Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) – 2009-2012 version Available for download from http://www.ramsar.org/ris/key_ris_index.htm. Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 (1990), as amended by Resolution VIII.13 of the 8th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2002) and Resolutions IX.1 Annex B, IX.6, IX.21 and IX. 22 of the 9th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2005). Notes for compilers: 1. The RIS should be completed in accordance with the attached Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. Compilers are strongly advised to read this guidance before filling in the RIS. 2. Further information and guidance in support of Ramsar site designations are provided in the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 14, 3rd edition). A 4th edition of the Handbook is in preparation and will be available in 2009. 3. Once completed, the RIS (and accompanying map(s)) should be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat. Compilers should provide an electronic (MS Word) copy of the RIS and, where possible, digital copies of all maps. 1. Name and address of the compiler of this form: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY. DD MM YY Jasminka Radović State Institute for Nature Protection Trg Mažuranića 5 Designation date Site Reference Number HR ‐ 10000 Zagreb Republic of Croatia Tel. +385 1 5502 931 Fax. +385 1 5502 902 e‐mail: [email protected] Eugen Draganović Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection Nature Protection Directorate Republike Austrije 14 HR ‐ 10000 Zagreb Republic of Croatia Tel.. +385 1 4866 110 Fax. +385 1 4866 100 e‐mail: eugen.draganovic@min‐kulture.hr 2. Date this sheet was completed/updated: June, 2012 3. Country: Croatia / Republic of Croatia Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 2 4. Name of the Ramsar site: The precise name of the designated site in one of the three official languages (English, French or Spanish) of the Convention. Alternative names, including in local language(s), should be given in parentheses after the precise name. Crna Mlaka (Crna Mlaka Fishponds) 5. Designation of new Ramsar site or update of existing site: This RIS is for (tick one box only): a) Designation of a new Ramsar site ; or b) Updated information on an existing Ramsar site 6. For RIS updates only, changes to the site since its designation or earlier update: a) Site boundary and area The Ramsar site boundary and site area are unchanged: or If the site boundary has changed: i) the boundary has been delineated more accurately ; or ii) the boundary has been extended ; or iii) the boundary has been restricted** and/or If the site area has changed: i) the area has been measured more accurately ; or ii) the area has been extended ; or iii) the area has been reduced** ** Important note: If the boundary and/or area of the designated site is being restricted/reduced, the Contracting Party should have followed the procedures established by the Conference of the Parties in the Annex to COP9 Resolution IX.6 and provided a report in line with paragraph 28 of that Annex, prior to the submission of an updated RIS. b) Describe briefly any major changes to the ecological character of the Ramsar site, including in the application of the Criteria, since the previous RIS for the site: Application of the Criteria There was no update of the RIS since designation of the site in 1993. There is a significant amount of new information available today, allowing more precise application of previous Criteria from 1990 as well as of revised Criteria adopted in 2005. 7. Map of site: Refer to Annex III of the Explanatory Note and Guidelines, for detailed guidance on provision of suitable maps, including digital maps. a) A map of the site, with clearly delineated boundaries, is included as: see Appendix 1 (hard copy) and Appendix 2 (CD with JPEG and GIS file) i) a hard copy (required for inclusion of site in the Ramsar List): ; ii) an electronic format (e.g. a JPEG or ArcView image) ; iii) a GIS file providing geo-referenced site boundary vectors and attribute tables . Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 3 b) Describe briefly the type of boundary delineation applied: e.g. the boundary is the same as an existing protected area (nature reserve, national park, etc.), or follows a catchment boundary, or follows a geopolitical boundary such as a local government jurisdiction, follows physical boundaries such as roads, follows the shoreline of a waterbody, etc. The boundary is identical to the boundary of existing protected area (two special ornithological reserves). The line follows the outer edge of fishpond banks, including additionally one management unit of adjacent alluvial forest. 8. Geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude, in degrees and minutes): Provide the coordinates of the approximate centre of the site and/or the limits of the site. If the site is composed of more than one separate area, provide coordinates for each of these areas. Approximate centre: 45° 36' 40" N, 15° 44' 9" E 9. General location: Include in which part of the country and which large administrative region(s) the site lies and the location of the nearest large town. Crna Mlaka is situated in NW part of Croatia, in the middle of the lowland basin along the Kupa River, named Pokupski Bazen (Kupa Basin). Kupa River is one of the largest Croatian rivers. It is 296 km long, starting in the mountain area of Gorski Kotar. It flows towards NE, partly forming the border with Slovenia. Entering the lowland, it forms extensive basin almost completely covered with the complex of alluvial oak forests. The Ramsar site belongs to the territorial unit of Zagreb County and is located very close to Zagreb – the capital of Croatia (cca 23 km straight line distance to the NE). Cca 18 km straight line distance towards the SW the town of Karlovac is situated, representing the center of neighboring Karlovac County. The closest smaller town is Jastrebarsko (cca 8 km straight line distance to the NW). Crna Mlaka fishponds also contain a small settlement with only 30 inhabitants. While the whole Croatia, according to 2011 inventory (Croatian Bureau of Statistics, 2011) has 4,290,612 inhabitants on its territory of 56,550 km2, Zagreb has 792,875 inhabitants, Karlovac 55,981 and Jastrebarsko 15,897 inhabitants. 10. Elevation: (in metres: average and/or maximum & minimum) Average: 110.47 m (min 110 – max 115 m) 11. Area: (in hectares) 756.2 ha 12. General overview of the site: Provide a short paragraph giving a summary description of the principal ecological characteristics and importance of the wetland. Crna Mlaka is an area of extensive carp fishponds that represent important breeding, feeding and staging/stop‐over site for number of wetland species, especially birds. Fishponds have been protected in 1980 as ornithological reserve with the area of 693.96 ha, due to its value for migratory and breeding birds. Apart from fishponds, the Ramsar site includes 62.27 ha of adjacent alluvial forest that has been protected in 1967 as ornithological reserve “Jastrebarski lugovi” because of recorded breeding of the White‐tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina). The stands here are 150 years old. In the middle of fishpond area there is a small settlement Crna Mlaka with 30 inhabitants, 16 of them being employed in fishery organization “IHOR Park Crna Mlaka”. Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 4 Crna Mlaka is surrounded by a large complex of alluvial oak forests, one of the largest in Croatia and the whole Europe, covering the lowland basin Pokupski Bazen that stretches over more than 30,000 ha. It represents the alluvial wetland along the lower part of the Kupa River and its tributaries that flow in from adjacent hills of Samoborsko Gorje and Vukomeričke Gorice. In this forest complex composed mostly of the Common oak (Quercus robur) and the Narrow‐leaved Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) there are three carp fishponds: Crna Mlaka, Draganići and Pisarovina. The whole area of Pokupski Bazen was proclaimed the site of National ecological network by the Government of Croatia in 2007 (Official Gazette No 109/07). It is also a proposed NATURA 2000 site as well as Important Bird Area (IBA) according to the BirdLife International (see the map in Appendix 1). Crna Mlaka fishponds with its water surface, extensive marsh vegetation and rich food resources (fish, fish food, plants) represent important site for migratory and breeding waterbirds. Although artificially made it has the role and values of natural wetland. Altogether around 250 bird species have been registered so far in Pokupski Bazen and out of it even 204 in Crna Mlaka ornithological reserve (Institute for Ornithology, 2003). The most of them are waterbirds but fishponds are also important for some forest breeders that feed on fishponds, like the White‐tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) and the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina). The Otter (Lutra lutra) and the Beaver (Castor fiber) also inhabit fishponds. Regarding migratory waterbirds, Crna Mlaka has an exceptional importance for the Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca). In post‐ breeding period and during the fall migration (August – October) this becomes the site with the largest congregation of the Ferruginous Duck in middle Europe, ranging up to 6,700 individuals (Institute for Ornithology, 2010). This represents more than 10% of E Europe, E Mediterranean and Black Sea biogeographical population of the Ferruginous Duck (Wetlands International, 2006). Together with other waterbirds, Crna Mlaka supports up to 15‐20,000 birds during the fall migration.