Republic of Kosovo - Pearls of Balkan Green Belt Bjeshket e Nemuna NP: Albanian Alps Kosovo’s Green Belt The largest protected pearl comprises of 62,488 hectares, declared The southwest quarter of the country falls in Balkan Green Belt initiative, and within this Mustafa ( in 2012, sharing its trans-borders in the west with Montenegro and quarter lies three main diverse regions in terms of transboundary cultural exchange and Albania. Its regions are considered as important bird, butterfly and ecosystem management as well as biodiversity hotspots, namely Sharri Mountains, Bjeshket e . plant areas, it has also potential to be categorized as biosphere Nemuna Pashtrik Mountains 40% 18% ) and . of total land is forested with the depiction of Mountain 2014 reserve and to receive strict protection as Balkan Lynx habitat. European and 25% Balkan flora. In general the country has approx. 46 mammal species For flora and vegetation it is very Flora (excluding bats) 225 and bird species. Biodiversity is still thriving by itself in postwar impacted Pashtrik well observed, but still a lot has to Alpine regions. On the other hand as anewborn country, rapid exploitation of resources leads to Taxa; 1611 The ; be done regarding entomofauna Genera; 435 Foundation, ) Pastures depleted ecosystems. 39% and bats, as mammal figures are 2015 Families; 105 Forest Types in RKS Protected Area Network without Chiroptera. The NP is Terrain 4 Rocky 11 EuroNatur Strict Nature Reserves ( categorized in three zones namely Classes; 6 Cliffs Low Forests 2 Degraded Mustafa, 42% Belt core zone in green, buffer zone in Natural Parks , 20% Balkan Orders; 50 Forests yellow and transition zone in red. High Forests Shrubs & Forested Endemic; 225 20% Natural Monuments Green Veselaj 15% Bushes ( 41% 23% Protected Landscapes Balkan Kosovo Forest Ecosystems the in Fauna of 2050 m Pinus Mugo 99 Mammals ; 37 Bosnian & Macedonian Pines Fauna, 0 Progress 1930 m Coniferous Avifauna ; Lepidoptera; Beech with Conifers Environmentally Responsible Action (ERA) group 200+ Preservation 1750 m Beech 129 ; ERA was founded in 2003, and manages an environmental ) Oak Protection Herpetofauna 1540 m education center in the cultural monument of Haxhi Zeka’s 2014 ; 23 1320 m mill in Peja, with the purpose of promoting environmental Nature 800 m Ichthyofauna ; consciousness, awareness and action among the youth and of Habitat, 8 community of Kosovo through experiential education - (UN opportunities in order to protect, conserve and promote Overview the region’s natural and cultural heritage. ERA is most ; ) Nemuna renowned for its transboundary work, pioneering e Pashtrik Mountains: An Important Corridor with Future Potential 2012 , environmental education in Kosovo, as well as confirming . al An area of 25,060.00 hectares proposed to be declared as protected landscape, but so far the presence of the critically endangered Balkan Lynx in et only an area of about 5,934 hectares is placed under preliminary protection. It is situated Bjeshket Bjeshket e Nemuna NP (Western Kosovo). of on the southwest border to Albania. As a corridor it adjoins not only the two big ones in Plan (Mustafa the south and the west, but it also acts as a trans-border corridor far into Albanian side (1/3rd in RKS; 2/3rd in ALB). Its flora and fauna depicts a blend of Mediterranean and ), 2006 Spatial continental climate. Forest Communities consists of mainly oak covering the most, then ; Sharri Mountains NP: Mali Sharr ) beech forest and beech mixed with conifers, all admixed with different plant associations. It is the second largest protected pearl with 53,469 hectares. Located in 2003 Ostojic So far it is very well studied in terms of flora and vegetation, but regarding fauna less is & the south and expanding towards southeast and far beyond into known, indeed there are knowledge gaps and a lot has to be done as well. It is only Lepidoptera Macedonia and to some extent into Albania at southwest side. It was BIOFOR, considered as one of important bird and butterfly areas, as well as corridor for large - designated in 1986 and holds 1/10th of the whole territory. The oldest Amidzic ( mammals. ), NP which is most researched or studied in detail so far as compare to (ARD Lepidopt others, renowned for its botanical, faunistic, ecological, touristic 2013 era sp.; Al, 98 recreational and cultural values. But still there are knowledge gaps . et especially in faunistic studies regarding Chiroptera and entomofauna. Vascular Plants > 1000 Assessment Europea n Red Fauna The park is divided into four zones, strict protection zone in dark green, Plant Communities; Fauna, 0 List; 95 Veselaj ( active management zone in light green, sustainable use zone in orange 20 Mammals ; : Lepidoptera; 30 and in general a buffer zone around the marked NP boundary. Biodiversity Recorded New; 3 147 Avifauna ; Endemic to Balkans; Globally threatened; Measures 154 56 Kosovo 13 Ichthyofauna ; 7 Pastures Policy 49% & USAID ; Herpetofaun ) a ; 19 Terrain 2013 Endemic to RKS; 1 , Flora Forest Ecosystems Legislative Pulaj Relict sp.; 12 ( Other Associations; 28% Black & White Pine through 180 Sub 3% Ash with Bushes Forested Kosovo 11% Bosnian Pine Rocky Cliffs Associations; in 10% 48% Classes; 20 2% Beech with Spruce & Fir 3% 16 Kosovo Beech in Orders; 32 Alliances; 59 Beech with Bosnian Pine Forests Medicinal & 68% Aromatic; 120 Sub Alliances; Beech ; 7 ) Conservation 2% 2015 . al Acknowledgement (SHAHRUKH KAMRAN, ERA Group) October 2016 et This poster was prepared for the European Green Belt Conference held in Finland to represent Republic of Kosovo under the Balkan Green Belt initiative. The work was conducted during the internship semester abroad in collaboration with Environmentally Responsible Action (ERA) Group, Peja, Kosovo. Nature.