Areas with Natural Constraints in South-East Europe: Assessment and Policy Recommendations Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Rural Development through Integrated Forest and Water Resources Management in Southeast Europe (LEIWW), Antonie Grubisic 5, 1000 Skopje, Macedonia Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group in SEE (SWG) Blvd. Goce Delcev 18, MRTV Building, 12th floor, 1000 Skopje, Macedonia The analysis, conclusions and recommendations in this paper represent the opinion of the authors and are not necessarily representative of the position of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group in SEE (SWG). Edited by: Pandi Zdruli and Ordan Cukaliev AREAS WITH NATURAL CONSTRAINTS IN SOUTH-EAST EUROPE - ASSESSMENT AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TABLE OF CONTENTS List of abbreviations...............................................................................................................................5 Foreword and Acknowledgements........................................................................................................6 A message from CIHEAM and Bari Institute..........................................................................................8 Background information, methodology applied for the assessment and experts and institutions involved.........................................................................................................................9 PART A: REGIONAL ASPECTS..........................................................................................10 Chapter A1: The EU methodology for the identification and delineation of Areas with Natural Constraints (ANC)..............................................................................................11 Chapter A2: Implications of the ANC EU methodology to the respective SEE countries.....................18 Chapter A3: Recognised socioeconomic and environmental needs of the regions defined as ANC....................................................................................................................................24 Chapter A4: Cross-country policy assessment and policy recommendation concerning the characterisation and mapping of areas with natural constraints in SEE.......................34 Chapter A5: EU legislation on the ANC area payment approach and their implications for the IPARD funding instruments...................................................................................38 Chapter A6: Summary of the consultation meetings of the ANC REAWG in the framework of the LEIWW Programme..................................................................................................48 List of references and consulted materials for the Regional Synthesis Report....................................57 PART B: COUNTRY REPORTS............................................................................................59 Chapter B1: Status of soil, climate and digital mapping information in Albania..................................60 B1.1. Introduction.............................................................................................................................60 B1.2. Status of soil data.................................................................................................................67 B1.3. Status of climate data...........................................................................................................69 B1.4. Status of Geographical Information System (GIS) data........................................................73 B1.5. Data gaps, problems, and solutions......................................................................................75 B1.6. Provision of recommendations for improved data management in the context of the Areas with Natural Constraints.................................................................................75 B1.7. Analyses of the national capacities for data management and provision of recommendations for improved institutional setup with regard to the ANC..................................78 B1.8. National policy assessments and policy recommendations relevant to the characterisation and mapping of areas with natural constraints including socioeconomic analyses................................................................................................................78 Reference list of the data used for the assessment of relevant ANC data.....................................80 * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence 2 AREAS WITH NATURAL CONSTRAINTS IN SOUTH-EAST EUROPE - ASSESSMENT AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS Chapter B2: Status of soil, climate and digital mapping information in Bosnia and Herzegovina.......................................................................................................................82 Report of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Federation........................................................................82 B2.1. Introduction...........................................................................................................................82 B2.2. Status of soil data..................................................................................................................87 B2.3. Status of climate data...........................................................................................................92 B2.4. Status of Geographical Information System (GIS) data........................................................94 B2.5. Data gaps, problems, and solutions......................................................................................98 B2.6. Provision of recommendations for improved data management in the context of the Areas with Natural Constraints................................................................................98 B2.7. Analyses of the national capacities for data management and provision of recommendations for improved institutional setup with regard to the ANC...................................98 B2.8. National policy assessments and policy recommendations relevant to the characterisation and mapping of areas with natural constraints including socioeconomic analyses............................................................................................................99 Reference list of the data used for the assessment of relevant ANC data...................................101 Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Report of the Republic of Srpska..................................................102 B2.1.b. Introduction.......................................................................................................................102 B2.2.b. Status of soil data............................................................................................................103 B2.3.b. Status of climate data in the Republic of Srpska.............................................................106 B2.4.b Status of Geographical Information System (GIS) data....................................................109 B2.5.b Data gaps, problems, and solutions..................................................................................115 B2.6.b Provision of recommendations for improved data management in the context of the Areas with Natural Constraints..............................................................................115 B2.7.b Analyses of the national capacities for data management and provision of recommendations for improved institutional setup with regard to the ANC.............................115 B2.8.b National policy assessments and policy recommendations relevant to the characterisation and mapping of areas with natural constraints including socioeconomic analyses..............................................................................................................116 Reference list of the data used for the assessment of relevant ANC data...................................117 Chapter B3: Status of soil, climate and digital mapping information in Kosovo................................118 B3.1. Introduction.........................................................................................................................118 B3.2. Status of soil data................................................................................................................119 B3.3. Status of climate data.........................................................................................................122 B3.4. Status of Geographical Information System (GIS) data.......................................................125 B3.5 Data gaps, problems, and solutions.....................................................................................130 B3.6. Provision of recommendations for improved data management in the context of the Areas with Natural Constraints..............................................................................131 B3.7. Analyses of the national capacities for data management and provision of recommendations for improved institutional setup with regard to the ANC............................131 B3.8. National policy assessments and policy recommendations relevant to the characterisation and mapping of areas with natural constraints including socioeconomic analyses..............................................................................................................132 Reference