Establishment of the Ecological

Network in Vojvodina

Klara Szabados

Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province

1. Economical importance of the nature conservation

2. Land use and biodiversity in the biogeographical

regions of Serbia

3. Ecological network as a conservation tool

4. Ecological network in Europe

5. Ecological network in Serbia

6. Design of the ecological network in Vojvodina

7. Integrating the ecological network into the

development of the region:

1. Spatial planning

2. Sustainable use and protection of the natural resources

Economical importance of the nature conservation

- Convention on biological diversity (CBD,1992) underlines the

importance of the biological diversity for the life sustaining systems of the

biosphere.

- Decline of ecosystem services (including the regeneration of the renewable

natural resources and climate regulation) are linked to the biodiversity

losses (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005).

- Biodiversity conservation is a part of the activities that ensure the protection

of the natural capital (stock of natural resources). Nature conservation is one

of the tools regulating the sustainable use of natural resources (Law on the

nature protection, 2009/10)

- Biodiversity is recognised as a natural resource (Strategy on the sustainable use

of the natrural resources in Serbia, 2012)

- Some parts of Serbia belongs to the most diverse regions of the Earth

(IUCN)

Biographical regions in Serbia

North Serbia: Pannonian biogeographical region

Central and South Serbia:Continental biogeographical region

High mountains:Alpine biogeographical region

Land use and biodiversity

Vojvodina:

Agricultural region, 78% arable land

The habitats are fragmented, small and

embedded into cultural landscape,

Central and Southern Serbia

Mountain region, arable land mostly in river

walleys

Species rich mountain pastures, created by

deforestation

Large pristine areas, high number of endemic

species, biodiversity hot-spot on Balkan

penninsula

Source: www.lib.utexas.edu

Biodiversity of agricultural landscapes

Within agricultural areas

Rare and endangered species (protected by national law and international conventions)

survived in the small habitat fragments

Rare and endangered habitat types, listed in the Annex I of Directive 92/43/EEC (Habitat

Directive) are registered in agricultural areas eg. most of the pastures in Vojvodina belong to

Pannonic loess steppic grasslands or Pannonic salt steppes and salt marshes habitat types.

distribution of

ctitically endangered

plant species

Areas of international

conservation values

for birds, plants and

butterflies

PROTECTED

AREAS in 2005

Habitat loss and fragmentation

Most of the natural ecosystems in Europe are destroyed, nature conservation is

focused on the protection of the isolated remains of the natural habitats.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005

• The remains of the natural

habitats (pastures and wetlands)

are embedded into cultural

landscape

• The isolated habitat fragments are

only small parts of the former

functional units

• How to ensure the long-term

conservation of theese remains?

Ecological network as a conservation tool

Ecological networks ensures the functional connectivity of the fragmented

natural habitats, essential for the maintaining ecological processess in

areas significantly changed by human activities.

CORRIDORS

CORE AREAS

BUFFER

ZONE

Ecological corridors in Europe

- Most of the ecological corridors

in the developed countries are

destroyed or heavily damaged

-– the reconstruction is expensive,

- Conservation is focused on the

corridor protection nd restoration

betwen the most important

protected areas > regional

projects

Protection of migration routes

Modification of the bridge creates an uderpass for the wildlife – ensure the continuity of the

natural ecological corridor (highway E-75 in Serbia, near Horgoš)

Protection measure of animal species:

• Bern convention ensures the `protection of areas that are of importance for the

migratory species`

• integrated into the Law on nature protection in Serbia

• Bylaw on the technical solution that ensures the safe migration of the wildlife

• Database of the ecological corridors can be used during the planning to decrease

the costs of the construction.

Ecological network in Europe

Ecological networks of our neigbours

NATURA 2000 Bugarska

The ecological network of Serbia have to

be connected with the national networks of

the sorrounding countries

Ecological network in Serbia

Elements:

Designated and evaluated protected areas

Sites of Emerald network

IBA - Important Bird Areas

IPА - Important Plant Areas

PBA - Prime Butterfly Areas

Ramsar sites

Habitats of protected species

Protected habitat types

2004/5 designating sites for Emerald network

(Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife

and Natural Habitats)

2009- 11 Natura 2000 Twinning project

2009 Law on Nature Conservation

definition of ecological network

2010 Bylaw on Ecological Network: core areas and the

international ecological corridors in Serbia

> Natura 2000

Conservation planning

The further planning required a clear overview

& an organised database

basic spatial attributes of habitat patches

existing field data, field scatches

distribution of protected and rare species

quantitative characteristics of populations

most important threatening factors

zonation

management activities

In 2009 the project Development of Ecological Network in Vojvodina - Review, analysis

and possibilities was launched.

Low-budget development of database: what is available?

Inadequate quality and quantity of

information for further planning:

limited availability of maps – the

biotic data are connected with field-

scatches

cadastar (1: 10 000 or 1:2500) only

for the protected areas –lack of land

use data

low accuracy of the existing spatial

data > topographical maps on the

scale of 1:25 000

Improving the quality and quantity of information

NP “Fruška gora”

Low accuracy of the existing spatial data

IPAs (Important Plant Areas) were delineated in 1990`s

on the map 1: 25 000 > the optimal scale is 1:5000

Example: steppe fragments on the loess platou of the

Fruska gora hill are merged with the National Park,

including arable land and settlements

PROTECTED AREAS area (ha) Назив I категорија заштите природног добра Површина (ha)

СРП “ДЕЛИБЛАТСКА ПЕШЧАРА” 34,829.32

НП “ФРУШКА ГОРА” 25,393.00

“МОРОВИЋКЕ ШУМЕ” (ревизја) 21,852.00

СРП “ГОРЊЕ ПОДУНАВЉЕ” 19,648.00

area >10 000 ha

СРП “ОБЕДСКА БАРА” 9,820.00

СРП "ТИТЕЛСКИ БРЕГ” (у фази проглашења) 8,197.00

СРП "ОКАЊ БАРА” (у фази проглашења) 5,678.00

ПИО “СУБОТИЧКА ПЕШЧАРА” 5,369.90

СРП “КОВИЉСКО - ПЕТРОВАРАДИНСКИ РИТ” 4,840.61

ПИО “ВРШАЧКЕ ПЛАНИНЕ” 4,371.00

СРП “КАРАЂОРЂЕВО” 2,955.33

СРП "СТАРИ БЕГЕЈ - ЦАРСКА БАРА" 1,676.00

ПИО “ЛЕСНЕ ДОЛИНЕ РЕКЕ КРИВАЈЕ” (ревизја) 2,000.00

ПП “ЈЕГРИЧКА” 1,144.00

1000 ha < area <10 000 ha

СРП “ПАШЊАЦИ ВЕЛИКЕ ДРОПЉЕ” 979.44

СРП "СЛАНО КОПОВО" 976.45

ПП "МАЛИ ВРШАЧКИ РИТ" 931.00

СРП “ЛУДАШКО ЈЕЗЕРО” 846.33

ПП “ ПАЛИЋ И СПОМЕНИЦИ ПРИРОДЕ У ЊЕМУ” 712.90

СРП “СЕЛЕВЕЊСКЕ ПУСТАРЕ” 677.04

СРП “ЗАСАВИЦА” 671.00

ПП “ТИКВАРА” 508.14

ПП "СТАРА ТИСА КОД БИСЕРНОГ ОСТРВА" 391.73

ПП “БЕГЕЧКА ЈАМА” 379.40

ПП “КАМАРАШ” 267.96

СРП “КРАЉЕВАЦ” 264.30

СП “ШУМА ЈУНАКОВИЋ” 180.05

ПП “БЕЉАНСКА БАРА” (у фази проглашења) 173.00

СП “БАРА ТРСКОВАЧА” (у фази проглашења) 168.00

СРП “БАГРЕМАРА” 117.58

100 ha < area <1000 ha

СП “ХРАСТОВА ШУМА КОД НАСЕЉА СТРАЖА” 67.61

СП “ИВАНОВАЧКА АДА” 6.07

СП “ЧАРНОК” (у фази проглашења) 3.22

СП “ЈУРИШИНА ХУМКА” 0.18

area <100 ha

Protected areas in Vojvodina I

• effects of fragmentation and isolation, unfavorable shape (edge effect, lack of undisturbed habitats)

• the lack of strong correlation between the area and the number of rare/endangered species

Special Nature Reserve

Selevenjske Pustare (677 ha)

10 sub-units, from 6 ha to 123 ha

22 protected plant species

barrier: highway E 75

Cirsium

brachycephalum

Special Nature Reserve

Pastures of Great Bustard

3 sub-units > 4256 ha + 2118 ha + 401ha

Otis tarda

Protected areas in Vojvodina II

Nature protection 1948 – 2006

1948 – 2006 Activities were focused on the evaluation and establishment of protected areas

Conservation priorities: large areas + state ownership

Data sources:

scientific publications + personal communications

personal knowledge & experience

limited availability of maps,

lack of spatial data

Data type:

qualitative floristic

and faunistic data

vegetation research

Results:

underrepresented habitat types

• fragmented habitats (steppe)

• Mosaics of private and state ownerships

• (salt steppes and marshes, rural mosaics)

58%

20%

7%

11%4%

šume

livade i pašnjaci

obrađeno

vodene i močvarnepovršine

ostaloother

wetlands

cultivated

forest

grassland

Inventory of habitat patches

Natural or semi-natural habitat patches where one or more protected species were

detected during the last decade > identifyed as a polygon (Google Earth image)

code (county and number)

site name

spatial characteristics (area and perimeter)

detected species at the site

(national level + Bern convention)

main habitat types (in accordance with

Emerald system)

3-7 threatening factors (list of 49 factors)

Inventory data:

481 polygons were registered, based

on the existing field data

Data analysis: habitats Habitat types frequency (%)

Salt steppes and salt marshes 34,72%

Loess steppic grasslands 19,13%

Rural mosaics 16,42%

Humid meadows 15,59%

Tall tree plantations 15,59%

Temperate riverine and swamp forests and brush

14,97%

Marshes 13,93%

Water-fringe vegetation 13,93%

Broad-leaved deciduous forests 12,27%

Extensive cultivation 11,43%

Ditches and small canals 8,94%

Fish ponds 5,82%

Small woodlots 5,82%

Rivers and streams 5,41%

Sand, clay and kaolin quarries 3,53%

Reservoirs 3,33%

sand steppes 2,49%

Permanent freshwater ponds and lakes

2,49%

Industrial lagoons and ornamental ponds

1,87%

Pannonic wooded steppes 1,87%

Navigable canals 1,66%

Lowland blanket bogs 1,04%

27 habitat categories:

natural,

semi-natural (hayfields, pastures)

antropogenic

in the 481 polygons 1030 habitat patches were registered

the high frequency of salt and steppic habitats indicate insufficient conservation status

high proportion of registered antropogenic habitats is resulted by landscape changes

Water reservoirs, quarries and ditches became an important habitat for amphibians, reptilians, invertebrates and birds

the high frequency of salt and steppic habitats indicate insufficient conservation status

high proportion of registered antropogenic habitats is resulted by landscape changes

Water reservoirs, quarries and ditches became an important habitat for amphibians, reptilians, invertebrates and birds

the high frequency of salt and steppic habitats indicate insufficient conservation status

high proportion of registered antropogenic habitats is resulted by landscape changes

Water reservoirs, quarries and ditches became an important habitat for amphibians, reptilians, invertebrates and birds

Importance of anthropogenic habitats: case study Breeding populations of endangered birds species nesting on fish-ponds in Serbia

1 10 100 1000 10000

Ражањ (Plegadis falcinellus)

Лабуд грбац (Cygnus olor)

Сива гуска (Anser anser)

Властелица (Himantopus himantopus)

Букавац (Botaurus stellaris)

Кашичар (Platalea leucorodia)

Еја мочварица (Circus aeruginosus)

Сабљарка (Recurvirostra avosetta)

Патка њорка (Aythya nyroca)

Велика бела чапља (Egretta alba)

Риђоглава патка (Aythya ferina)

Мали вранац (Phalacrocorax pygmeus)

Мала бела чапља (Egretta garzetta)

Мрка чапља (Ardea purpurea)

Велики вранац (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Белобрка чигра (Chlidonias hybrida)

Ћубасти гњурац (Podiceps cristatus)

Гак (Nycticorax nycticorax)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Национална гнездећа популација (парова) % националне популације који се гнезди на рибњацимаNumber of breeding pairs % of breeding population in Serbia

Threatening factors – analisys of all habitat types

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

predation by domestic animals

other changes of water regime

water pollution from diffuse sources

inappropriate burning of vegetation

lack of traditional land use

drainage system

agriculture within the site

agriculture in vicinity

invasive species

Protected Areas Habitat patches

Effects that could be reduced by well-designed buffer zone

Effects that need a very wide buffer or regulation by transition zone

Corridor identification

Corridor contains the habitat types of core area

grasslands are present in 60% of polygons > connecting

natural habitats protecting the less valuable pastures

39% of the polygons contain forest or steppe/forest habitats >

the corridors are the forest strips and hedges

83% of the polygons include wetland habitats,

river corridors

Potential Natura sites in the national ecological network

Заштићена подручја

У процесу заштите

Станишта заштићених

врста

2010 Regional corridors in Vojvodina have been defined by Regional Spatial Plan

of APV

Local ecological corridors, as well as the habitats of protected species have been

defined by the local spatial plans

Results and applications

Integrating the ecological network into the

development activities: Spatial planning – local

plans

Spatial plan of the

multifunctional ecological

corridor of the river Tisa

increasing investment in the

development of nautical

tourism is expected,

followed by intensified use of

the riverbank area, as well

as the accompanying

infrastructure,

Biodiversity evaluation for

the spatial plan

to ensure the sustainable

use of this environmentaly

sensitive area.

Integrating the ecological network into the development

activities: Spatial planning –special plans

Riparian corridors – riparian buffer (Water Framework Directive)

- erosion controll (Spatial Plan of Serbia and Law on Agriculture:

measures of agricultural land protection)

Forest corridors – Forest Management Sertification (e.g. protection of water

bodies by natural forest edges)

Grassland corridors - erosion controll windbrakes with grassland strips

- game management

(Spatial Plan of Serbia)

Integrating the ecological network into the development of the

region: sustainable use and protection of the natural resources

Project:

Sustainable use of the areas of the ecological network in Autonomous Province of Vojvodina

What is the legal base (laws, bylaws and strategies) for the cooperation?

What are the needs of the local communities (Local Spatial Plans> green areas,

areas for recreation )

Sustainable use and protection of the natural resources

Multifunctional corridors I : water quality improvement

The system of meliorative canals

has a function of ecological

corridors.

Meliorative canals are polluted by

chemicals and nutrients leaching

from the surrounding fields.

Protection or creation of vegetation

strips along the canal banks

improves the water quality. Corridor > buffer strip for water quality protection

removed

N %

grass grass + trees

+ shrubs

50 16 m 5m

75 47m 20m

90 90m 47m

0

5

10

15

20

25

30макс мин просек

I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII

Windshelters of comlexs structure provide not only protection from wind and water erosion, but:

> corridors for the species of forest-steppe habitats

> habitats for the species of agricultural landscape (pollinators, insects, birds of prey)

10 years average of wind intensity on Backa loess platou

Multifunctional corridors II: erosion & pest controll

e- mail: klara.szabados@pzzp.rs

http://www.pzzp.rs

MAPS: D. Čalakić, N. Mihajlović, L. Marinković

PHOTOS: Csipe T., Gergely J., Lukács S., Molnár Á.,

Szabados K., Szekeres L., Szekeres O.