality from Montenegro, raising awareness about the need of fight against poaching and involvement of the youngest generation in protection of important habitats for bird species is done in both countries. Almost thousand Photo: Center for Protection and Photo: Research of birds Montenegro elementary school students have participated on the workshops conducted by partner organization „Novi val“ in Eco center Blagaj and Tivat. Children had the opportunity to see „critical spots“-bird habitats which are endangered by human activities and to participate at the lectures about the conservation of these sites. All what children saw and heard is integrated into puppet show „Birds without borders“ through which they expressed their creativity and understanding of the problem. Young artists from Mostar put the show on the stage of „Mostar Youth Theater“ which will allow children from both countries to learn about problems and possible solutions which would lead to protection of bird species in the Balkans.

For more information please contact Sanja Radulović, Oxfam Italia at [email protected] or Marija Stanišić, Center for Protection and Research of birds of Montenegro at [email protected]

*The content of this text is sole responsibility of Oxfam Italia and Center for Protection and Research of birds of Montenegro and can in no way be taken to refflect the views of the European Union.

23. Stakeholder Exchange within the GreenNet Project

The European Green Belt initiative and GreenNet Project aim to bring people from different nature protection areas, different experiences and approaches together. Similar problems from different regions could be therefore solved in the same way if we had the proper knowledge. In order to gain such knowledge 18 participants working for municipalities, water management authorities, landscape planning and nature conservation organisations from Slovenia and

Photo: Gregor Domanjko Photo: Austria joined the stakeholder exchange in June 2014 organised by representatives of Goričko Nature Park and Association of Rural Development Thuringia. German experts dealing with Milz River told and showed their experiences about renaturation of Milz River to Slovenian and Austrian colleagues which share similar problems at Kučnica River due to intensification of agriculture and water pollution. After building a waste-water purifying plant on Milz, removal of concrete stones and artificial river thresholds from water ecological conditions for Natura 2000 species in water like Thick Shelled River Mussel, European crayfish and European Bitterling improved. German colleagues concluded that the cooperation and communication between the different stakeholders involved in spatial and regional development in the intensive used agricultural landscapes like it is Thuringia is really difficult, but necessary in order to achieve common goals – sustainable development in and along the European Green Belt.

For more information, please contact Gregor Domanjko or Stanka Dešnik, Goričko Nature Park at www.park-goricko.org.

16 NEWS & EVENTS

24. Ulcinj Salina, where one falls in love with birds

Besides salt production Ulicnj Salina promotes bird watching in order to raise awareness of its biodiversity. A group of five guides was formed, ready to inform the visitors on the natural beauty and rich biodiversity of the lagoon, mainly focusing on fauna. They were trained in Italy, Slovenia and partly on Ulcinj Salina, and are now promoting the bird watching on the territory of Salina, that ranks highly on international birdwatchers list in this part of the Europe.

At the Salina entrance one can buy authentic souvenirs such as natural salt crystals, non refined sea salt, medicinal mud as well as aromatized bathing salts. Entrance fee to the reserve is 3 euro. More than 250 bird species has been registered here, representing half of all European species. Center for Protection and Research of Birds Montenegro This is., apart from the salt, the biggest ecological value of the area. About two dozen thousands of birds winters on Salina, and beauties with fiery feathers – flamingos, catch the special attention. Flamingos can be seen in great numbers and every time from smaller distance. Since May last year, couple hundreds of pairs have nested on Salina, and a fascinating number of couple of thousands has been seen.

You can hire a guide trough the portal www.solana-ulcinj.me, or via e-mail [email protected].

25. Another wind farm threat in Slovenia

In May 2014 the Slovenian Government shared a Draft spatial plan, announcing the placement of 40 wind turbines on Senožeška brda (Sb) in a MAB area of UNESCO Škocjanske jame Park, near Nanos Mountain in the Municipality of Divača. The reason for erecting wind turbines are the subsidies (read the whole story).

Civil initiative was established to protect Sb and its beautiful karst landscape from degradation, and to work towards the green tourism development in this area. A part of Sb is also in Natura 2000 protected area containing a corridor for bears, wolfs, lynxes and wild cats connecting Slovenia, Austria and Italy. Low-frequency (under 200 Hz)

Photo: Tomaz Ogrin Tomaz Photo: and infra (under 20 Hz) noise emissions from wind turbines pose a big threat for the people’s health. The wind turbine placed in the vicinity (Enercon 2.3 MW) has caused sleep disturbance and headaches to people living just about 900m far, already in its first year of operation. Investor of 40 wind turbines insists on only 800m setback, the minimal distance of a turbine from dwellings. International experience on similar hilly terrains shows setbacks from the wind farm to be 3-5km or more. Green tourism is seen as a preferred development option of the area, as opposite to the erection of wind farms, an unpredictable source of low quality electricity.

For more information please contact Tomaz Ogrin at [email protected], or visit www.senozeska-brda.si.

26. Protected loess profiles in Zemun

Based on the research and the protection studies, conducted by the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, two new protected areas have been designated in Belgrade, which are protected as the third category natural monuments of geological character.

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“The loess profile Kapela u Batajnici”, designated as protected area in May 2014 and “Zemun loess profile”, which was protected in December 2013 are open loess profiles in the Danube region, managed by the NGO Ekološki pokret Zemun. Loess-paleosol complexes in the Danube region are magnificent in all Europe and undisturbed in the past million years, thus revealing data up to 850000 years old. These exceptionally sensitive paleogeographic and paleoclimatic indicators clearly read the alternation of the cold-dry and warm-wet periods, which is of great scientific importance and contributes to the Photo: Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia Photo: knowledge about the period of the Ice Age in the south-eastern part of the . Loess horizons and fossil soil horizons are clearly visible on these geological monuments of nature. These horizons indicate the periods of glacial-interglacial cycle, that is, the alternation of cold and warm intervals of the Ice Age, based on which it is possible to continuously monitor the development of loess formations in this part of Europe, which are approximately million years old.

For more information please contact Maja Radosavljevic, Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia at [email protected].

27. Tourism promotion for the Regional Natural Park of Uleza

To mark the first anniversary of the proclamation of the First Regional Natural Park in Albania, along with the commemoration of the St. Mark’s Day, a traditional ritual in Uleza town, the local association Miqesia, INCA and the Commune of Uleza, organized on 25 April a series of promotional activities. The event had a great participation from Uleza community and the area around it, including school students, creating a pleasant festive environment. Photo: INCA Photo:

The purpose of the celebration was to bring the community nearer to the protected area, making it much more visible as a territory protected by the law, and, at the same time promoting tourism and cultural values that are unique for this area. The water sports are also seen as an excellent development direction unused so far for tourism attraction due to the specific characteristics of the area. The Uleza Regional Park is the first example of a new protected areas approach in Albania, as is managed by the local authority. The park seeks to promote the local values of biodiversity, preserve and protect the beautiful nature of this area, increase interest in tourism development by bringing to the attention of any visitor the excellent opportunities for entertainment and enjoyment. It aims to become an example and motivate the declaration of other regional natural parks in Albania.

For more information please contact Artan Miza, Miqesia at [email protected].

18 NEWS & EVENTS

28. The Second Environment Film Festival in Albania

The Festival took place 17-24 May 2014 in four cities of Albania, with 43 films broadcasted and 82 screenings in total. A competition was held this year on short and very short environmental movies from Albania and the South-West Balkans in general. An estimated 5000 persons attended the Festival that was composed of diverse activities, such as film screenings, workshops on environment and movie, NGOs fair, recycled materials fashion show, Natural History Museum visits, kids activities at the Theater of Comedy, cleaning actions in the National Park of Bredhi i Hotoves-Dangelli, etc. The Opening ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister on Environment, EU Chargé d’Affaires, Ambassador of Austria, and UN country representative. IUCN’s work in Albania was introduced to the public through a movie “Our hidden treasure”, directed by Fabio Toncelli and produced within the project “Institutional Support for Protected Areas in Albania” financed by the Italian Cooperation - DGCS.

19 PUBLICATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS

1. Protecting the Planet

Read about the inspiring success in conservation – this issue is dedicated to World Heritage

2. A call from the wild: SOS Newsletter

Read the conservation news from the field from SOS projects worldwide. The last newsletter is accessible here.

SOS - Save Our Species is a global coalition initiated by the 3 founding partners IUCN, GEF and World Bank to build the biggest species conservation fund, supporting on-the-ground field conservation projects all over the world.

3. State of the World’s Sea Turtles (SWOT) Report

In the newest edition of SWOT - a free and unique publication on global sea turtle conservation - MEDASSET discusses coastal development trends in the Eastern Mediterranean following the financial crisis. Through three examples of development in sea turtle habitats, the article “Economic Recovery Takes Its Toll on Mediterranean Loggerheads” reveals the impacts of the current trend, proposes solutions and calls for conservation action. Read the article here and access the full publication here.

For more information please contact Liza Boura, MEDASSET at [email protected].

4. Natural-history heritage of Tomislavgrad (BIH)

A ‘Monograph of the Natural-history Heritage of Tomislavgrad’ is a project lead by the Society Naša baština (Our heritage) from Tomislavgrad (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Zagreb (Croatia). The region of Tomislavgrad County covers 969 km2 and belongs partly to the Mediterranean, partly to the Alpine Biogeographical Region. The county is occupied by two big karst poljes, Duvanjsko polje (112 km2) and Buško blato, part of Livanjsko polje (405 km²), 11 mountain massifs, three of them over 2000 m; two lakes, Buško and Blidinjsko jezero and the sinkhole river Šujica. As work of four editors, two chief-editors and 24 authors, supported by more than 50 photographers, 3 reviewers and a technical team of graphical designers, lectors, correctors and translators, the monograph is published on 615 pages in August 2013. Its content is divided in 15 chapters: History; Geography; Geology and Geomorphology; Palaeontology; Speleology; Fungi, Lichens, Algae and Mosses; Flora; Fauna; Agrobiodiversity; Forestry; Hunting and Fishery; Livestock; Dog breed Tornjak; Mountaineering and Tourism; each with abstracts in three languages: Croatian, English and German. It includes obituaries for two great scientists, Dr. Sc. Čedomil Šilić and for Dr. Sc. Martin Schneider Jacoby. The Monograph promotes the nature conservation and provides the direction for further research and the protection of Duvanjsko and Livanjsko polje.

For more information please contact Marko Rados, Naša baština Zagreb at marko.rados@ nasabastina.com or Miro Sumanovic, Naša baština Tomislavgrad at [email protected].

20 IUCN SEE TRAININGS & SEMINARS e-Bulletin Issue 38 · Summer 2014 1. Green Belt Conference

The last Green Belt newsletter from April 2014, informed the readers about the possible foundation of the European Green Belt Association and it could be officially founded on the occasion of the 8th Pan-European Green Belt Conference which takes place from 23-26 September 2014 in Slavonice, Czech Republic. The conference is organized by EuroNatur and BUND Project Office Green Belt, Centre for the Future and Nadace partnerství, with support of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) with funds of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.

For more information please contact [email protected]

2. greenAlps project final conference

Embedding biodiversity – international final conference for the greenAlps project will be held 13-14 October 2014 in Chambéry, France.

Ensuring that biodiversity remains intact in the Alps will require long-term landscape planning, new ways of co-operating and improved measures from local to European level. Alpine regions, protected areas and NGOs have all set themselves the goal, in the context of the greenAlps project, of improving the framework conditions for a sustainable and efficient European environment policy. How can project results regarding biological diversity be used and communicated in the long term? How can the new EU funding programmes contribute to maintaining biodiversity? Partners will be discussing these and other questions and presenting the results of the greenAlps project at the final conference. The event and its discussion is open to the public. The programme will be published in the summer.

greenAlps is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund in the Alpine Space Programme INTERREG IV B. For more information on the project see www.greenalps-project.eu.

21 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

1. Terra Viva Grants Directory

This global database provides information about international grant funding for agriculture, energy, environment, and natural resources in the developing world. They focus on grant makers (donors) serving the developing world. The website is mostly used by people searching for financial support of their work as individuals or as organizations. Grant makers included in the Terra Viva Grants Directory range from funders of community projects to funders of science and research. For more information please visit: www.terravivagrants.org.

2. Plantlife Roger Crofts Community Award

The deadline for applications submission for the 2014 Plantlife Roger Crofts Community Award is 30 September. The Award ( £500) is open to community groups, small non government organisations or individuals from Eastern Europe undertaking plant conservation work in the wild (in situ). It promotes best practice in plant conservation at community level and stimulates further action. For more information please contact Elizabeth Radford, Plantlife at Liz.Radford@ plantlife.org.uk or visit http://www.plantlife.org.uk/international/wild_plants/rogercroftsaward/.

3. Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

Deadline: 31 Dec 2014

Interest Area(s): Community, Human Rights and NGO Capacity Bldg

International grant making of the Mott Foundation is largely concentrated through their Civil Society program. The mission of this program is to strengthen philanthropy and the nonprofit sector as vital vehicles for increasing civic engagement and improving communities and societies. While grantmaking objectives and strategies are tailored to the specific circumstances of each geographic region in which they work, (Central/Eastern Europe & Russia and South AFrica) two broad themes unite grantmaking within the program: to empower people and nonprofits to take collective action that promotes and defends democratic values; and to promote and develop a more robust culture of private giving for public good. Full details for each region can be found on the website. Link to Website / Read More

4. Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund

Deadline: 28 Feb, 30 Jun and 31 Oct

Interest Area(s): Conservation

The Fund has been established to provide targeted grants to individual species conservation initiatives, recognize leaders in the field and elevate the importance of species in the broader conservation debate. Its focus is global and eligibility for grants will extend to all plant, animal and fungi species conservation efforts, without discrimination on the basis of region or selected species. The Fund

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intends to be as flexible and accommodating as possible when reviewing applications, and to take into account as many different factors as is reasonable when assessing the merit of a suggested project. Full criteria for applications are available on the website.

Link to Website / Read More

5. The Rapid Response Facility (RRF)

RRF invites small grant applications for UNESCO inscribed natural World Heritage sites, and tentative sites facing emergency threats to their biodiversity. There is no deadline for submission of grant applications. Applications are received, and funding decisions are made, on a rolling basis and in response to need. The RRF is a unique small grant programme jointly operated by Fauna & Flora International, UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Fondation Franz Weber. With a target processing time for grant applications of just 8 working days, the RRF provides rapid support to MEMBERSHIP CORNER enable conservation practitioners to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies in some of the world’s most important sites for biodiversity. For more information please visit RRF website (www. rapid-response.org). To check if the site where you work is a NWHS or tentative NWHS visit: http:// whc.unesco.org/en/list and http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/. Applicants can also email the RRF in English, French or Spanish at [email protected] with any questions about eligibility and the application process. Applicants are strongly advised to contact the RRF for guidance before submitting a full application.

23 Guidelines for contributing to the IUCN SEE e-Bulletin

IUCN welcomes articles in which you report on the activities related to transboundary cooperation in protected areas and biodiversity conservation. Please inform the public on the status of your projects and actions, as well as events that you attended. You are welcome to announce new meetings and workshops, briefly report on new publications and announce funding opportunities. Please send a photo to accompany your article if appropriate and indicate your email and/or weblink for further reference.

The articles should be 150-250 words in length. Please note this as the interest to distribute news articles through the bulletin is extremely high and we are trying to secure space for all of you to contribute. The editors reserve the right to shorten and modify the text if necessary. Thank you for taking these guidelines into consideration!

Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe

IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more than 1,200 government and NGO members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN’s European region covers the European continent, Russia and Central Asia, and includes the European Union overseas entities. IUCN Programme Office for South Eastern Europe promotes improved governance of natural resources and biodiversity, and supports initiatives to conserve biodiversity and manage ecosystems for human well-being. Working closely with IUCN Members and Commissions, it shapes regional policy and supports two flagship initiatives: Dinaric Arc Initiative and European Green Belt. www.iucn.org/southeasterneurope

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IUCN SEE e-Bulletin contains third party articles. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN and the responsibility for the content of the published articles remains with the authors.

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Edited and published by: IUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe