First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

„Identification and Promotion of Karst Poljes in Bosnia and Herzegovina as Wetlands of National and International Importance “

Applicant: EuroNatur foundation (D)

Partners: Borut Stumberger (SI), Ornithological Society Naše ptice (BA),

Funded by: MAVA Foundation (CH)

Timeframe: June 2011 – December 2013

Hotel Dinara, Livno (BA), 02 October 2013

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

Where the project idea came from...

EuroNatur was involved in previous activities in the field of wetland conservation along the Eastern Adriatic in the past:

“Protection of Priority Wetlands for Bird

Migration (Adriatic Flyway) in the Dinaric Arc Ecoregion” developed and coordinated by EuroNatur (Martin Schneider-Jacoby), 2003 - 2006

“Sharing Waters”, aiming at better connection between wetland and river basin management, developed and coodinated by WWF MedPo, started in 2006

The Dinaric Arc Ecoregion, www.balkan-biodiversity.famnit.upr.si

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

These projects gave evidence of significant knowledge gaps

crucial ecological data about the karst poljes of the Dinarides and their wetland functions were not available

the loss of wetland areas along the Eastern Adriatic had dramatically increased over the last 150 years (loss of 76 % of the initial wetland cover)

thus the importance of the temporally flooded karst poljes as resting-sites for migratory birds has become crucial, yet data to proof their conservation value was lacking

despite their conservation value, the karst polje wetlands are highly threatened by intensive agriculture, engineering projects, unsustainable hydropower projects and drainage

http://mediterranean.panda.org

http://hortweek.com

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

Project goal...

“Preservation of the flooded Karst Poljes in Bosnia - Herzegovina with the related flora and fauna as key stop-over sites for migrating birds. ”

...but how to get there?

By the creation of a scientific backbone to proof their conservation value according to national and EU laws and international conventions (preparation for EU Water Framework Directive, Flood Directive, EU Birds Directive and Natura 2000, as well as Ramsar, Bern Convention, CMS and Rio Conventions)

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

1. Field surveys

survey about the extend of temporal flooding in the 57 karst poljes of BA in 2012 and 2013 (categories: no flooding, < 10% flooding, 10 – 15 % flooding); based on Stumberger (2008)

surveys of migratory birds in flooded karst poljes of the country and target breeding bird census (Corncrake , Crex crex) in 2012 and 2013

vegetation survey in selected karst poljes

dragonfly data in selected poljes

Flooded polje in early spring, Martin Schneider-Jacoby

Endemic Campanula spec., Gerhard Bronner Common Crane (Grus grus) using karts poljes as stop-over sites migration, Martin Schneider-Jacoby

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

2. Establishment of a karst polje inventory for BA

preparation of a GIS based analysis of the potential and actual flooded areas of the karst poljes (FLUVIUS) in 2013

establishment of a data base fed with collected data on the general characteristics of the poljes, flooding, migratory and breeding birds and vegetation

launching of the “karst polje webpage” providing all information collected in the framework of the project, short videos and pictures

http://kraskapolja.ptice.ba/index.php/bs/

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

3. Promotion of the poljes on the national level

preparation of an exhibition about the poljes of BA, including cultural and historical values and features besides ecological aspects (planned to be presented in the National Museum of BA in Sarajevo)

production of promotion leaflets about the poljes of BA and the karst polje exhibition and webpage

production of a promotion movie about the karst polje landscapes of BA (by Produkcija Visoki)

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

and finally......

4. Initiation of international exchange and cooperation

the first international workshop

publication of workshop proceedings after the event

publication of the project outputs in scientific journals

conceptualization of follow-up activities on the ground fostering sustainable use and development of the karst poljes of BA and beyond

all workshop material (PPPs, outcomes of the afternoon workshops) may be downloaded after the event from the karst polje and EN homepages (www.euronatur.org)

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

The technical part....

Establishment of Database and Webpage

Collecting data

Connection

Public presentation

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

1. Basic data • name of polje • surface • alitude • basin • type • overwlof area • use of polje • vulnerability • carst phenomenon • cultural heritrage • protection • responsibility • local partners (just for database)

Data collection

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

1. Basic data • Specific data for flora, vegetation, fish, birds, dragonfiles • status (e.g. breeding or nonbreeding for birds, IUCN category for

flora or dragonfiles ) • names (english, local) • References • note (level of research of polje)

Data collection

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

Visual Studio Ultimate 2012

Data base

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

Visual Studio Ultimate 2012

Data base

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

Data base

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

Data base

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

Data base

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

Webpage

http://kraskapolja.ptice.ba

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

Webpage

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

Webpage

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013

First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno (BA), 30/09 – 02/10/2013