important plant areas in central and eastern europe - hirc.botanic.hr ...

Serbia and MontenegroCurrent IPA statisticsTotal number of IPAs: 59Number of cross-border IPAs: 12Criteria and methodologyCriterion A: the Serbian Red Data Book (Vol. 1 and database for Vol. 2) was used toidentify IPA species, and an assessment of internationally important species wascompleted.The list includes species having most or all or their distribution in Serbia andwas mapped used 10 x 10 km squaresCriterion B: the following approach was adopted for this criterion: general speciesrichness with particular emphasis on rare, endemics and relict species, and diversity ofplant communities. Species richness was assessed using 50 x 50 km squares.Criterion C: threatened, as well as rare and unique habitats, including the limestone cliffsin gorges and canyons, forests of endemic trees and shrubs, steppe and sandy steppe,relict peat bog and wetland plant communities were mapped at 10 x 10 km squaresThe main challenges were the lack of Serbian and Balkan species and habitats includedon regional Red Lists or political documents. Maps of IPA site details, species andhabitats are held in GIS and databases.Protection, threats and conservation issuesOf the IPAs identified so far five are in National Parks and 15 in nature reserves ofvarious status, although some of the IPAs have no current protection. The IPAs selectedso far have been concentrated on the mountainous areas with their many endemic andrelict species, areas of the rare habitats of steppe, forest steppe and sandy steppe, andthe few peat bogs, marshes and wet meadows.Recommendations■ Continue the identification andvalidation process of potential IPAs inSerbia■ Publication of ‘IPAs in Serbia’ is plannedto be finished in 2005.■ Promote the inclusion of Serbia andBalkan species and habitats in Europeanand International lists of conservationstatus■ Use of IPA data in conservationstrategic planning in Serbia andestablishing net of protected areas inSerbia.■ Close cooperation with the Ministry ofScience, Natural Resources andEnvironmental Protection, othergovernment agencies and stakeholdersto protect and manage IPAsDeliblatska PescaraDeliblatska Pescara in north east Serbia is a unique area of inland sand dunes and is afloristically rich part of the Pannonian Plain.The dunes and adjacent loess hills containmany rare types of plant communities such as steppe grasslands, sandy steppe and foreststeppe, as well as areas of deciduous forest and flooded Danube streams.The site islargely protected but the rare habitats are threatened by afforestation by pine and falseacacia.This site is also an Important Bird Area.The picture represent an characteristiclandscape with feather grass (Stipa sabulosa) community mixed with groups of commonjuniper (Juniperus commnunis) and natural of white oak (Quercus pubescens) and silverwhite lime (Tilia tomentosa) forests.VLADIMIR STEVANOVI˘C77