The Sava River - a transboundary river of national and international importance

Dr Ivica RadovićMinistry of Environment and Spatial Planning

Dr Slobodan PuzovićProvincial Secretariat for Environmental Protection and Sustainable

Development

International cooperation

Multilateral agreements Sava River Basin

Sava Commission (Kranjska Gora 2002, International Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin– Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro)

The four riparian countries of the Sava River Basin entered into a process of cooperation known as “The Sava River Basin Initiative”

The process resulted in the “Letter of Intent” on launching the joint activities in regard to the Sava River and its tributaries, which was signed in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) on 29 November 2001, by the ministers of foreign affairs of the four Sava countries.

The International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC) - established for the purpose of implementation of the Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin (FASRB) The Republic of Serbia is active participant in all Sava River Basin related activities, particularly in preparation of:

the Sava River Basin Management Plan, Sava Flood Risk Management Plan and Contingency Plan; RIS (River Information Services), and Monitoring, Forecasting and Early Warning Systems (for accident prevention and control, and for flood protection); programs and other strategic documents, as well as additional protocols to the FASRB, in activities related to water consumption, water quality protection and ecosystem protection, protection from waters.

Authorities responsible for implementation of the FASRB:

The coordinator of all activities is the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management - Directorate of Water, as the authority responsible for integrated water resources management in the Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic hydro-meteorological Services of Serbia and Republic Geodetic Authority are other responsible authorities for activities related to the International Sava River Basin Commission. Provincial Secretariat for environmental protection and sustainable development.

Sava River – the features

Second largest tributary to the Danube river

Flows through four countries

Outstanding biological and landscape diversity, mosaic of natural floodplains and cultural landscapes

Largest complex of alluvial floodplain wetlands in the Danube basin

Unique example of river with some of the floodplains still intact - supporting the flood alleviation and biodiversity

Two Ramsar sites have been designated in the Sava River Basin (Obedska baraand Zasavica)

Protection of biodiversity of the Sava River floodplains

Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia provided expert inputs to the project

Project objectives :Support transborder co-operation and agreement between the Sava countries to designate and manage an ecological network for habitat types and species of European importance.

Protect global significant biodiversity, having a focus in species and habitats occurring on EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

Support rural development through stimulating sustainable land use practises and rural tourism.

WG for Biodiversity (Sava river project)

Proposal for and evaluation of a network of biologically important sites along the Sava

Action plan with recommendations for establishing and maintaining the network of biologically important sites to secure Favourable Conservation Status for Natura 2000 habitat types and species

National interpretation sheets of Natura 2000 habitat types relevant for the Sava River has been published

List of biologically important sites along the Sava River (applying the EU Birds and Habitat Directives) with completed data sheets and GIS layer for each site

Propose and evaluate the network of sites along the Sava

Area: 29.913 haAltitude: 73 - 90 mnvCoordinates: 19º 58’ 51” E - 44º 43’ 23” NIBA criteria: A1, B2, B3

Obedska bara (Ramsar, IBA, IPA)

Habitats: 10 priority habitat types (NATURA 2000)Flooded oak forestsLarge wetland habitats250 species of birds in total, herons, beaver, wild cat, viperLarge herons (7 species) and pigmye cormmorant colony with more than 800 breeding pairs

Area: 4.670 haAltitude: 77 - 83 mnvCoordinates: 19º 29’ 10” E - 44º 56’ 12” NIBA criteria: A1, B2

Zasavica (Ramsar, IBA, IPA)

Habitats: 10 priority habitat types (NATURA 2000)Wet habitats dominant, but very important grass habitats and pasturesSpecies: The only habitat in Serbia for Aldrovanda vesiculosa, and untill recently the only habitat in Serbia for Umbra krameriImportant locality for Aythya nyroca in Serbia, recently the beaver Castror fiber has been reintroduced

1.“Let’s clean up Serbia” - effective waste management in protected areas (MESP) 2.Co-financing of project activities (2002-2008) - Provincial Secretariat:

2002- Population control of water soldier (Stratiotes aloides )

2003- Development of the main project for the management of the water regime

2004- Restoration of meadow pastures in Valjevac

2005- How to reduce nutrient pollution- Expansion of river overflow zone- Reconstruction of the Gajić bridge- Monitoring of the upper flow of Batara

2006- Revitalization of Pačja bara- Multidisciplinary research- Printing of a guide on flora and fauna- Project "The return of storks to our neighbourhood"

2007- Cleaning steppe grasslands Valjevac- Scientific meeting regarding the flora and fauna of the Reserve and issuance of a book- Education of youth for professional activities in the field ofθ ornithology - Publication of a collective analysis of the population status of amphibians and reptiles in the Reserve over a 10 year period2008- Printing of the book "Birds of the Special Nature Reserve Zasavica"- Deepening of the channel on Valjevac pastureland and protection and management of the SNR "Zasavica"

Area: 4.706 haAltitude: 80 - 108 mnvCoordinates: 19º 21’ 14” E - 44º 46’ 40” NIBA criteria: B1i, B2

Area: 25.931 haAltitude: 79 - 85 mnvCoordinates: 19º 12’ 43” E - 44º 57’ 45” NIBA criteria: A1, B2

YOU ARE WELCOME IN SERBIAN POSAVINA