Report on identified barriers to ecological connectivity in the Carpathians European Academy of Bolzano/Bozen Institute for Regional Development and Location Management Filippo Favilli, Christian Hoffmann, Mariachiara Alberton and Marianna Elmi Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano Bolzano, June 2014 CONTENTS 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 7 1.1 Study area ............................................................................................................................. 8 1.1.1 Carpathians & Pilot Area approach ............................................................................... 9 1.2 Barriers to ecological connectivity ....................................................................................... 10 1.2.1 Physical barriers strategy ............................................................................................ 11 1.2.2 Socio-economic barriers strategy ................................................................................ 12 1.2.3 Legal barriers strategy ................................................................................................. 13 1.3 Umbrella Species – the theoretic background ..................................................................... 13 1.4 Habitat suitability and Dispersal paths ................................................................................ 14 1.5 GIS Modelling ...................................................................................................................... 15 1.6 Recommendations – to sustain and restore ecological connectivity ................................... 16 2 Methods ................................................................................................................................... 19 2.1 Physical barriers .................................................................................................................. 19 2.1.1 Data Collection and Analysis ....................................................................................... 19 2.1.2 Questionnaires ............................................................................................................ 22 2.1.3 GIS modelling to identify habitat suitability and dispersal paths by advanced tools and methodologies ......................................................................................................................... 23 2.2 Socio-economic barriers ...................................................................................................... 27 2.2.1 Site visits ..................................................................................................................... 27 2.2.2 Semi-structured interviews .......................................................................................... 29 2.2.3 Online questionnaire for partners ................................................................................ 29 2.3 Legal barriers and possibilities ............................................................................................ 30 2.3.1 Desk research on international and European legal acts ............................................ 31 2.3.2 In depth analysis of legal issues for Carpathian countries .......................................... 32 3 Results and Scientific Outputs ................................................................................................ 33 3.1 Findings according to physical barriers ............................................................................... 33 3.1.1 Habitat Suitability Map and Least Cost Paths for the umbrella species derived from the corridor model ......................................................................................................................... 33 3.1.2 Web GIS Application ................................................................................................... 46 3.1.3 Lesson learned ............................................................................................................ 48 3.2 Findings according to socio-economic barriers ................................................................... 49 3.2.1 Statements and lessons learned from the site visits ................................................... 55 3.2.2 Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 61 3.3 Findings according to legal barriers .................................................................................... 62 3.4 Dissemination ...................................................................................................................... 69 3.4.1 Articles, presentations and conferences ...................................................................... 69 3.4.2 Presentation of BioREGIO WP5 at International conferences .................................... 69 3.4.3 WP5 results inclusion in conferences proceedings and scientific papers ................... 71 4 Guidelines and strategies to sustain, restore and enhance ecological connectivity in the Carpathians ..................................................................................................................................... 73 4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 73 4.2 Guidelines ........................................................................................................................... 74 4.2.1 New infrastructure, roads & motorways ....................................................................... 74 4.2.2 Animal-Vehicle Collision (AVC) ................................................................................... 80 4.2.3 Hunting procedures ..................................................................................................... 85 4.2.4 Forest .......................................................................................................................... 90 4.2.5 Agriculture ................................................................................................................... 92 4.2.6 Trans-boundary issues ................................................................................................ 94 4.2.7 Hunting laws ................................................................................................................ 95 4.2.8 Urban sprawl and settlement expansion ..................................................................... 96 4.2.9 Ecological connectivity: beyond protected areas ......................................................... 99 4.2.10 Compensation of damages ....................................................................................... 100 4.3 Recommendations for national strategies regarding ecological connectivity in the Carpathians ............................................................................................................................... 102 4.3.1 Slovakia ..................................................................................................................... 102 4.3.2 Czech Republic ......................................................................................................... 104 4.3.3 Hungary ..................................................................................................................... 106 4.3.4 Romania .................................................................................................................... 107 4.3.5 Serbia ........................................................................................................................ 109 4.3.6 Ukraine ...................................................................................................................... 110 4.3.7 Poland ....................................................................................................................... 111 5 References ............................................................................................................................ 113 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Investigation Area and Pilot Regions of the BioREGIO project ......................................... 9 Figure 2: Ecological corridors in Romania ...................................................................................... 28 Figure 3: Carpathians Habitat Suitability Map for the Lynx ............................................................ 33 Figure 4: Suitability and Core Areas identification for the Lynx in the Djerdap/Iron Gate ............... 34 Figure 5: Identification of Least Cost Paths for the Lynx in the Pilot Area Djerdap/Iron Gate ........ 34 Figure 6: Identified LCPs for the Lynx in Djerdap/Iron Gate .......................................................... 35 Figure 7: Carpathians Habitat Suitability Model for Lynx ............................................................... 37 Figure 8: Carpathians Habitat Suitability for Bear .......................................................................... 38 Figure 9: Carpathians Habitat Suitability for Carpencaille .............................................................. 40 Figure 10: Carpathians Habitat Suitability for Chamois ................................................................. 41 Figure 11: Carpathians Habitat Suitability for European hare ........................................................ 43 Figure 12: Carpathians Habitat Suitability for European