Dinaric Arc Parks connects different nations through nature

www.discoverdinarides.com
PARKS
DINARIDES
the world undiscovered
DISCOVER
THE MIRACLES
OF NATURE
Some miracles of nature hidden
in the Dinaric Arc region:
1
There are few places
in the world where you can
visit incredible and
fascinating wetlands, caves
and waterfalls in the same
day. There are only a few
regions where you can pass
through four countries with
only one fuel tank and meet
different cultures. Enjoy
discovering one of them!
2
3
Cerknica lake is the largest disappearing lake in
Europe. It is perfect place for bird watchers to enjoy
the more than 270 bird species in Slovenia.
The world's deepest subterranean free-fall vertical
drop is the Divka Gromovnica shaft (513 m) in Velebit
pit situated in the Northern Velebit National park
(Croatia).
The 2nd largest and longest gorge in the world is
Djerdap Gorge in Djerdap National Park in Serbia
(some 100 kilometers long).
4
Perućica in Sutjeska National Park (BiH) is by far the
largest European virgin forest with 1,291 Ha.
5
The canyon of the Tara river (Montenegro) is the
seconddeepest in the world (after Colorado).
6
The 2nd deepest lake in Europe is Ohrid lake in
Macedonia (after Como lake) and it is by far the
deepest lake on the Balkan Peninsula (289m).
7
Karavasta lagoon in Albania is famous for the rare
Dalmatian Pelican which nests there; in fact 5% of
the world's population of this pelican is found
in this lagoon.
1
2
3
4
5
THE DINARIC ARC IS EUROPE'S
BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT!
THE DINARIC ARC PARKS PROJECT
IS CREATING A NETWORK OF
PROTECTED AREAS IN THE REGION.
WE ENCOURAGE NATURE CONSERVATION
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BASED
ON SUSTAINABILITY.
THE DINARIC ARC REGION IS A
MUST-SEE TOURIST DESTINATION!
PHOTO: Notranjska Regional Park, NP Northen Velebit, NP Djerdap, NP Sutjeska, JP NPCG, NP Galičica, Hartmut Mueller
6
7
More than 5000 unique species
Dolphin
Serbian spruce
Brown bear
Velebit degenia
Olm
Orchid
Neretvan Softmouth trout
Among more than 5000 endemic plant
and animal species you can find:
• 170 reptiles
• 78 amphibians
• 253 fish
• over 800 subterranean beatles…
• 9 species of dolphins drop in the Adriatic Sea
BACKGROUND PHOTO: PP Kopački Rit
OTHER PHOTOS: Blue World Institute, Mario Romulić, Andrea Štefan - WWF, Leon Kebe - WWF, DZZP Croatia
IN THE DINARIC ARC REGION YOU CAN ALSO FIND:
• one of the largest European unfragmented
forests, which provides suitable habitat for
large carnivore species such as bears
• karstic fields with surface hydrology and karstic
wetlands Livanjsko field and Cerknica Lake
• the most extended network of subterranean
rivers and lakes in Europe
• more species of orchids in only one meadow in
Slovenia, Croatia or Bosnia and Herzegovina
than in the whole of Great Britain
• the Adriatic Sea – a clean and warm environment for
intelligent creatures like dolphins
• unique water-rich sub-Mediterranean marsh,
providing a home for several endemic species,
like softmouth trout
• rugged coastline with more than 1000 islands
BACKGROUND PHOTO: NP Paklenica - Babino jezero
OTHER PHOTOS: Francesca Antonelli - WWF, Škocjan Caves Regional Park, Slavko Polak, Notranjska Regional Park
NATURE
KNOWS
NO BORDERS
With its beautiful rivers,
numerous islands and
spectacular coast,
dangerous yet challenging
peaks and endemic species,
the DinaricArc region is a
special World,much of it
undiscovered. Yet, not so
long ago many countries
in the region were
involved in conflict.
Transboundary
cooperation
The Dinaric Arc Parks project is based on the Big Win document, the commitment of 6 ministers from the
Dinaric Arc region to cooperate on natural resource management, protected areas in particular. When
signing the Big Win agreement in 2008, ministers from the Western Balkans region gathered for the very first
time after Yugoslavia was divided. With the letter of support from relevant Ministers from all Dinaric Arc
countries, WWF started the Dinaric Arc Parks project in early 2012. At the 2nd Dinaric Arc Parks international
conference held in Budva, Montenegro, in December 2013, representatives of Albania, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo*, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia have endorsed a Big Win for
Dinaric Arc, key agreement for the protection of the environment in the region. Countries formally committed
to strengthen regional cooperation in conservation and sustainable development, to assess the economic
value of their natural capital, while integrating nature conservation goals into economic development plans
for fisheries, forestry, agriculture, energy, spatial planning, and cross-sectoral cooperation, without
disturbing the fundamental natural values in the process.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the IJC opinion on the Kosovo
declaration of independence.
Dinaric Arc Parks connects
different nations through
nature conservation
From left to right:
Leon Kebe, Dinaric Arc Parks project
manager and Deni Porej, Director of
Conservation at WWF MedPO with
Norwegian Ambassador Anne Vibeke
Lilloe attend a conference in BIH.
Bojana Popović, the world's best
handball player and DAP Ambassador
Lučka Kajfež Bogataj, climatologist
and Nobel prize winner
3 national presidents
and 8 national
ministries support the
project
BUILDING A REGIONAL
CONSERVATION
COMMUNITY
In 2012 over 100 pr
otected
area practitioners
had
first-hand experie
nce
with protected area
s
management prac
tices
in other countries
of the region and
Europe
through study tour
s.
Regional Nature
park Verdon,
France
National
park
Triglav,
Slovenia
PHOTO: WWF
National park Galičica,
Republic of Macedonia
More than 60 protected areas
representatives gathered on the 2nd
Dinaric Arc Parks International
conference in Budva, Montenegro, in
December 2013. Their conclusion was
clear: protected areas need to become
relevant to social and economic
agendas to be able to perform their
main function - protect biodiversity.
Parks should become engines for
sustainable development and driving
force in finding ways to enhance the
quality of life of people who live in and
around them, while safeguarding the
fundamental natural values.
PHOTO: WWF
PHOTO: NP Mavrovo
MAKING
MAKING
ANAN
ECONOMIC
CASE
ECONOMIC
CASE
FOR
PROTECTED
AREAS
FOR
PROTECTED
AREAS
ASSESSMENT OF ECONOMIC
AND CULTURAL VALUES OF
PROTECTED AREAS
PHOTO: WWF
PHOTO: WWF
PHOTO: JP NPCG
PHOTO: NP Paklenica
The future of protected areas depends on humans valuing the full range of
protected areas benefits, including their contribution to economic and social
development. Therefore, we are using methodology for the assessment of
values and benefits of protected areas (PA-BAT) to assess values of more than
50 protected areas with the participation of over 1000 stakeholders from local
businesses, protected areas staff, tourism operators, local producers, scientists
and decision makers. This is the basis for the development of new economic
opportunities and improvements in policy.
16 PARKS
IN THE REGION
WORKING TOWARDS
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
The European Charter for Sustainable
Tourism is not a typical quality or
eco-label but a process-oriented
methodology which helps protected
areas to continuously improve
sustainable development and
management of tourism. The process
takes into account the needs of the
environment, the local population and
local tourism businesses. With this
charter 16 parks will join an elite group
of 107 protected areas from 13
European countries, unique for it's
quality and sustainability.
PHOTO: NP Brijuni
THE DINARIC ARC
BECOMES
CLIMATE SMART
The Dinaric Arc region will be among
the regions that will be hardest
hit by climate change.
Climate change is a huge challenge for a
diverse and fragile region such as the Dinaric
Arc. Protected areas are witnessing climate
change already. Climate change affects
everything we do, none of us can stop it.
However, we can adapt.
PHOTO: Global Warming Images WWF - Canon
The Dinaric Arc Parks project, in
collaboration with Nobel Prize Winner
Lucka Kajfež Bogataj, has initiated
discussions on climate change
adaptations. How to proceed?
ALL PARKS TO BE READY
FOR EU INTEGRATION
The Dinaric Arc region encompasses two EU
member states and others having EU integration
as one of their principal objectives. Adopting and
implementing EU nature conservation policies
(e.g. the ecological network Natura 2000) is
therefore of great interest to all of us.
With 79 parks across the region, Parks Dinarides
are uniquely positioned to efficiently support
adoption of best practices, disseminating lessons
learned and building capacity of protected area
practitioners and responsible ministries towards
the efficient and timely modernization of nature
conservation practices according to EU norms.
ENGAGING CITIZENS
IN NATURE CONSERVATION
WWW.DISCOVERDINARIDES.COM IS A UNIQUE DATABASE FOR 79 PARKS IN THE REGION,
PROMOTING LOCAL NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. MORE THAN 500.000 PEOPLE
RECOGNIZE THE PARKS DINARIDES BRAND DUE TO THE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN AND
VIDEO THE WORLD UNDISCOVERED.
RESULTS:
more than
300
more than
32,000
people visiting the
dinaricarcparks.
blogspot.com
around
44,000
Facebook
followers
stories on
Dinaric Arc Parks
in the regional media
Only with your support can we achieve Dinaric Arc Parks goals.
We are seeking the broad engagement of different sectors
in preserving our common natural heritage.
We ask citizens of the region to actively explore their natural
and cultural heritage and take an active role in their protection.
We invite partners to join us through:
• NGOs to support the active engagement of local
people in protected areas management;
• local businesses to develop sustainable products
based on natural and cultural values in protected areas;
• responsible ministries to promote and safeguard
protected areas through adequate policies;
• the international community to recognize and support
protected areas as pillars of sustainable development.
Project Director
Deni Porej
dporej@wwfmedpo.org
Regional collaboration
Leon Kebe
lkebe@wwfmedpo.org
EU, tourism and PA benefits
Andrea Štefan
astefan@wwfmedpo.org
Visit us at: www.discoverdinarides.com
Communications
Petra Boić Petrač
ppetrac@wwfmedpo.org