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IUCN South-Eastern European e-Bulletin

Issue 16 March 2008

Dear Readers,

Another issue of the IUCN South-Eastern European eBulletin is ready for distribution, and we are happy to see that manyof you have contributed with articles and news. We are happy to show that although nature conservation is not an easytask, there are always stories that share an idea of finding alternatives and of successful efforts to link nature conservationand sustainable regional development, very often in a transboundary or even transregional context.

Spring is the time for regeneration and renewal: IUCN worldwide presents itself with a new logo and a newly structuredwebsite. IUCN SEE welcomes one new member of IUCN. Green Network of Vojvodina (Zelena mreza Vojvodine) is the3rd IUCN member in Serbia and the 15th in the SEE region. We look forward to continuous good cooperation.

The news and events posted for this issue are as diverse as ever, many thanks to all of you who have contributed witharticles and pictures. Wishing you a pleasant reading,

Aleksandra Nesic & Katharina DiehlIUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe

PS: The next bulletin will be issued in June 2008 by Aleksandra Nesic the guidelines for submittingarticles for the IUCN SEE eBulletin can be found on the last page of this issue.

For your rewarding cooperation and team work in making this eBulletin an interesting and informative newsletter in theregion I thank you all. In the past two years, the regular issues have significantly contributed to our joint work and I amsure that with your help the communication and exchange will further improve. From 1st April onwards, I will be changingmy location to work for the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research in Germany.With the best of wishes I remain,

yours

Katharina

Editorial


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Content

NEWS1 AlbaForest Research on Natural Resources in Albania2 Life along the Sava3 Promulgation of the Central Balkan Protected Zone under Natura2000 Focus on Public Awareness

4 Priority forest, alpine & sub-alpine habitats in Romania5 Lake Okanj vs. Chemical Industry of Pancevo6 A wider View on Cultural Landscape Challenges7 Green Valley in a green Europe8 Proposed alpine ski resort threatens Serbias largest nature reserve9 Neretva Delta Forum for the sustainable use of shared natural resources10 Strengthening capacities in the Western Balkan11 Drava to become a canal?12 New European Network for Landscape13 Introducing the NGO Eko-Zadar14 Exploratorii: Eco-Trainings in Romania and Serbia15 Green Network of Vojvodina New IUCN member in Serbia16 Two new Ramsar Sites in Serbia

17 Local community joins global initiative18 Vojvodina joins the Countdown 2010 initiative

EVENTS1 Opening of solar system in high school2 Serbia takes over Presidency of the the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube3 Education on multifunctional development of agriculture and rural regions4 Montenegro and IUCN unite efforts to protect nature5 BPPP workshop in Shkodra6 STOP: no sale of endangered plant species7 Decision makers take action in Obedska bara

COMMUNICATION & PUBLICATIONS1 A world withouth biodiversity?2 Connect 2 Earth - new green on-line community3 Business and Biodiversity4 Logo5 New IUCN Website launched6 IUCN library

TRAININGS & SEMINARS1 Management Effectiveness and Quality Criteria in European Protected Areas

Sharing experiences and promoting good management2 Regional Workshop for Europe on Capacity Building for National Biodiversity Strategy and

Action Plans and Mainstreaming og Biodiversity3 Workshop on the World Heritage Convention MAB in the SEE region


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1 AlbaForest Research on Natural Resources in Albania

Albania: AlbaForest, supported by the UK Oxfam Foundation, is car-rying out a research on natural resources potentials and interlinkswith rural economy in the three selected regions of Shkodra, Dibraand Vlora in Albania.

The main aim is to identify, assess and evaluate the existing naturalresources potential of these regions and to provide strategic orienta-tions together with a rural development perspective strategy. This willinclude a survey on the socio-economic development of the selectedregions. In order to fullfil the planning and economic developmentsprogrammes implementation, a joint natural resources managementshall involve all relevant stakeholders and partners. The project acti-vities will be undertaken in three phases.

The research carried out from January to April 2008, includes:

1. Review of existing documentations on administration and ma-nagement of natural resources published by governmental instituti-ons and other public research institutes as well as NGOs.

2. Collection and processing of all existing data from field surveys,GIS information and performed research concerning the key issuesthat have an impact on the regional rural development. Preparationof a progress report under consideration of all relevant data on na-tural resources, biodiversity, tourism, socio-economic development,carbon sequestration and other field survey results.

3. Analysis and evaluation of the data, determination of primary sus-tainable development directions for rural development based on theexisting natural resources potential of the three selected regions,summarized and delivered in a final report.

The project results will be used to strengthen the sustainable rural

development and poverty alleviation in Albania by identifying the na-tural resources potential (forests, pastures, botanicals, fresh-waters,rivers, eco-tourist values). It will provide a legal and regulatory frame-work of recommendations to a wise management practice, leadingto an improvement of livelihoods in the respective communities.

For more information, please contact: Mehmet Meta, Executive Director, AlbaForest, at [email protected].

News

2 Life along the Sava

IUCN SEE:An English version of the LIFE along the Sava e-bulletin no. 1 is about to bepublished as the first of a regular sixmonthly series. Within this bulletin the IUCN SEE Pro-gramme Office in cooperation with its international and local partners, brings together a

variety of articles related to the Sava River floodplains conservation, sustainable land use,natural resource management as well as rural and tourism development. It will serve as aninformation platform for a number of stakeholders working in and being closely related tothe Sava floodplain. The core topic in this first issue are Ecological networks, the focus lieson the conservation and sustainable development of the Sava River Floodplains.

Partners are kindly invited to contribute to the coming issue(s) by providing interestingarticles in relation to the conservation/sustainable development/traditional land use/ru-ral tourism etc, as well as the news on specific projects activities, funding opportunities,events etc. that correspond to the Sava River Floodplains.

Its forerunner is already available athttp://www.natureprotection.org.yu/REPOSITORY/297_Zivot%20duz%20Save%2001.pdf?PHPSESSID=dbcb1c94e6fccca16b92ff236796a2bd .

For more information and the possibilities of contribution to this bulletin, please contact Boris Erg, Project Manager, [email protected].
mailto:[email protected]://www.natureprotection.org.yu/REPOSITORY/297_Zivot%20duz%20Save%2001.pdf?PHPSESSID=dbcb1c94e6fchttp://www.natureprotection.org.yu/REPOSITORY/297_Zivot%20duz%20Save%2001.pdf?PHPSESSID=dbcb1c94e6fchttp://www.natureprotection.org.yu/REPOSITORY/297_Zivot%20duz%20Save%2001.pdf?PHPSESSID=dbcb1c94e6fcmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.natureprotection.org.yu/REPOSITORY/297_Zivot%20duz%20Save%2001.pdf?PHPSESSID=dbcb1c94e6fchttp://www.natureprotection.org.yu/REPOSITORY/297_Zivot%20duz%20Save%2001.pdf?PHPSESSID=dbcb1c94e6fcmailto:[email protected]


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3 Promulgation of the Central Balkan Protected Zone

under Natura2000 Focus on Public Awareness

Bulgaria: The Directorate of the Central Balkan National Park or-ganized and held nine public hearings on the draft promulgationorder to declare a Central Balkan protected zone for the conser-vation of wild birds in the ecological network NATURA 2000. Inte-rest in the events was demonstrated by participants from 32 re-sidential places in nine municipalities of five districts, whose landfalls into the protected zone. During the discussions, park expertsintroduced the draft-order and explained why restrictive and in-terdict measurements were necessarily to be applied to the zoneproposed for protection. Measurements include the refrain fromploughing and cultivating meadows and pastures.

The Central Balkan protected zone (ID BG0000494) coincides withthe area of the Central Balkan National Park. The zone is declaredprotected in order to preserve and maintain (or rehabilitate if ne-cessary) the habitats of specific species of birds to reach their fa-vourable conservation status. A subject of protection in the protec-ted zone are 38 birds species, among them imperial eagle, goldeneagle, black stork, honey buzzard, short-toed eagle, long-leggedbuzzard, lesser spotted eagle, booted eagle, saker falcon, peregri-

ne falcon as well as three night rapacious birds species includingthe pygmy owl (enlisted as an extinct in the Red Data Book ofBulgaria), five species of woodpecker, sparrow-hawk, commonbuzzard, kestrel, green sandpiper, and bee-eater.

Diana Terzieva, Central Balkan National Park Directorate,[email protected], www.centralbalkannationalpark.org.

Georgi Stoyanov

Ivan GeorgievThe meeting in Karlovo

Golden eagle

4 Priority forest, alpine & sub-alpine habitats in Romania

Romania: Forests, sub-alpine and alpine areas cover an importantpart of Romania, hosting the most valuable and important speciesand habitats. Recent changes in land ownership with little accep-

tance of the new owners to conserve biodiversity values and thegrowing economic pressure on both private and public lands posea high threat on such valuable habitats. Land abandonment, butalso overgrazing, can lead to significant losses of biodiversity onsub-alpine and alpine pastures. Universities and research institu-tes, owners and administrators of the natural resources and NGOscan make a significant contribution to the implementation of theNatura 2000 network for Romania.

The Transylvania University Brasov-Silviculture and Forestry Ex-ploitations Faculty, together with the World Wide Fund for Nature-Danube Carpathian Programme (WWF-DCP), the National ForestAdministration-ROMSILVA (RNP - ROMSILVA) and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, had obtained UE

financing for a LIFE-Nature project Priority forest, sub-alpine and alpine habitats in Ro-

mania (LIFE05NAT/RO/000176) that is implemented from 2005 until 2009.

This project aims to contribute to the implementation of Natura 2000 network in Romania,by providing support for the designation of at least 50 Natura 2000 sites including priorityforest, sub-alpine and alpine habitats, based on close cooperation with Romanian autho-rities and local stakeholders. The project should also contribute to the establishment of aframework for sustainable management and adequate conservation of these habitats inRomania.

More about the actions and results of the project can be found on www.lifenatura2000.ro.For more details, please contact Alina Alexa, Project Communication Officer,email: [email protected].
mailto:[email protected]://www.centralbalkannationalpark.org/http://www.lifenatura2000.ro/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.lifenatura2000.ro/http://www.centralbalkannationalpark.org/mailto:[email protected]


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6 A wider View on Cultural Landscape Challenges

Radio Kootwijk, The Netherlands: In the summer of 2008 theorganizers of the international event A Wider View will put the Eu-ropean cultural landscape on the agenda. Within the frameworkof the Apeldoorn International Triennale, which takes place for thefirst time in the Netherlands, a Wider View will situate nationallyand internationally recognized cultural landscapes of undisputed

historical significance in a dynamic perspective and place themwithin the context of spatial planning and design. The venue for AWider View is the astonishing Radio Kootwijk complex, a monu-mental group of buildings in the middle of the Hoge Veluwe naturalreserve. Curator is Prof. Eric Luiten (Triennale Apeldoorn 2008).

By organizing a conference, a summer university and an exhibiti-on, A Wider View addresses, in the spirit of the Landscape Convention of 2000, the key question how centuries-old as wellas recently evolved European cultural landscapes can remain living landscapes. It will give a critical overview of the diversityand the development of the cultural landscape, discuss the responsibility towards these landscapes and set the agenda onthis issue for the next years. A Wider View is the 2008 platform for the general public, professionals, policymakers, resear-chers and politicians.

The exhibition, European Cultural Landscapes will take place from 11 June to 28 September and it will present a carefullychosen selection of around 30 European cultural landscapes. Within this exhibition A Wider View wishes to present the Euro-pean Green Belt as an illustrated example both for its historical aspects as well as for its new identity since the former borderthat once divided Europe into two different worlds in the near future will be the heart of the continent. A Wider View wishesto display the Green Belt as a symbol for the development of the former Iron Curtain form death zone to a living landscape.

All sites along the Green Belt, from the North of Finland to the borders of Greece that aregood examples of transboundary cooperation are welcome. In particular we are lookingfor a presentation of several sites lying along the line that explain its history, its qualitiesand its developments. All kinds of media (interactive, documentaries, interviews aerialphotographs, maps etc) that support the message of the specific landscape are welcome.The material will also be used to compile a book (due fall 2008) on cultural landscapechanges in Europe.

If you think you would like to contribute, please contact Mrs. Cyane Conijn:[email protected] before 1st April 2008. The time schedule is tight, but it will be agood platform to present a region on on international venue. All contributions are verymuch welcome, as are suggestions and links to other institutions or organisations thatmay be interested to participate.

5 Lake Okanj vs. Chemical Industry of Pancevo

Zrenjanin, Elemir, Lake Okanj, Serbia: In the second half of 2006,the Chemical Industry of Pancevo Petrohemija (CIH) the largestproducer of petrochemicals in the Republic of Serbia requesteda permit from the Provincial Secretariat for Environment Protec-tion and Sustainable Development of the Autonomous provinceof Vojvodina to allow the burning of Liquid Hydrocarbon Remains(LHR waste) within the premises of the Factory for Sintetic Ca-outchoue (FSC) in Elemir village. It is a waste material, that is gra-

ded as harmful and cancerogenous by the Institute for Protectionof Health in Belgrade. An environmental impact assessment wasprepared both by CIP and FSC, but it appeared that the techno-logy the company planned to use was quite unacceptable for theenvirionment and human health.

A public hearing was organized in January 2007 with a team of experts from the Association for Environmental ProtectionOkanj (AEP) from Elemir, students from the Biology Student Science and Research Society Josif Pancic (BSSRS) fromNovi Sad and the leader of the Ecological Movement of the town Novi Sad (EMTNS). All pointed out a number of shortfallsregarding the impact assessment and submitted a summary of comments (74 points) on 9 A4 pappers.

One year later, on 15th January 2008, the good news was received, that the Provincial Secretariat for Environment Protectionand Sustainable Development of the Autonomous province of Vojvodina had dismissed the request to burn LHR waste withinthe plant premises in the vicinity of Lake Okanj. With this statement, the environmental NGOs that were involved in the awa-

reness raising activities in this matter look forward with much motivation to tackle similar issues in future.

In 2008, lake Okanj is to be elected for a Special Nature Reserve the process for entering the site for protection has endedin 2007. More info on this subject on www.okanj.org.yu and www.josifpancic.com, Marko Sciban, BSSRS Josif Pancic,[email protected].
mailto:[email protected]://www.okanj.org.yu/http://www.josifpancic.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.josifpancic.com/http://www.okanj.org.yu/mailto:[email protected]


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7 Green Valley in a green Europe

Romania: Environmental NGOs of Romania are relatively youngafter having been founded in the democratic times after 1989. Incomparison, the west-European NGOs are much more established.They have relevant organisational structures, larger memberships,a stronger voice in the society and a larger financial capacity.

The civil society can be the optimum partner of the EU bodies,a promoter of the EU policies in the field. To have the capacity

of influencing local, regional and national policies, emerging envi-ronmental NGOs need to strengthen their capacity in the field ofcommunication with the general public, media presence, organi-sational skills, establishing and developing relationships with localstakeholders (authorities, business sector etc.).

Biodiversity conservation is an important part of environmentalconservation. Countdown 2010, an initiative with a noble scope, isin a deep need of implementation, by relevant actions all along thecontinent. Compared to western European countries, the trends ofspecies population and natural ecosystems are in a much bettercondition in Eastern and Central Europe. Virgin forests, large wet-lands, vast areas with near natural ecosystems, extensive forests,populations of the big carnivores bear, wolf and lynx still exist.

One way to contribute to biodiversity conservation on the Euroeancontinent is to combine the organisational capacity of the west Eu-ropean NGOs with the local capacity of eastern European NGOs.In Romania, Green Valley Association began the implementationof an EC funded project on 1st January 2008 under the name ofGreen Valley in a Green Europe. The project has two phases.

Phase I - Know-How transfer:

1. Training on Developing basic skills in projects development(logical frameworks, budgeting, time management as well as imp-lementation, communication and relation with media, lobbying atthe national and European level.

2. Training on EU structures and policies in nature conservation(EU funding and fundraising, e.g. LIFE).

3. Study tour in EU25 (examples of nature conservation in sustai-nable rural development, Natura 2000, management of protectedares, etc.) and a visit in Brussels to meet representatives of EU25 NGOs. The visit may be linked with trainings on EU struc-tures and funding. Meetings with successful EU 10 NGOs (e.g. IUCN, Birdlife, etc.) can be included.

Phase II - Learning by doing:

1. Workshop with local NGOs, representatives of the business sector (SMEs), local public administration, massmedia: Sus-tainable partnership between NGOs and local for profit societies regarding Environmental preservation.

2. Creation of strategy board with representatives of NGOs, SMEs, the local public administration and the media. Four mee-tings to prepare and elaborate a sustainable partnership strategy for a Green Nature in a Green Europe.

3. Publication of Best European Environmental Practices for Halting Loss of Biodiversity BEEP - 2010, a guide for envi-ronmental NGOs and SMEs in local communities.

4. Nature and Maramures in Europe (NaME): a photo exhibition and media event in Sighet which will underline the impor-tance of biodiversity preservation and the sustainance of a healthy nature and healthy human communities.

Together with IUCN experts Ms. L. Vavrova and Mr. J. Lohmann, the first training was organised in Sighetu Marmatiei-Mara-mures county from 25-28 February. Participants included local key stakeholders and decision makers (local administration,business sector e.g. timber processing, tourism) and also members and staff of the Green Valley Association, as well asvolunteers. The second training will take place in April 2008.

The project will significantly contribute to a knowledge transfer and enable the local stakeholders and decision makers tomaintain the equilibrium between the use of the natural resources, environmental health, human health and sustainable de-velopment, in correlation with the existing social, economic and environmental parameters. The capacity building undertaken

within this project will help to deal with complex environmental problems, with nature conservation in a region with a highbiodiversity value, with a developing industry in a market economy and with the changes in socio-economic structures dueto the EU integration.

For more information, please contact Ion Maris, project cooordinator, at [email protected] Peter Lengyel,Green Valley Association/Asociatia Valea Verde, Sighetu Marmatiei (Romania), email: [email protected].
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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8 Proposed alpine ski resort threatens Serbias largest nature reserve

Stara Planina, Serbia: Stara Planina Nature Park is not only the highest Serbianmountain, but also the last remaining high mountain free of development. Despitethe threat of climate change, its location deep in the south of Europe and the factthat only one peak is higher than 2000 metres, the Serbian Government has deci-ded to build a mega ski resort with beds to accommodate 28,000 guests, 80 kmof ski lifts, 200 km of ski slopes and skiing infrastructure for 40,000 skiers at onetime. Large complexes of beech and conifer forests would have to be cleared forski lifts and slopes alone, not to mention four planned dams for artificial snow pro-

duction, new roads, car parks and several tourist villages planned in endangeredhabitat types such as mountain peat meadows.

A total of 5000 species recorded at Stara Planina includes 41 indigenous orchidsand the largest carnivore of Europe, the Brown Bear. A plethora of species is pro-tected by both the Bern Convention and the Serbian Decree on the Protection ofNatural Rarities, eg. globally threatened Saker Falcon and Corncrake, Lynx andOtter, as well as rare butterflies such as Clouded Apollo and Mountain Apollo.

The first ski lift was opened in December 2006 at the Babin Zub peak erosionprocesses might lead to an increased danger of land slides. The conservation sec-tor sees a contradiction with several Serbian laws. Thus, 60 environmental NGOshave joined forces to form the Association for Preservation and Sustainable Development of Stara Planina (APSD) (www.savestaraplanina.info). End of 2007, APSD held two well attended public debates in the southern towns of Pirot and Nis,

another hearing shall take place in Belgrade. Strong public support will be of utmost importance and thus an online petitioncan be accessed on http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-staraplanina-petition.

APSD has filed a court appeal to the Constitutional Court questioning Constitution violations at Stara Planina. In January2008, letters were sent to the respective members of the government, requesting that laws must be respected and furtherworks stopped until the proper Environmental Impact Assessment is made. Only after the EIA is produced, various develop-ment options may be considered, having the wellbeing of both local people and environment in mind.

In addition, APSD has submitted more than 50 objections to the proposed Spatial Plan and Environmental Impact Assess-ment. The proposed Spatial Plan would allow fragmentation and clear felling of 1700 ha of forests as well as tourist village atendangered habitat types (peat meadow Jabucko Ravniste); all of it against the existing Decree on the Protection of NaturePark Stara Planina which forbids tree felling near upper forest limit, as well as harming the basic natural values of the Park.Out of 120 pages of the proposed Environmental Impact Assessment, only half a page is devoted to biodiversity richness of5000 recorded species. A public hearing on both documents is expected in spring 2008.

Source: Association for Preservation and Sustainable Development of Stara Planina. For more information, please contactDragan Simic, League for Ornithological Action of Serbia, [email protected], www.ptica.org.

9 Neretva Delta Forum for the sustainable use of

shared natural resources

NDF, Croatia & Bosnia and Hercegovina: Within the Project Ne-retva Delta Forum (NDF) for the sustainable use of shared natu-ral resources implemented by the REC Croatia/REC Bosnia andHerzegovina and financed by the Swiss Agency for Developmentand Cooperation (SDC) since 2007, two identical NDF Associati-ons with defined operational structures have been established, inCroatia and BiH respectively.

At the occasion of the World Wetland Day on 2nd February 2008in Nature Park Hutovo Blato, the non-governmental organizationNeretva Delta Forum Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ne-retva Delta Forum Metkovic, Croatia, agreed on a Memorandumof Understanding on their mutual programs and goals and committed themselves to cooperate in achieving these goals.

The associations aim is to develop cross-border cooperation between relevant stakeholders in Croatia and BiH, in orderto contribute to sustainable development of the Neretva Delta, the preservation of its biological diversity, an efficient watermanagement, nature conservation, environmental protection and preservation of cultural heritage, as well as traditionaland historic values by fully respecting the fact that Neretva Delta is a single geographic region shared between Croatia andBosnia and Herzegovina. In the past weeks, NDF Associations developed several project proposals related to the regionalsustainable development and integrated approach to the management of shared natural and cultural resources, and sub-mitted those to potential donors.

Within the project, various promotion and information material is published, such as a Neretva Delta Eco calendar 2008, EcoHerzegovina, an ecological newsletter, and an educational picture book of Hutovo Blato wetland, Swamp is a Miracle. Formore information, please contact Maja Zaric, National Programme Officer for Migration and Health at [email protected] orvisit the website http://www.sdc-seco.ba.
http://www.savestaraplanina.info/http://www.savestaraplanina.info/http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-staraplanina-petitionhttp://www.ptica.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.sdc-seco.ba/http://www.sdc-seco.ba/mailto:[email protected]://www.ptica.org/http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-staraplanina-petitionhttp://www.savestaraplanina.info/http://www.savestaraplanina.info/


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10 Strengthening capacities in the Western Balkan

UNDP, Western Balkan: UNDP Montenegro, with support fromfive other UNDP offices in the region, prepared the Regional En-vironmental Hot Spots Programme Strengthening capacities inthe Western Balkans countries to address environmental problemsthrough remediation of high priority hot spots. The Programme isfunded by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Belgrade. Coveringnine environmental hot spots, this is the biggest regional program-me UNDP has ever implemented in South Eastern Europe.

The aim of the three-year, $15 million Regional Environmental HotSpots Programme is threefold:

1. To enhance regional cooperation in the Western Balkans (by sho-wing that a strong cooperation achieves better solutions in tacklingjoint environmental problems across national boundaries),

2. To improve living conditions in communities in the surroundingof targeted environmental hot spots through remediation activities(and to communicate the progress to those affected),

3. To ensure control of existing pollution and to build up knowledgeand capacities in the local communities as well as at the nationallevel in order to prevent similar environmental mistakes in future.

This Regional Programme is unique in having a rare blend of con-crete clean-up operations (i.e. physical works) combined with aso-called soft component focused on educating people, buildingan understanding of how people can influence the decision-ma-king processes that affect their health, well being and economicopportunities.

Locations included in the Programme:

Railway station in Bajza, Albania cleaning up a chemical stock-pile;

Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina changing the local energy sup-ply system for two health clinics at the municipal level;

Ugljevik, Bosnia and Herzegovina modernizing an industrial wa-ter treatment plant to reduce the load of salt and other chemicalsentering natural waterways through the plants waste waters;

Bucim, FYR Macedonia collection and treatment of waters frommining zone, constructing controls for heavy metal laden minedrainage and dust;

Lojane, FYR Madeconia capping and containing toxic miningresidues;

Mojkovac, Montenegro remediation and rehabilitation of the lead and zinc tailings mine impoundment; Vrbas & Kula (Danube-Tisza-Danube Canal), Serbia construction of main collector, rehabilitation of the sewage system; Trepca, Kosovo under UNSCR 1244 relocation of some mining waste, construction of a number of protection measures

and introduction of management practices to reduce mining waste impacts through heavy metals beingdispersed through water and air pollution.

The criteria for selection of locations were potential or existing cross-border pollution/environmentalimpact of the hot spots, commitment and priority that national governments attached to particular hotspots and their readiness to co-finance clean-up operations, availability of technical documentation,ability to establish partnerships including public and private partnerships, as well as readiness of localauthorities and other interested stakeholders to take over the leading role in post-clean-up sustainablemanagement.

For more detailed information about the programme please visit www.undp.org.yu or contact Ms. SanjaBojanic, Regional Environmental Programme Manager, at [email protected].
http://www.undp.org.yu/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.undp.org.yu/


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11 Drava to become a canal?

Croatia: In January 2008 the Croatian Ministry responsible for WaterManagement (MRDFWM) has issued an extensive plan for the furtherregulation of 56 km of the lower course of the ecologically highly va-luable Drava River. According to the plan, the natural river courseshall be fixed (by embankments, groins and by cutting off natural riverbanks) in order to stop the natural river dynamics of the lower Drava.

This new attempt would contradict the ministries commitment to

comply with EU environmental law and also the recent agreementof the new Croatian government to protect the Drava as a RegionalPark. Thus, twelve concerned NGOs have called upon the EuropeanCommission to finally stop further Drava destruction.

To download the request and a map: www.sterna-albifrons.net. For furtherinformation, please contact Arno Mohl, WWF Austria, Email: [email protected].

Croatian government agrees on Drava protection!

The programme of the new Croatian government plans to protect the Dravaas a Regional Park. On page 32 of the Programme of the Government ofCroatia 2008-11 it says: - zatititi rijeke Unu, Muru, Dravu, Mrenicu, u ka-tegoriji regionalnih parkova Rok: preventivna zatita do kraja 2008 godine,konacna zatita prema zakonskoj obvezi.

The decree for preliminary protection of the Drava as a Regional Park,which was elaborated by the Ministry of Culture and the State Institute forNature Protection (SINP), has recently been signed by Minister Mr BooBikupic.

This is a very important step to protect more than 250.000 ha of one ofCroatias and Europes most valuable river ecosystem as part of the proposedTrans-Boundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Danube-Drava-Mura.

The State Institute for Nature Protection (SINP) has already developed aproposal for a Biosphere Reserve Danube - Drava - Mura on Croatian ter-ritory, comprising more than 600.000 ha of natural and cultural landscapesalong the rivers including core,- buffer,- and transition zones.

Further information: www.sterna-albifrons.net, Contact: Arno Mohl, WWFAustria, email: [email protected].

LANDSAT

12 New European Network for Landscape

Italy, Germany, Ireland, Spain, UK, Netherlands: 40 representatives of 26 NGOs from Italy, Germany, Ireland, Spain, UnitedKingdom and The Netherlands met to launch the CIVILSCAPE network on 23rd February 2008. This network has been foun-ded to facilitate and encourage people to connect to their landscape and feel a responsibility for it, whilst its objective is to

support the Florence Convention (the Council of Europes Landscape Convention).

The activities to be organised by CIVILSCAPE will include awareness raising for the qualities oflandscape, international exchanges of experience and knowledge about landscape managementand planning, the development of a common strategy to influence landscape policies, and the

identification of joint international projects.For further information, please see www.civilscape.org.

13 Introducing the NGO Eko-Zadar

Croatia: Eko-Zadar, the Association for Organic farming and Environment protection, was founded in 1999 by a committeeof 250 representatives including citizens, NGO directors and volunteers, Local Council members and government officials.Its mission is to influence positive changes and decision making processes regarding sustainable development throughadvocacy initiatives and promotion of ecological awareness and responsibility.

Most important projects of Eko-Zadar are: The Green telephone (offering a free-phone line which stores data based onwhich we act contacting the relevant departments and authorities that might help solving the problem in question), Bio-

Organic Food Production and Days of the Sun Fair (facilitating the dialogue between farmers and the local

community by developing a niche-market for bio-organic products grown locally, promoting the sustainab-le development. Other activities are: Recycling toogether and the support of safe bike transport (supportingthis eco way of transport, we assist and lobby for the cycling paths to be spread and maintained).

For further information please contact [email protected] or visit the website: www.ekozadar.org
http://www.sterna-albifrons.net/mailto:[email protected]://www.sterna-albifrons.net/mailto:[email protected]://www.civilscape.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.ekozadar.org/http://www.ekozadar.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.civilscape.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.sterna-albifrons.net/mailto:[email protected]://www.sterna-albifrons.net/


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14 Exploratorii: Eco-Trainings in Romania and Serbia

Pancevo, Serbia and Caras-Severin, Romania: Between No-vember 2007 and February 2008, the Speleological AssociationExploratorii (ASE) from Resita in Romania completed 8 trainingson ecological education in the city of Pancevo (Serbia) and inCaras-Severin County (Romania). These trainings are part of theproject Centre for Ecological Education and Tourism Promotion,under implementation by ASE since August 2007. The project (to-tal amount: 98,667 Euro) is financed by the European Union andthe Romanian Government, under the Neighbourhood ProgrammeRomania-Serbia 2005, and co-financed by ASE.

The first 3 trainings took place in November last year, and wereorganized with the help of Jezgro, our Serbian partner, and theTown Hall of Pancevo. 44 young people from Serbia and Roma-nia attended these trainings. From December 2007 on, another 5ecological trainings were held in Caras-Severin County (Romania),together with our partner, the School Inspectorate of Caras-Seve-rin County. 147 participants from 5 Romanian localities benefited from these trainings. All the participants were able to gainexperiential knowledge of ecological education practices. Our goal was to develop an ecological spirit among young peoplefrom Serbia and Caras-Severin, aged between 16 and 25.

As a result of the trainings, 15 young people from Serbia and 15 young people from Caras-Severin were selected to partici-pate in the Romanian-Serbian volunteer exchange, organized in the summer of 2008 in Cheile Nerei-Beusnita National Park,with the help of our third partner, Cheile Nerei-Beusnita National Park.

For more information, please contact Daciana Vladu, Project Manager at [email protected].

15 Green Network of Vojvodina New IUCN member in Serbia

Serbia: IUCN-SEE is happy to welcome Green Network of Vojvodina (Zelena mreza Vojvodine) as the 3 rd IUCN member inSerbia and the 15th in the SEE region!

GNV was officially registered in September 2001 and recently has 30 members, while a group of 55 farmers is also suppor-ting its work. The GNVs mission is to establish the sustainable development principle in Vojvodina province:

boost involvement of the public in issues related to

environmental protection and decision-making; create and support sustainable communities; and contribute to sustainable agriculture and rural development.

GNV has established an intensive cooperation with IUCN related to the implementa-tion of the integrated conservation management, development of greenways (bikingroutes) in SEE, and the Green Belt and Countdown 2010 Initiatives. Together withQuebec Labradour Foundation from the U.S.A.organized a landscape stewardship exchangein Vojvodina to promote landscape stewardshipprinciples in the region.

Since 2005 GNV has been organizing an openmarket of local farmers from Vojvodina called

Moj salas My farm to promote organic agri-culture. With support from GNV the first authori-zed store with organic products Moj salas wasopened in Novi Sad in August 2007.

We wish GNV many successful projects and fruit-ful cooperation with local communities as well asIUCN and its members worldwide.

Information on GNV can be obtained from theirwebsite: http://www.zelenamreza.org.yu/.

Olivera Radovanovic, head of GNV

(L. Vavrova/IUCN)

Moj salas My farm open market in Novi Sad

(D. Medic/GNV)
mailto:[email protected]://www.zelenamreza.org.yu/http://www.zelenamreza.org.yu/mailto:[email protected]


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16 Two new Ramsar Sites in Serbia

Gornje Podunavlje and Vlasina, Serbia: Gornje Podunavlje and Vlasinaare two new Ramsar sites designated in Serbia and included to the List ofWetlands of International Importance by The Ramsar Convention Secreta-riat on 2nd February 2008.

Gornje Podunavlje, covering 22,480 hectares, is a marsh complex along theDanube River that is part of a natural unity with the Gemenc (Hungary) andKopacki Rit (Croatia) Ramsar sites. Vlasina spreads on 209 hectares and

comprises, along with the surrounding countryside, the reservoir Vlasinsko,which at the time of its creation in 1949 inundated what was thought to bethe largest peat bog in the Balkans and one of the largest in Europe.

Serbia now has 8 Ramsar sites covering a total of 53,714 hectares. Du-ring the World Wetlands Day celebration Dr Lidija Amidzic, director of the

Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia stressed that theInstitute will be continuously preparing documentation andsubmitting proposals for new Ramsar sites in Serbia. At themoment, the preliminary list includes 68 sites, while the Spe-cial reserve Zasavica is planned to be the next wetland no-

minated.

For further information, please con-

tact Maja Radosavljevic, Public Relation, Institute for Nature Protection of Serbia [email protected].

18 Vojvodina joins the Countdown 2010 initiative

Novi Sad, Serbia: On its session on 19th of February, the Assemblyof Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, the highest representativeorgan of the Province, adopted the Countdown 2010 declaration.

Adoption of the declaration has been recommended to the As-

sembly after a presentation of the Countdown 2010 initiative givenby representatives of IUCN and Green Network of Vojvodina thenewest IUCN member in the region. The presentation was held on13th of March during the joint session of the Committee on Econ-omy and Tourism, Committee on City planning and Environmentalprotection and the Committee on Agriculture. The Assembly com-mits itself to increase afforestation of the region while taking intoconsideration biodiversity requirements; to improve protection ofbiodiversity in protected areas; to promote good agricultural practices and organic production; to protect valuable areasfrom negative impacts of industrial activities; to support education and awareness raising in regard to biodiversity of localcommunities, civil society and protected areas managers.

After the first local community of Botos, the Assembly of AP of Vojvodina is the first regional au-thority of this size to join Countdown 2010 in Serbia. The Province sets a good example for otherregional and local authorities in the country and in the region.

For further information, please contact [email protected].

17 Local community joins global initiative

Botos, Serbia: On February 8th, the community of Botos decided to sign the Countdown2010 declaration and thus set a national example. High level representatives of the SerbianMinistry of the Environment, the province of Vojvodina and journalists from TV, radio andprint witnessed the Signing Ceremony which followed a seminar on biodiversity and natureconservation in South-Eastern Europe. With its signature, the village aims to increase the

attractiveness of its surrounding nature, and of the community life.Local businesses and civil society organizations spoke to support

the decision.For more information on the initiative CD2010 in South EasternEurope, please contact Tomasz Pezold, IUCN SEE ProgrammeOffice, email: [email protected].
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Events

2 Serbia takes over Presidency of the the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube

Vienna, UN Information Service, 21 January 2008: Serbia today took over the Presidency of the International Commission

for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) for the year 2008. The handover was made during an official ceremony hostedby the outgoing Presidency, Romania, at the premises of the Permanent Mission of Romania in Vienna, Austria.

The Minister for Environmental Protection of Serbia, Sasa Dragin, will serve as ICPDR President and guide its activities in2008. The ICPDR was created in 1998 to coordinate the protection and improvement of the Danube and its tributaries. Asthe person responsible for environmental protection in Serbia, I know the difficulties in combining the needs of nature withthe sustainable use of natural resources, said Mr. Dragin.

Mr. Dragin will emphasize the rapid and efficient sharing of information between the Danube countries. This is of greatimportance as a major tool to prevent damages in downstream countries from upstream accidents and increasing floodevents. It is key that downstream countries have enough time to shut down and protect water supply systems that are linkedto the Danube, especially in the case of industrial accidents involving hazardous substances.

Serbia is particularly interested in ensuring that non-European Union countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldovaand Ukraine become fully integrated into the work of the ICPDR. The assimilation of Montenegro, which will ratify the DanubeRiver Protection Convention this year, is also of great importance.

Other key initiatives in 2008 focus on the dissemination of the results of the Joint Danube Survey 2, a six-week scientificsurvey of the Danube and its main tributaries carried out by the ICPDR in mid-2007. I will try to ensure that the information onthe current status of the Danube is spread widely, says Mr. Dragin. This will ensure public support for more national fundsspending on wastewater systems and treatment plants.

The ICPDR Presidency rotates annually among the Contracting Parties of the Danube River Protection Convention. Serbiawill be succeeded by Slovakia in 2009. The ICPDR (International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River) is aninternational organization consisting of 13 cooperating states and the European Union. Since its establishment in 1998, it hasgrown into one of the largest and most active international bodies engaged in river basin management in Europe. Its activitiesrelate not only to the Danube River, but also the tributaries and ground water resources of the entire Danube River Basin.

The ultimate goal of the ICPDR is to implement the Danube River Protection

Convention by promoting and coordinating sustainable and equitable watermanagement, including conservation, and improvement and rational use of waters forthe benefit of the Danube River Basin countries and their people.

For more information, please visit the website www.icpdr.orgor contact Jasmine Bachmannat ICPDR, [email protected]

1 Opening of solar system in high school

Hrvatska Kostajnica, Croatia, 20 December 2007: A solar systemwas installed as part of a practical Do it yourself workshoporganized by Green Action in November where participants(Croatian and B&H NGOs, pupils and local inhabitants supported

by experts from project team) actually built and installed a smallsystem for utilization of solar energy. A fully functional systemwas installed on the school building, donated for future use as ademonstration system.

This was the first of 4 planned educational workshops and trainingsfor NGOs from boarder areas of Croatia and B&H on renewableenergy use and river ecosystem conservation as core activitieson sustainable development. The workshops are part of the EUCARDS 2004 project Promoting conservation of border riverecosystems and sustainable use of resources in border area ofCroatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

With the promotion of renewable energy resources like solar

collectors we hope to give alternatives to the threat that HPPs poseto remaining natural river ecosystems. The overall project objectiveis to increase awareness, knowledge and cross border cooperationin environmental protection as a core of sustainable development,through conservation of river ecosystems biodiversity and naturalresources sustainable use, in the border region of Croatia andBosnia and Herzegovina. The project started in July 2007 and laststill June 2009.

More information: Petra Duric, Water Protection Programme Assistant, Green Action/FoE Croatia, [email protected].
http://www.icpdr.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.icpdr.org/


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3 Education on multifunctional development of agri-

culture and rural regions

Fruska gora National Park, Serbia, 25-26 January 2008: Sup-ported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Manage-ment, Green Network of Vojvodina organized an educational trai-ning on the multifunctional development of agriculture and ruralregions in Vojvodina in the NORCEV hotel in Fruska gora NationalPark.

The training was organized for 40 participants registered farmerswho were interested in organic agriculture production or good ag-riculture practice. On Friday 25th, the Assistant Minister of Agricul-ture, Forestry and Water Management, Dr Suzana Djordjevic-Milo-sevic, greeted the group and gave a speech on rural development

strategies in Serbia.

Besides the basics of multifunctional development of agriculture and rural region, the agenda of thetraining, included basics of organic farm production, fruit-growing and gardening. In addition, a specialtraining on the importance of applying fito-eco protection for plants was organized. More informationwas also given on Serbian animal genetic resources, ecological horticultural managing of homestead,use of renewable energies, harvesting and ensilage and experiences of farmers from multifunctionalorganic tilling. Prof. Dr. Branka Lazic and her team of experts led through the two days training.

A second part of the programme will follow in spring 2008. The same participants will be able totake part in a workshop on Development of rural tourism - services, hygiene praxis, authenticall

handicrafts and development of greenways. This session will be held in hotelAleksandar on March 29th in Novi Sad. At the end of the whole education semi-nar (May 2008), a visit to one of the organic farms will be organised and there theparticipants will receive a diploma for attending the seminar.

For information, please contact Dusko Medic, [email protected].

4 Montenegro and IUCN unite efforts to protect nature

Kotor, Montenegro, 28-29 February 2008: Under the leadershipof Montenegros Ministry of Tourism and Environment, the 2ndRound Table on Protection and Sustainable Development of

the Montenegrin Coast in Kotor has convened relevant nationaland mediterranean organizations with IUCN to identify natureconservation priorities of the country. By bringing together andallying with regional organizations, experts and policy makers,Montenegro is identifying ways of action to promote sustainabledevelopment in coastal areas, while respecting the naturalenvironment and complying with international conventions andstandards.

Amongst the priorities identified for 2008 is the moving forward ofMontenegro with the alignment of environmental laws with inter-national standards, including EU directives, The Convention of Biological Diversity and IUCN recommendations. The creationof three marine protected areas to safeguard biodiversity Kati Isle, the Old Ulcinj and Platamuni has been identified as a

first step towards compliance with international standards in marine conservation. However, it is needed to incorporate all therelevant biodiversity concerns in the new Montenegrin Law on Nature Protection, and to thus lay down a sound institutionalset up for further nature conservation efforts.

For more information, please contact Ameer Abdulla, [email protected] and Boris Erg, [email protected].

Kotor Bay Boris Erg/IUCN

5 BPPP workshop in Shkodra

Shkodra, Albania, 13-14 March 2008: More than sixty stakeholders from central government, regional government,municipalities, NGOs and other organisations from Albania and the neighbouring countries attended a two-day workshop inShkodra, to plan the next steps towards the creation of a transboundary Balkans Peace Park.

The meeting, which was hosted by the President of the Shkodra Regional Council (Qark), Professor G. Kolombi, openedwith positive statements of support and optimism for the future from the ministerial representatives from each of the regionsinvolved. A draft vision, mission and objectives, tabled by the facilitators after prior consultation with various stakeholders,

enabled productive discussions to take place in four working groups: economy and tourism; ecology; social and culturalissues; capacity-building. Each group addressed the draft objectives step by step, identifying gaps and areas of agreement,in order to achieve consensus on practical steps towards the creation of a programme of action.

The meeting was supported by SNV, ENVSEC, UNEP, the Canadian International Development Agency, the AustrianDevelopment Corporation and BPPP-UK. For more info, please contact Antonia Young, [email protected].
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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6 STOP: no sale of endangered plant species

Novi Sad, Serbia, 1-8 March 2008: The biology student scienceand research society Josif Pancic and National park Fruskagora in Serbia organized actions to stop the sales of protectedand endangered plant species in the vicinity of Novi Sad. Thisinitiative was also supported by the Institute for Nature Protectionof the Republic of Serbia, the Institute for biology and ecology fromthe University of Novi Sad and the ecological movement of thetown Novi Sad.

The focus of attention was on the Great Anemone (Pulsatila vulgarisvar. grandis) which protected under the nature conservation laws ofthe Republic of Serbia, as well as by Bern Convention, AppendixI. Similar threaths and problems were pointed out regardingother endangered plant species (Ruscus hypoglossum, Anemonesilvestris, Leucojum aestivum, Ruscus aculeatus).

In the past few years increased picking and trading of these and several other species was noticed, but from the authoritiesside, an action was not yet taken. Therefore, the goal of the awareness raising activities was to educate flower street-sellersand the local community not to pick, sell and buy this particular plant species. Flyers were distributed to the people presentin the selling places of the Great Anemones. The official nature protection inspectors of Serbia were also informed and aprijava was sent regarding this problem. A presentation on the local TV stations followed the actions. It was concluded in theaftermath of this initiative, that the actions had a short term effect in terms of sinking numbers of Great Anemones for sale.Further activities in education and research as well as awareness raising are planned, in order to preserve the species frommass exploitations.

More information can be obtained on www.josifpancic.com or from the coordinators, Marko Sciban, BSSRS Josif Pancic,Novi Sad, at [email protected] and Marko Jankovic, BSSRS Josif Pancic, Novi Sad, [email protected].

7 Decision makers take action in Obedska bara

Obedska bara, Serbia, 11 March 2008: More than 70 peoplegathered on March 11th in the Obedska bara Special NatureReserve to support conservation efforts and to help in a wetmeadow restoration project under the slogan Working day forNature. This voluntary action was organized under the auspice

of the Provincial Secretariat for Environmental Protection andSustainable Development of Vojvodina and logistically supportedby Vojvodinasume Public Enterprise the Obedska bara protectedarea authority. It gathered representatives of all relevant conservationinstitutions in Serbia namely the Ministry of Environment, Institutefor Nature Conservation of Serbia, Provincial Secretariat forEnvironmental Protection and Sustainable Development, but alsolocal communities and pupils from the primary school in Kupinovoas well as NGOs such as the Young Researchers of Serbia and international organizations represented by IUCN.

They all gathered in Obedska bara, one of the first protected areas along the Sava river, in order to support the ongoing wetmeadow restoration project. This project foresees the cleaning up of forests and thereby subsequently enabling wet meadowvegetation to grow up and restore natural wetland habitats. The participants helped to clean more than 10 ha within the

targeted area. As was underlined during the action, it is foreseen to organize similar activities in other protected areas as well.The volunteers message was clear enough only by doing one would be able to convince others to take direct conservationactions.

For more information: Mr Slobodan Puzovic [email protected].
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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1 A world withouth biodiversity?

IUCN: There is growing recognition that diversity biological as well as lingu-istic and cultural diversity is the lifeblood of sustainable development andhuman welfare. Diversity is key to resilience the ability of natural and socialsystems to adapt to change.

But we are rapidly losing diversity, despite all the warnings. We know that an-cient civilizations collapsed because of environmental damage. We understandhow monocultures contributed to agricultural disasters like the Irish Potato Fa-mine. Excessive development and consumerism are destroying our natural sys-tems, standardizing landscapes and eroding cultures. We know current growthrates are not sustainable and are not leading to the life we want. The worldknows it has to change and has the means to do so.

But this issue isnt dedicated to how we save diversity, its about why we needit in the first place. Conservationists feel they are banging their heads against awall because the rest of the world doesnt seem to be listening. Or, more likely,were not doing very well at getting the message across. Thats why, in the run-up to the IUCN Barcelona Congress with its theme, A Diverse and SustainableWorld, were going back to basics, asking the question:How can we expect to tackle poverty and climate change if we dont look af-ter the natural wealth of animals, plants, microorganisms and ecosystems thatmake our planet inhabitable?

If we dont hurry up and convince governments, politicians, business leadersand the public why we need diversity and how urgent it is that they mobilize tosave it, the world will move on and our fate will be sealed. We need to do betterat showing how much progress has been made and how much more can bedone. Its time to get our collective act together. In Barcelona the world will bewatching us.

For download please seehttp://cms.iucn.org/news/world_conservation/2008_issue1/index.cfm

Communication & Publications

IUCN is an organization that cares deeply about the

diversity of life and whose fundamental expertise is on

species and ecosystems. We know that sustainably ma-

naged natural resources support peace. We know that

we must tackle climate change if were to safeguard

biodiversity and the lives of the people who depend on

it. We have shown that we can help reduce poverty by

ensuring that nature continues to provide much needed

resources while sustainably managed resources can be

key to economic growth.

Union Director General Julia Marton-Lefvre on safe-

guarding biodiversity.

2 Connect 2 Earth - new green on-line community

IUCN and WWF: A new online community where young peoplecan have their say on the environment by uploading videos, pictu-res and comments was launched by two of the worlds largest en-vironmental organisation, WWF and IUCN, supported by Nokia.

The site will allow people to tell the world what they think about theenvironment, to rank other entries, discuss the issues that matter

most to them, and share smart ideas and solutions from their owncommunities. Each month users will vote on a winner who will berewarded with a Nokia mobile phone.

The overall winner, selected by a panel of prominent conservatio-nists, will get the chance to participate in the IUCN World Conser-vation Congress in Barcelona this October and present his or herideas directly to political, environmental and business leaders fromaround the world.

As mobile phones become an increasingly popular way to access the internet and online communities, the connect2earthsite is optimized for using mobile phones to create short films, capture photos and submit comments. The website is aimedat people aged between 13 and 35. Visit www.connect2earth.org with your PC or mobile phone and start changing theworld now!

For more information, please contact Sarah Halls, IUCN Media Relations Officer, email: [email protected] or MoiraOBrien-Malone, Head of Media Relations, WWF International, email: mobrienwwfint.org.
http://cms.iucn.org/news/world_conservation/2008_issue1/index.cfmhttp://www.connect2earth.org/mailto:sarah.hallsiucn.orgmailto:sarah.hallsiucn.orghttp://www.connect2earth.org/http://cms.iucn.org/news/world_conservation/2008_issue1/index.cfm


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5 New IUCN Website launched

IUCN: On 10th March, the new IUCN website went live. It will look slightlydifferent, but it is hoped, that it will be much easier for members andexternal audiences to navigate. The website is based on a new web con-tent management system that, for the IUCN staff, will make posting andmanaging web content significantly easier for all offices worldwide. Cur-rently the communications colleagues are busy migrating content fromthe existing sites to the new system.

The website address has not changed please visit the site whenever

you need information and news regarding the work and engagement ofIUCN: http://www.iucn.org.

3 Business and Biodiversity

IUCN: This newsletter issue focuses on Business and Biodiversity, with contri-butions from the World Business Council on Sustainable Development, WWF,the European Commission and the Portuguese Presidency of the EU.

Contents:

Editorial (Tams Marghescu, IUCN Regional Director for Europe) WBCSD: Turning Challenge into Opportunity (Bjrn Stigson, President of the

World Business Council on Sustainable Development)

WWF: Engagement is fruitful for both sides (Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud, Directorof Business and Industry Relations, WWF)

The High Level Conference on Business and Biodiversity (Humberto D. Rosa,Secretary of State for Environment, Portugal and Mogens Peter Carl, DirectorGeneral, DG Environment, European Commission)

Countdown 2010: A new way of doing business (Sebastian Winkler, Head ofCountdown 2010)

Biodiversity Offsets (Kerry ten Kate, Director, Business and Biodiversity Off-sets Program, Forest Trends)

Protecting the riverbank forests of Moldova (Andrei Dumbraveanu, Aurel Lozanand Teodor Glavan)

IUCN Member: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew News from IUCN Europe

Calendar of Events

For download, please see http://cms.iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/europe/index.cfm?uNewsID=105.

6 IUCN library

IUCN: The IUCN library is a unique repository of publications, periodicals, scientific and technical reports prepared by IUCN,its Regional and Country Offices, Commissions and partners. It compiles the titles published by IUCN from 1948 to the pre-sent. It also contains publications from the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, TRAFFIC wildlife trade monitoring network,UNEP WCMC the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, and a selection of titlesfrom IUCN members or other publishers.

Search the collection of IUCN publications in the IUCN online catalogue: http://cms.iucn.org/resources/publications/publi-

cations_search/index.cfmSince June 2007 the most downloaded IUCN publications are World conservation strategy, Identification and gap analysisof key biodiversity areas and Evaluating effectiveness, as statistics showed.

4 Logo

IUCN: IUCN is simplifying its name and from now on its known simply as IUCN. It stands for theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature. This year we turn 60. Were still full of energy, intellectand passion about the environment, but what better way to look forward to the next 60 years thanwith a new face thus, we also have a new simpler logo. However simple our name is though, wellcontinue working on the worlds most complex environment and development issues. Our scientistsand experts will continue to define conservation standards for the world. And well continue workingfrom the village to the presidential palace to the UN General Assembly to build bridges and find

pragmatic solutions to our most pressing sustainable development challenges.
http://www.iucn.org/http://cms.iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/europe/index.cfm?uNewsID=105http://cms.iucn.org/resources/publications/publications_search/index.cfmhttp://cms.iucn.org/resources/publications/publications_search/index.cfmhttp://cms.iucn.org/resources/publications/publications_search/index.cfmhttp://cms.iucn.org/resources/publications/publications_search/index.cfmhttp://cms.iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/europe/index.cfm?uNewsID=105http://www.iucn.org/


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Trainings & Seminars

1 Management Effectiveness and Quality Criteria in European Protected Areas Sharing experiences and

promoting good management

20-23 April 2008, German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation & Europarc: The CBD Programme of Work onProtected Areas (PoWPA) called for the national introduction of a system for evaluating the management effectiveness of

protected areas by 2010 (terrestrial) and 2012 (marine). This seminar will facilitate the exchange throughout Europe on thedevelopment and implementation of quality criteria and evaluation systems for assessing the management effectiveness ofprotected areas.

Hence, the seminar aims at

Reviewing frameworks, systems, trends and implementation for assessment ofmanagement effectiveness of protected areas,

Obtaining an overview of protected areas management effectiveness evaluation systems in Europe, Comparing and reviewing the application and lessons learned from assessing effectiveness of

protected area management in Europe, Increasing awareness of the CBD targets on assessing management effectiveness in Europe

as a contribution to the further implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPAs), Developing recommendations and a draft action plan for countries still in need to elaborate and

implement evaluation systems.Target groups for this seminar are protected area professionals in Europe, in particular those tasked with monitoring andevaluation and who have yet to fulfil their obligations concerning management effectiveness under the CBDs PoWPA, inparticular:

Protected areas managers in Europe European protected area agencies and environmental ministries NGOs

More information under http://www.bfn.de/0603_kalender.html?&tx_blitzcalendar_pi1[qlist]=2 or from Andrea Burmester [email protected].

2 Regional Workshop for Europe on Capacity Building for National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans and

Mainstreaming og Biodiversity

26-29 April 2008, German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation & CBD Secretariat: The purpose of this workshopis to strengthen national capacities for the development, implementation, reviewing and updating of national biodiversitystrategies and action plans and the integration of biodiversity considerations into relevant national policies, strategies andplanning processes.

The workshop will promote the exchange of experiences and training on the use of relevant tools and mechanisms, andprovide an opportunity for countries to identify ways and means for overcoming challenges in the development and imp-lementation of NBSAPs and mainstreaming. The outcomes of the workshop will provide inputs to the ongoing review ofimplementation of goals 2 and 3 of the Strategic Plan to be considered by the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Partiesin May 2008.

More information on the website http://www.cbd.int/nbsap/workshops.shtmlor [email protected].

3 Workshop on the World Heritage Convention MAB in the SEE region

Septmber 2008, UNESCO BRESCE: UNESCO-BRESCE Office Venice and UNESCO World Heritage Centre (Paris) are an-nouncing the regional workshop on the World Heritage Convention MAB in the SEE. Joining experts and stakeholders fromSouth-Eastern European countries and tentatively 3 days long, this workshop in early September is following the successfulone held last year in Ohrid (FYR of Macedonia).

For further information please contact Giorgio Andrian, UNESCO-BRESCE at [email protected].
http://www.bfn.de/0603_kalender.html?&tx_blitzcalendar_pi1[qlist]=2mailto:[email protected]://www.cbd.int/nbsap/workshops.shtmlmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.cbd.int/nbsap/workshops.shtmlmailto:[email protected]://www.bfn.de/0603_kalender.html?&tx_blitzcalendar_pi1[qlist]=2


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Guidelines for contributing to the IUCN SEE e-bulletin

IUCN welcomes articles in which you report on the activities related to transboundary cooperation in protected areasand biodiversity conservation. Please report on the status of your projects and actions, as well as events that youattended. You are welcome to announce new meetings and workshops and briefly report on new publications andannounce funding opportunities. Please send a photo to accompany your article if appropriate and indicate youremail and/or weblink for further reference.

The articles should be 150-250 words in length. Please note this as the interest to distribute news articles through thebulletin is extremely high and we are trying to secure space for all of you to contribute.You are responsible for any content that you post or transmit. The editors reserve the right to shorten and modify thetext if necessary.

Thanks for taking these guidelines into consideration!

All contributions should be sent to Aleksandra Nesic, [email protected].

ROfEs Structure

Regional Office for Europe (ROfE) is a branch of IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature). Alongwith offices and commissions around the world, we linkback to the President, Director General and Council ofIUCN.

For a history of IUCN and an explanation of the globalstructure please visit www.iucn.org. ROfE is comprisedof four IUCN offices located in Brussels, Belgrade, Tbi-lisi and Moscow. The head office in Brussels, is a mee-

ting point where the Programme Office for the SouthernCaucasus, The IUCN Programme Office for the Com-monwealth of Independent States in Moscow and theIUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe inBelgrade can disseminate information and strategies.Together as ROfE we strive to meet our goals for asustainable Europe by utilizing local expertise and thestrength of the global IUCN network.

ROfE in Belgrade

Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe

Dr. Ivana Ribara 9111070 BelgradeSerbiaTel: +381 11 2272-411Fax: +381 11 2272-531Email: [email protected]

Edited by Katharina Diehl

The IUCN SEE Bulletin contains third party articles. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily

reflect those of IUCN and the responsibility of the content of the published articles is held by the authors.

Whilst the IUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe has used reasonable endeavours to ensure that theinformation provided in the newsletter is accurate, it reserves the right to make corrections and does not warrantthat it is accurate or complete. The IUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe accepts no liability for anyerrors, misprints or omissions herein (whether negligent or otherwise).

The designation of geographical entities in this newsletter, and the presentation of the material, do not imply theexpression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, orarea, or of its authorities, or concerning the definition of its frontiers or boundaries.

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Bilten IUCN Istocna Evropa

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