Project "Landscape Scale Conservation in the Prespa Lake Basin – Transboundary Species and Habitat Conservation Action Plans" Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan for the Caves and Cave Bats of Prespa E. Papadatou, B.Gichevski and A. Stojanov January 2012 1 Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan for Caves and Cave Bats of Prespa The present Conservation Action Plan is the product of data analysis carried out into the framework of the project “Landscape Scale Conservation in the Prespa Lake Basin – Transboundary Species and Habitat Conservation Action Plans. The project was undertaken within the UNDP project “Integrated ecosystem management within the Prespa lake watershed”. Report prepared by: Dr. E. Papadatou, Bat expert, Greece M.Sc. B. Gichevski, Speleologist, Macedonian Ecological Society, Skopje, Macedonia A.Stojanov, Junior expert for bats, Macedonian Ecological Society, Skopje, Macedonia V. Avukatov, GIS specialist, Macedonian Ecological Society, Skopje, Macedonia M.Sc. Brajanoska, Macedonian Ecological Society, Skopje, Macedonia Dr Ljupcho Melovski, Macedonian Ecological Society, Skopje, Macedonia Dr Slavcho Hristovski, Expert for cave invertebrate fauna and ground beetles, Macedonian Ecological Society, Skopje, Macedonia Process facilitation and document editing by: Gabriel Schwaderer Lawrence Jones Walters Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged: Papadatou A., Gichevski B., Stojanov A. 2012. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan for Caves and Bats of Prespa. Final Report pp ??. Cover photo: Biljana Gichevski 2 Abbreviations ASPBM: Albanian Society for the Protection of Birds and Mammals CAP: Conservation Action Plan EUROBATS: Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of Bats in Europe EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment IUCN: International Union for Nature Conservation NGO: Non-governmental organization PA: Protected Area PPCC: Prespa Park Coordination Committee SAP: Strategic Action Programme SPP: Society for the Protection of Prespa TDA: Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis TMS: Transboundary Monitoring System TPP: Transboundary Prespa Park TTT: Technical Task Team UNDP: United Nations Development Program MCWG: Monitoring and Conservation Working Group WAMP: Women Association of Micro Prespa 3 Contents Summary ............................................................................................................................................................ 6 PART I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION .............................................................................................................. 7 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Transboundary Prespa Park ................................................................................................................. 7 1.2 The Prespa Lakes’ Watershed.............................................................................................................. 8 1.3 Area of interest .................................................................................................................................... 9 1.4 Physical features and hydrology .......................................................................................................... 9 1.5 Geology .............................................................................................................................................. 10 1.6 Climatic features ................................................................................................................................ 10 2. Underground sites in the Prespa Lakes watershed ................................................................................. 12 2.1 Caves .................................................................................................................................................. 12 2.1.1 Caves in Albania .............................................................................................................................. 13 2.1.1.1 Physical features .......................................................................................................................... 13 2.1.1.2 Invertebrate fauna ....................................................................................................................... 15 2.1.1.3 Bat fauna...................................................................................................................................... 15 2.1.2 Caves in Greece .............................................................................................................................. 16 2.1.2.1 Physical features .......................................................................................................................... 16 2.1.2.2 Invertebrate fauna ....................................................................................................................... 17 2.1.2.3 Bat fauna...................................................................................................................................... 17 2.1.3 Caves in FYR of Macedonia ............................................................................................................. 18 2.1.3.1 Physical features .......................................................................................................................... 18 2.1.3.2 Invertebrate fauna ....................................................................................................................... 20 2.1.3.3 Bat fauna...................................................................................................................................... 20 2.2 Rock shelters .......................................................................................................................................... 21 3. Review of previous research and conservation projects ............................................................................. 23 3.1 Albania ................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.2 Greece.................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.3 FYR of Macedonia .................................................................................................................................. 23 4. Conservation status, recent conservation measures and legal protection ................................................. 24 4.1 Bats - conservation and protection status ............................................................................................ 24 4.1.1 Greece............................................................................................................................................. 24 4.1.2 Albania ............................................................................................................................................ 25 4.1.3 FYR of Macedonia ........................................................................................................................... 25 4.2 Caves – conservation and protection status ......................................................................................... 25 4 4.2.1 Albania ............................................................................................................................................ 25 4.2.2 Greece............................................................................................................................................. 25 4.2.3 FYR of Macedonia ........................................................................................................................... 25 4.3 General remarks .................................................................................................................................... 26 5. Transboundary Monitoring System (TMS) .................................................................................................. 26 PART II. CONSERVATION ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................... 27 6. Threats and limiting factors ......................................................................................................................... 27 7. Action plan ................................................................................................................................................... 29 7.1 Overarching goal .................................................................................................................................... 29 7.2 Detailed action plan ............................................................................................................................... 29 7.2.1 Research and survey recommendations ........................................................................................ 30 7.2.2 Conservation recommendations .................................................................................................... 32 7.2.3 Public awareness ............................................................................................................................ 34 7.3 Recommended priority actions ............................................................................................................. 43 8. Conclusion: caves and bats in the Transboundary Prespa Park .................................................................