Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) – 20062008 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 9 th 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. Furtherinformation and guidance in support of Ramsarsite designations are provided in the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (RamsarWise Use Handbook 7, 2 nd edition, as amended by COP9 Resolution IX.1 Annex B). A 3 rd edition of the Handbook, incorporating these amendments, is in preparation and will be available in 2006. 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 . Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia: DD MM YY Head Office, Dr. Ivana Ribara 91, 11070 Novi Beograd, Serbia Designation date Site Reference Number RJ Novi Sad, Radni čka 20a, 21000 Novi Sad; Serbia Nikola Stojni ć*, B.Sc., biologist; Biljana Panjkovi ć, Ph.D., biology and chemistry teacher; Branko Kovačevi ć, Grad. Eng., forestry engineer; Slobodan Puzovi ć, M.Sc., forestry engineer; Vesna Habijan-Mikeš, M.Sc., biologist; Vida Stojši ć, B.Sc., biologist; Dušan Mijovi ć, Ph.D., geologist; Nenad Sekuli ć, B.Sc., biologist; Marko Tucakov, B.Sc., biologist; Nedeljko Kova čev, B.Sc., geographer; Dragana Ostoji ć, Ph.D., forestry engineer; Dragan Čalaki ć, geometer. * corresponding coordinator: Nikola Stojni ć +38121/4896-306 +38163/381-494 [email protected] 2. Date this sheet was completed/updated: 20 November2007 3. Country: Serbia 4. Name of the Ramsar site: The precise name of the designated site in one of the three official languages (English, French orSpanish) of the Convention. Alternative names, including in local language(s), should be given in parentheses afterthe precise name. Gornje Podunavlje 5. Designation of new Ramsar site or update of existing site: This RIS is for (tick one box only) : Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 2 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/orarea 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, priorto 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: 7. Map of site: Referto Annex III of the Explanatory Note and Guidelines , fordetailed guidance on provision of suitable maps, including digital maps. a) A map of the site, with clearly delineated boundaries, is included as: i) a hard copy (required forinclusion of site in the RamsarList): ; ii ) an electronic format (e.g. a JPEG orArcView image) ; iii) a GIS file providing georeferenced site boundary vectors and attribute tables . 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.), orfollows a catchment boundary, orfollows a geopolitical boundary such as a local government jurisdiction, follows physical boundaries such as roads, follows the shoreline of a waterbody, etc. 8. Geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude, in degrees and minutes): Provide the coordinates of the approximate centre of the site and/orthe limits of the site. If the site is composed of more than one separate area, provide coordinates foreach of these areas. Greenwich: Central 45° 44’ 51’’ N 18° 56’ 53’’ E West 18° 49’ 08’’ E Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 3 South 45° 31’ 47’’ N East 19° 07’ 44’’ E North 45° 55’ 36’’ N 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. Gornje Podunavlje is a clearly distinct and compact marsh complex. It is located in the farnorthwestern part of Serbia, at the borderwith Hungary and Croatia, and it is in immediate vicinity of Ramsarsites in these countries, Gemenc and Kopački Rit, with which it forms an ecological unity. It is positioned in the northwestern part of Bačka, in an inundation area of the uppercourse of the RiverDanube in Serbia, on its left riverbank, from km 1433 to km 1367 of the rivercourse, nearthe settlements Bogojevo, Sonta, Apatin, Kupusina, Bački Monoštor, Bezdan, Kolut, and Bački Breg. The largest settlement in the immediate vicinity is the city of Apatin, and the regional centre is the city of Sombor. 10. Elevation: (in metres: average and/or maximum & minimum) From 80 to 88 meters 11. Area: (in hectares) 22,480 hectares 12. General overview of the site: Provide a short paragraph giving a summary description of the principal ecological characteristics and importance of the wetland. Gornje Podunavlje is positioned in the farnorthwestern part of Bačka, in the inundation area of the River Danube, in its uppercourse in Vojvodina (Serbia). It stretches along the left riverbank, from km 1433 to km 1367 of the rivercourse. It is the only largermarsh complex in the uppercourse of the Danube in our country. It is the area with marsh forests cut with riverbranches and channels, with riverislets, meanders, ponds, swamps, wet meadows, reeds and shrubbery. The marshes are physically separated, but spread continually. Due to ameliorative activities and levees, they are restricted to the area between the levees and the river. The marshland Monoštorski Rit is in one part restricted to a narrow belt along the river, while the largerpart, as well as the marshland Apatinski Rit, stretches along the wide belt of the alluvial plane and terrace. Along with the inundation area on Karapandža and Štrbac, as well as the inundation area on the right riverbank of the Danube in Croatia, known forthe marshland Kopački Rit, and Gemenc in Hungary, it forms a natural unity and represents the largest inundation area in the middle course of the Danube. This unique mosaic of aquatic, wetland, and terrestrial ecosystems, is an important centre of ecosystem, species, and genetic diversity. A large number of rare and nationally or internationally threatened plant species and their communities are conserved, as well as vulnerable habitats, the protection of which represents an international priority. This area is the habitat of rare plant species such as winter aconite Eranthis hyemalis , water violet Hottonia palustris , and mare’s tail Hippuris vulgaris , an important spawning place and a migratory route of fishes, a nesting place of the white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla and the black stork Ciconia nigra , as well as the habitat of the largest population of the red deer Cervus elaphus in Serbia. The Special Nature Reserve "Gornje Podunavlje" was established overthe area of 19,648 hectares. Forits generally known ornithological values, Gornje Podunavlje, namely the area of 30,000 hectares, is included in the registry of the areas of international importance forbirds, according to the IBA project. 13. Ramsar Criteria: Tick the box undereach Criterion applied to the designation of the Ramsarsite. See Annex II of the Explanatory Notes and Guidelines forthe Criteria and guidelines fortheirapplication (adopted by Resolution VII.11). All Criteria which apply should be ticked. 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 8 • 9 Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 4 14. Justification for the application of each Criterion listed in 13 above: Provide justification foreach Criterion in turn, clearly identifying to which Criterion the justification applies (see Annex II for guidance on acceptable forms of justification). Criterion 1 : Gornje Podunavlje is an exceptional example of a specific wetland, a part of the unique transboundary alluvial area, largest in the middle course of the Danube, and very rare and threatened within the relevant biogeographical region, since it is positioned at the conjoining point between the central-European and south-European forest and the steppe. The contact zone of the alluvial area is very specific, with the biota dependent on hydrological regime, as well as the somewhat higherterrain on loess substratum, with the climazonal vegetation. The biota is rich, diverse, specific, and unique. Criterion 2 : Gornje Podunavlje