A workshop about the beginning of the EU Project “NATURA 2000 – Tryezë pune për fillimin e Projektit të BE “NATURA 2000″
Ministry of Environment and Spatial Plannin of Kosovo organized a workshop in Prishtina, Ismail Hetemaj head of Nature Protection Division from the mentioned above Ministry, was the coorganizer of the workshop, with the help of TAIEX. There were two experts from the EU, Sissi Samec, Consultant Environment & Development and Ludomila Popova, Consultant: Environmental Law and Management. There were participants from different departments and NGO-s such as, environment, University and Finch the organization for protection of birds and animals.
What is Natura 2000?
In May 1992 European Union governments adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. This legislation is called the Habitats Directive and complements the Birds Directive adopted in 1979. At the heart of both these Directives is the creation of a network of sites called Natura 2000. The Birds Directive requires the establishment of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds. The Habitats Directive similarly requires Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to be designated for other species, and for habitats. Together, SPAs and SACs make up the Natura 2000 series. All EU Member States contribute to the network of sites in a Europe-wide partnership from the Canaries to Crete and from Sicily to Finnish Lapland.
Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are classified under the Birds Directive to help protect and manage areas which are important for rare and vulnerable birds because they use them for breeding, feeding, wintering or migration.
Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are classified under the Habitats Directive and provide rare and vulnerable animals, plants and habitats with increased protection and management.
Ministria e Mjedisit dhe Planifikimit Hapësinor organizoi një tryezë pune një ditore duke shfrytëzuar asistencën teknike nga TAIEX për dizajnimin e Zonave të Veçanta të Mbrojtura dhe propozimin e Vendeve me Interes për Komunitetin.
Ç’eshte Natura 2000?
Në maj te vitit1992 qeverite e Bashkimit Evropian miratuan legjislacionin, i cili synon mbrojtjen e habitateve dhe specjeve qe jane seriozisht të kërcënuar ne mbare Evropën. Ky legjislacion është quajtur Direktiva e habitateve dhe plotësohet me Direktiven e Zogjëve e cila u miratua në vitin 1979. Qellimi i të dyja këtyre Direktivave është krijimi i një rrjeti të vendeve (siteve) të quajtur Natura 2000. Direktiva e Zogjëve kërkon krijimin e Zonave te Mbrojtura me Rendesi te Veçanta (SPA-ve), për zogje. Direktiva e habitateve kërkon në mënyrë të ngjashme Zonat e Veçanta të Konservimit (SACs) të jenë të caktuara për lloje dhe habitate tjera. Së bashku, SPAte dhe SACs përbëjnë serite e Natures 2000. Të gjitha Shtetet Anëtare të BE kontribojnë në faqet e rrjetit me një partneritet të gjerë Evropian nga Canariet në Kretë, Sicili dhe deri në Laplanden finlandeze.
Zonat e Mbrojtura me Rendesi te Veçant (SPAte) janë klasifikuar sipas Direktivës se Zogjëve per të ndihmuar në mbrojtjen dhe menaxhimin e zonave të cilat janë të rëndësishme për shpendët e rralle dhe të rrezikuar, për shkak se ata, pra zogjte i shfrytezojne ato për kultivim, ushqim, dimërim apo shtegetim.
Zonat e Veçanta të Konservimit (SACs) janë klasifikuar sipas Direktivës se habitateve dhe u japin kafshëve të rralla dhe të rrezikuara, bimëve dhe habitateve mbrojtje, rritje dhe menaxhim te duhur.><
Can you identify what’s there in this tree?
Before you large this shot try to identify it what’s there in this tree?
Development of prospects for a transboundary protected area Mali Sharr/Šar Planina-Korab
Partner organizations
Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment inAlbania(PPNEA), Macedonian Ecological Society (MES) NGO Finch, Kosova and EuroNatur
2. Summary
The Mali Sharr/Šar Planina-Korab mountain range situated at the border zone betweenAlbania,Macedoniaand Kosovo represents a geographic and ecological unit. However, the course of state borders in this region implies the administrative division of this natural entity. This poses serious obstacles to a joint ecosystem management in a Transboundary Protected Area (TBPA) and to local sustainable development.
AlbaniaandMacedoniaare member states of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) while Kosovo is not. Nevertheless, all three states have presented strategies and action plans for the conservation of biological diversity. The CBD Programme of work for protected areas (PoWPA) highlights the implementation of TBPA and cross-border management of natural resources as one of the main goals. On the other hand, an analysis of the national biodiversity strategies reveals that transboundary aspects of ecosystem management are mostly neglected at present.
3. Overall objective
A favourable starting basis for a successful co-operation between local stakeholders in Albania, Macedoniaand Kosovo is created for the cross-border conservation of biological diversity in a future TBPA Mali Sharr/Šar Planina-Korab. Local stakeholders are engaged in the process and develop a local ownership of the TBPA.
Development of prospects for a transboundary protected area Mali Sharr/Šar Planina-Korab
1st meeting of the partner organizations and representatives
Kukes,Albania
5-6 April, 2013
Group discussion results – Kosovo
Nexhmedin Ramadani Finch
Salim Jenuzi mayor of Dragashi Municipality
Naim Ramadani Ntl. Forestry
Hasan Dishllari Dragash Municipality
Daut Sinani Prof. Biology from Finch
Hazer Dana Dir. NP Mali Sharr
Bekim Bytyqi NP Mali Sharr
Nuridin Halili NGO Guri i Zi
Azem Ramadani Finch
Rafet Elezi Finch
Sadik Dragash Municipality
NGO “FINCH” proposal for the pilot project
Development of prospects for a transboundary protected area Sharr/Šar Planina-Korab
SPORT’S FAIR IN DRAGASH
(SERI NE DRAGASH)
Ways of bringing communities together
The idea of taking this leap came alive while I was participating at a Conference in Ulcinj on Green Belt, so one that was emphasized there was an idea of Transboundary activities. This is why I decided to arrange such an important traditional sports and communication fair.
Social events are very useful to promote or consolidate common values, both at staff and local community level. In Dragash (the southeast part of Kosovo) “A Wrestling and Horse Racing Competition” had been organized every year for a long time since after the Second World War so we would love to have the traditions come alive again. On this occasion, many local people come together, even people from Macedonia, Albania, will be invited to join this important event so they will be crossing the mountain passes to participate in the festival, as I want to mention here the folk (Roman) wrestling and horse racing festival or folk fair festival. This festival originates from early 20th century or the most traditional one we can find was post World War II. But for a long time this kind of activity stopped its traditions so I thought it will be a good way of rehabilitating it and making people of different communities and different nations come together in a single day with the only reason, to communicate and cooperate with one another.
There will be a good chance to see them together engaged in joint activities people of different communities and nationalities such as:
Gorans from Dragashi andPrizreniMunicipality, Kosovo Albanians, Macedonians, Macedonian Albanians, Turkish, Bosnians, Albanians fromAlbania, etc.
Wrestlers fromBulgariaandTurkeywill also be invited to take part in this.
I hope you will take in consideration this kind of Transboundary sports and social activity of different communities coming together.
All we need from you is to financially support this kind of activity and include it on the activities of the actual project “Development of prospects for a transboundary protected area Mali Sharr/Šar Planina-Korab”.
If we succeed by this kind of sports fair there will be considerable benefits for EuroNatur and other supportive organizations of the recent project.
Benefits
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This kind of activity helps to promote friendship and to reduce cross-border tensions.
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Bring economic benefits to local and national economies
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Provide better control cross-border problems such as fire, pests, pollution and smuggling.
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Cross-border cooperation fosters communication between different communities.
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Addition of mountain tourism, attracting visitors.
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Fair food and traditional costumes
Preliminary Bird Inventory in Kosovo
Town/Region Country Categories Date
Kosovo Kosovo Birds, Europe 30 Jan 2013
Although Kosovo is a small place, distinguished for its rich biological and landscape biodiversity with particular emphasis on fauna, which is worth mentioning the presence of species with special internationally importance.
Kosovo`s fauna in general and especially birds fauna has not been studied sufficiently. So far in Kosovo recognized about 180bird species and assumed that their number is much larger than 250 species.
Through this project aims to do the first birds inventory in the country level by providing information about birds species, their habitats, the current state of these species and appropriate measures for their conservation.
Main beneficiaries of the project results is MESP /KEPA /KINP because it creates the database for birds species and their habitats and these data are the basis for the drafting important documents such as:
The Red List of Species, potential areas for protection at national and international network (IBA areas), potential areas for Ecological Network (Natura 2000), etc.
• Prishtina University – which would take the scientific data that will provide this project
• Kosovo Museum,
• MAFRD,
• Civil society and the wider community.
Outcomes
• The final list with Kosovo bird species,
• Publication of book entitles “Birds of Kosovo” with data of bird species, their distribution, reproductive status (resident birds, winter migratory, breeding migratory, visitors or transit birds and accidentally bird species)
• Specifying potential threats and conservation actions
• Comparative list of bird species with BERN Convention and IUCN Red List Categories,
• The map with bird species within the territory of Kosovo.
Activities and Methodology
In order to collect as realistic data for birds species in Kosovo will be used these methods:
• Analysis of existing documents and their comparative,
• Data collection through questionnaires from experts and NGOs,
• Collection of data from research and projects to date,
• Data collection in the field which will be accomplished through observing, counting birds and nests in their natural habitats, mapping, transects, sampling etc.
• Data processing and preparation of database.
Town/Region Country Categories DateThrough this project aims to do the first birds inventory in the country level by providing information about birds species, their habitats, the current state of these species and appropriate measures for their conservation.
• Prishtina University – which would take the scientific data that will provide this project
• Kosovo Museum,
• MAFRD,
• Civil society and the wider community.
• The final list with Kosovo bird species,
• Publication of book entitles “Birds of Kosovo” with data of bird species, their distribution, reproductive status (resident birds, winter migratory, breeding migratory, visitors or transit birds and accidentally bird species)
• Specifying potential threats and conservation actions
• Comparative list of bird species with BERN Convention and IUCN Red List Categories,
• The map with bird species within the territory of Kosovo.
In order to collect as realistic data for birds species in Kosovo will be used these methods:
• Analysis of existing documents and their comparative,
• Data collection through questionnaires from experts and NGOs,
• Collection of data from research and projects to date,
• Data collection in the field which will be accomplished through observing, counting birds and nests in their natural habitats, mapping, transects, sampling etc.
• Data processing and preparation of database.
World Wetlands Day in Kosova-Dita Boterore e Ligatinave ne Kosove
NGO “FINCH” for protection of birds in Kosovo is the only environmental organization which celebrated World Wetlands Day in Kosovo. The destination was the Wetland of Drini River just next to the border with Albania, exactly in the south west part of our state. The event started at 12.30 am with different activities, first of all we started bird watching around the wetland where we saw some of the birds flying around, unfortunately there was a strong wind blowing all the day so it was hard to see a lot of birds, some of them were: grey herons, great cormorants, some gulls, some finches, a lot of crows, etc.
World Wetlands Day 2013 Message from the Secretary General
I have been celebrating World Wetlands Day with Ramsar for 12 years, including 6 years as Secretary General. World Wetlands Day (WWD) 2013 will be a special year for me as Secretary General – it will be my last WWD as part of the Ramsar Secretariat! Over the last six years I have been much encouraged by the growing number and diversity of people and organisations that have used WWD as a key communication tool to deliver our wetland message to a very broad range of stakeholders – schoolchildren, decision-makers, politicians, local communities, journalists, among others – that healthy wetlands, and the water they are providing, are vital for life and its diversity. I am hopeful that this trend will continue, stimulating collective action for conservation and wise use of water and wetlands in the years to come.
Wetlands take care of water is this year’s slogan. I hope you agree and that you will join with the Ramsar Secretariat this year in celebrating World Wetlands Day on 2nd February with our focus on wetlands and water management.
This is the UN’s International Year of Water Cooperation, an occasion for all of us to look at the water challenges facing the world and some possible solutions. It is a fine opportunity for the Ramsar family to reinforce the understanding of the critical link between wetlands and water: without wetlands there will be no water – and without water there will be no wetlands.
This year we have joined hands with UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme in preparing our illustrated brochure that takes readers through a broad look at wetlands and water. It is well recognized that access to a clean and adequate water supply is critical for human survival. Less well understood is that wetlands, as defined by Ramsar, are fundamental regulators of water regimes. Without adequate management of wetlands from the mountains to the sea there is no water of the right quality and quantity where and when it is needed.
Our WWD focus this year is the chance for all of us working for wetlands to convince those who manage water that wetlands are not competitors for water but rather they are essential components of water infrastructure, providing a clean source and store of freshwater.
In our brochure we look broadly at various water management perspectives, for example at the many challenges of transboundary, agricultural and urban water management. And of course there are challenges for the consumer; managing water is the responsibility of all of us. As consumers we can commit to recycle, reuse and conserve water in our private lives whether it is through rainwater harvesting, water-friendly garden design, reducing water usage in our home or supporting our local wetland. Whatever your particular interest in wetlands, you can help take forward the key message for World Wetlands Day 2013 – wetlands take care of water – at the global, regional and local level.
So please join us in celebrating World Wetlands Day this year and help us to raise awareness about the critical role of wetlands in water management. To spread the word about World Wetlands Day, why not use our WWD ecards to wish your colleagues a Happy World Wetlands Day? The ecards will be available on our web site from the 21st of January.
Anada Tiéga
Secretary General
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
This link shows some of the shots from this event which one can find on facebook, it is in Albanian.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4060104990374.2135304.1514663299&type=1
http://www.facebook.com/nexhmedin.ramadani.1
Birds everywhere are in serious decline
Birds everywhere are in serious decline
The causes are many. Habitat loss, rising sea levels and other effects of climate disruption, shifting farming practices, and pollution pose serious threats to birds and the habitats they—and we—need to survive.
We have identified 10 species whose global populations have fallen below. These are among the species that need our most urgent attention:
Even many common birds have declined by up to 70% in the last 40 years.
Your support will help Finch save birds and their habitats. For more than a century we’ ve harnessed the power of crowd-science to track bird populations, and identified thousands of key bird habitats and launched efforts to save them. Now we’re introducing a new generation of young people to the wonder of birds and our natural world at nearly 50 community centers nationwide.
Your generous gift will help ensure that our children grow up in a world as vibrant and healthy—and rich in birds—as the one we inherited.
Migrating Birds Delayed By Drought In The Horn Of Africa
December 7, 2012
Image Caption: This is a photo of a Red-backed Shrike. Credit: Per Ekberg and University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The catastrophic drought last year in the Horn of Africa affected millions of people but also caused the extremely late arrival into northern Europe of several migratory songbird species, a study from University of Copenhagen published today in Science shows. Details of the migration route was revealed by data collected from small back-packs fitted on birds showing that the delay resulted from an extended stay in the Horn of Africa.
The extensive 2011 drought in the Horn of Africa had significant consequences for European songbirds such as thrush nightingale and red-backed shrike. These birds visit northern Europe every spring to mate and take advantage of ample summer food resources. However, their spring migrating route from southern Africa to northern latitudes passes directly through the Horn of Africa, where the birds stop to feed and refuel for the next stage of their migration.
Our research was able to couple the birds’ delayed arrival in Europe with that stopover in the Horn of Africa. Here they stayed about a week longer in 2011 than in the years before and after 2011. Because of the drought, the birds would have needed longer to feed and gain energy for their onward travel, causing delayed arrival and breeding in Europe. This supports our theory that migrating animals in general are dependent on a series of areas to reach their destination, says Associate Professor Anders Tøttrup from the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate at the University of Copenhagen.
Data loggers as a backpack
The late spring arrival of European songbirds such as thrush nightingale and red-backed shrike perplexed researchers and bird watchers in 2011. This mystery was even greater considering these songbirds’ tendency to arrive progressively earlier over the last 50 years as climate change has made its impact. By placing small data loggers on the backs of several birds in the autumn before their migration to Africa, and retrieving them in the spring when the birds returned to Europe, the scientists were able to trace the migration route and stopover sites. These data revealed a delay in the particular stopover in the Horn of Africa. Additionally, it was noted that other migrating birds not passing through the Horn of Africa arrived in Europe at the expected time.
We have reconstructed 26 migration routes based on data from the small “data backpacks” weighing just 1 gram. This new technology provides us with a detailed picture of the birds’ migration and stopovers. It is brand-new territory to be able to track animals this small over such great distances, says Associate Professor Kasper Thorup from the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate at the University of Copenhagen.
Delayed breeding
The birds’ late arrival in 2011 also meant a similarly late breeding year.
There are no signs of implications on the birds’ breeding success and thereby the size of the population. But it is possible that we haven’t yet seen the full effect of the delayed year, concludes Anders Tøttrup.
Taken from Red Orbit
NGO FINCH from Kosova also protests – Help required to end hunting massacre in Nagaland, India
On November 1st, national online campaigning organisation Conservation India broke the shocking news of an appalling massacre of thousands of migrating Amur Falcons Falco amurensis that had recently been trapped for sale in the remote state of Nagaland in the north-east of India.
Taking advantage of the falcons’ habit of concentrating in huge numbers during their migration, local hunters have been spreading nets across vast areas of the birds’ forest roost sites, capturing them en masse and then keeping the often-injured Amurs alive, until they might be killed and sold as fresh food. The recent trapping and slaughter appears to have been taking place on an ‘industrial scale’ and unless stopped will clearly have a devastating affect on the birds’ global population at these unsustainable levels.
Massive nylon nets set to trap Amur Falcons as they fly in to their forest roost sites
Please note this video that documents the massacre contains some extremely disturbing footage.
The Amur Falcon Massacre, Doyang, Nagaland from Conservation India on Vimeo.
Such is the reach of today’s social media that this emotive story went viral within hours and during the next few days, news quickly spread around the world shocking all who read about the Amurs’ plight. Conservation India’s highly effective campaign has already helped galvanise local, national and international action.
Trapped Amur Falcons await their fate
Today we invite you to now help us stop this killing forever by donating to an emergency fund that will help Bombay Natural History Society (BirdLife in India) coordinate the action that is required to ensure this massacre will never happen again. If you are moved by this issue please don’t turn aside – donating now will make a huge difference to the future of these birds and every little helps.
Vital actions that will be funded this way include establishing field teams to monitor the Amur Falcons at their roost sites, direct intervention to prevent further illegal hunting of all species and the establishment of a sustained education and engagement programme within communities in Nagaland and other north-eastern states of India, where illegal and indiscriminate hunting is sadly still prevalent.
A hunter laden with illegally captured and still live Amur Falcons
What is being done
BirdLife International has already taken swift action to address this hunting massacre on several fronts. As well as contributing to the preparation and initial release of the campaign story by Conservation India, Bombay Natural History Society took immediate action when they were alerted to events – with their CEO, Dr. Asad Rahmani immediately writing to Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan – the Indian Minister for Environment & Forests. BNHS also took up the issue with the Government of India through the Indian Bird Conservation Network and ensured that the Chief Minister of Nagaland was also effectively lobbied.
National and Local government action swiftly followed. The Honourable Minister, Smt Jayanthi Natarajan personally intervened and The Indian Forest Department and District Administration also acted fast to destroy nets and release several still-captive falcons. The sale of falcons has now been stopped and at least one person has already been jailed.
Now the birds that avoided trapping have departed India to continue their migration, BNHS plans to introduce measures that will prevent this crisis from happening again. However, hunting in Nagaland has been an issue for many years and shifting deep-seated cultural perspectives is likely to be a lengthy process. Long-term community engagement will inevitably be the key to a lasting solution.
Amur Falcon is an incredible long distance migrant, which travels from its breeding grounds in north-east Asia via the Indian Subcontinent and a lengthy flight over the Indian Ocean, to winter in Southern Africa. To enjoy protection throughout their intercontinental flyways, species taking such journeys require coordinated conservation action in many different countries. The BirdLife Flyways Programme is ideally placed to coordinate national conservation action along such extensive migratory routes.
Several BirdLife Partners and BirdLife International staff have also been actively involved in the coordination of a longer term international advocacy campaign in conjunction with the United Nation’s Convention on Migratory Species. In addition, BirdLife Partners, including BirdLife South Africa, where the species winters, see here, and RSPB (BirdLife in the UK), see here, have also been lending voice to the campaign, ensuring their national supporters and relevant government agencies are aware of the situation.
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank every concerned individual who has written to us directly from all over the world asking how they and we might act to prevent this massacre from occurring again. We apologise for not being able to respond to every enquiry individually.
We welcome the unity of commitment from all who wish to help. We urgently need your support. Please make a donation to help fund the further work we need to do.
All images used in this news story are presented with the kind permission of Conservation India who retains full image copyright. This news story is brought to you by the BirdLife Flyways and Preventing Extinctions Programmes.
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This post was written by:
Jim Lawrence - who has written 14 posts on BirdLife Community.
Jim Lawrence is Development Manager of the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme.
amur falcon, Flyways, India, nagaland, Preventing Extinctions
Lynx Range Wide Meeting in Macedonia and Albania
Capacity Building Workshop in Jablanica-Shebenik from 1.-10.October.
1st workshop in the frame of the Capacity Building Project KOSOVO+MONTENEGRO
Lynx Range Wide Meeting held on 1.October 2012 and Training Workshop from 2.October to 10.October both held in Vevčani, Macedonia (1.-5.October) and Librazhd, Albania (from 5.-10.October).
Review of the Balkan Lynx Recovery ProgrammeKORA, MES, EuroNatur & PPNEA
Situation of the Balkan Lynx in Macedonia was presented by MES from Macedonia. Situation of the Balkan Lynx in Albania was presented by PPNEA from Albania. Situation of the Balkan Lynx in Montenegro N.N.Situation of the Balkan Lynx in KosovoN.
NGO “Finch” from Prizren, Kosovo will implement this projekt in “Mali Sharr and Koritnik” in the suth-east part of Kosovo while “Era” from Peja will implement this project in “Bjeshket e Nemuna”.
Also there will be the same project implemented in Montenegro too.
Camera-Trap Monitoring: Operation Principles, Field Study Design & Data Analysis
Balkan Lynx – Where are we now and Where do we go? KORA
Edhe OJQ “Finch” e mbeshtet Shqetësimin e gjuetarëve kuksianë – Kukes hunters concern
