scholarly journals Important Bird Areas in Macedonia: Sites of Global and European Importance

Acrocephalus ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (147) ◽  
pp. 181-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Metodija Velevski ◽  
Ben Hallmann ◽  
Bratislav Grubač ◽  
Tome Lisičanec ◽  
Emilian Stoynov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Global Level ◽  
Coracias Garrulus ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Egyptian Vulture ◽  
Global Conservation ◽  
Imperial Eagle ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Selection Of

Important Bird Areas in Macedonia: Sites of Global and European Importance Identification of the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) is an initiative implemented by BirdLife International at the global level, aiming to conserve a network of sites that are particularly important for the conservation of birds. With the changed conservation status of some species and increased information on the distribution and population sizes of birds in Macedonia in general, a revision of the IBA network was needed to update previous inventories for this country, published in 1989 and 2000. As the bird fauna of the Republic of Macedonia ranks among the least known in Europe, and as data on many species, notably passerines, are still largely missing, the inventory is mainly based on some threatened or rare birds of prey and a few other larger species, yet characteristic of the Macedonian landscape. Data used were collected in the course of different dedicated studies and projects carried out after 2000. Out of 314 species so far registered in Macedonia, 114 regularly occurring species have currently unfavourable conservation status in Europe, 84 of which breed or possibly breed in the country. Several criteria for the selection of IBAs of global (A criterion) and European importance (B criterion) developed by BirdLife International were used for sites selection, taking into consideration species of global conservation concern (A1), biome-restricted species (A3), important congregations (A4, B1) and species with an unfavourable conservation status (B2) or concentrated (B3) in Europe. Species of global conservation concern used for site identification include the Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, considered Endangered (EN) at the global level according to the latest IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus and Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca (both Vulnerable - VU), and Roller Coracias garrulus and Semicollared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata (both Near Threatened - NT). Furthermore, species assemblages characteristic as occurring mostly or entirely within a Eurasian high-montane or Mediterranean biome are found in Macedonia. Important congregations of non-breeding waterbirds with at least 1% of global or biogeographic populations of individual species occur on all three large lakes in the country, some of them (e.g. Dalmatian Pelican, Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina) in very large numbers, surpassing the 1% threshold by more than tenfold. In total, 25 species regularly occurring in the breeding season, for which the site protection approach is thought to be appropriate in Macedonia, were used for the selection of sites of European importance. Site boundaries were drawn following distinct natural features or isohypses to include breeding sites and foraging areas of triggering species, and, for Imperial Eagle and Egyptian Vulture also former breeding sites back to 1991, taking into consideration their habitat requirements, land-use and management needs. The resulting IBA list numbers 24 sites, covering 6,907 km2 or 26.9% of the entire territory of Macedonia: (1) Šar Planina Mountain, (2) River Radika Catchment, (3) Lake Ohrid, (4) Lake Prespa, (5) Demir Kapija Gorge, (6) Lake Dojran, (7) Zletovska River Valley, (8) Tikveš Region, (9) Pčinja - Petrošnica - Kriva Reka Rivers, (10) Preod - Gjugjance, (11) Osogovo Mountains, (12) Jakupica Mountain, (13) Taor Gorge, (14) Ovče Pole, (15) Topolka - Babuna - Bregalnica Rivers, (16) Gradsko - Rosoman - Negotino, (17) Lake Mantovo and Kriva Lakavica River, (18) Raec River Valley, (19) Pelagonia, (20) Mariovo, (21) Lake Tikveš, (22) Bošavija, (23) Kočani Rice Fields, and (24) Lower Vardar. With the exception of three sites occupying the highest parts of the large mountain massifs in NW and central parts of Macedonia, and the lakes Ohrid and Prespa, sites are concentrated mostly in central hilly and lowland parts of the country, comprising breeding areas of species of global conservation concern. The percentage of territory covered by the IBAs in Macedonia is relatively high compared to the total European average but comparable to several countries in SE parts of Europe. The size of separate IBAs ranges from 25 km2 (Taor Gorge) to 1,136 km2 (Pelagonia) and number of triggering species per site from one (Bošavija, Kočani Rice Fields) to 17 (Pčinja - Petrošnica - Kriva Reka Rivers). 22 sites trigger some of the criteria of global importance - three sites (Lakes Ohrid, Prespa and Dojran) meet A4 criterion, eight sites hold significant populations of species characteristic of the Mediterranean biome, while three other sites sustain significant populations characteristic of the European high-montane biome. Species of global conservation concern are included as follows: Egyptian Vulture on 13 sites, Imperial Eagle on 7, Dalmatian Pelican and Saker Falcon Falco cherrug on 2, Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca on 3, Roller Coracias garrulus on 10, Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus on 3 sites, and Semi-collared Flycatcher on 1 site. Individual triggering species for sites of European importance are represented on 2-15 sites. The IBA network includes 80-100% of the national populations of the globally threatened species, while the coverage of other species vary between 5% and 100%, being over 40% in great majority of species. Non-irrigated arable land and transitional woodland-shrub are dominant land-cover types, jointly covering 32% of the total IBA surface area. Abandonment of traditional pastoral system, resulting in decrease of the livestock numbers and overgrowing as well as trapping, poisoning and poaching, are considered the most serious threats for triggering species, particularly the Egyptian Vulture and Imperial Eagle, being classified as high on no less than 11 sites, respectively. The national legal protection of the sites is incomplete, being either only partial or with inadequate conservation measures adopted, or, many sites still lack any form of legal protection. With about 21% of the National protected area network overlapping with the IBAs, the existing protected area system is thus insufficient for conservation of most priority species. Notably underrepresented are the regions in the lower parts of the country with the highest number of species of global conservation concern.

scholarly journals Severe declines of Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca populations in the Baikal region, Russia: a modern and historical perspective

2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitaliy V. Ryabtsev ◽  
Todd E. Katzner
Keyword(s):  
Lake Baikal ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Set Covering ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Imperial Eagle ◽  
Aquila Heliaca ◽  
Declining Species ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Historical Accounts

AbstractThe Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), a vulnerable and declining species, is widely but sparsely distributed throughout its range. Because much of that range extends through the Russian-speaking world, relatively little on the species has been published in English. The world's easternmost population of Eastern Imperial Eagles, at Lake Baikal, Russia, is particularly well studied and, because of recent rapid population declines, is of great conservation concern. Here, using a data set covering more than 20 years evaluated in the context of historical accounts published in Russian, we assess recent severe declines in this population and the subsequent changes in its conservation status. In intensively surveyed areas near Lake Baikal, numbers of territories occupied by eagles have declined by 80–100% in the past 20–40 years. Likewise, throughout the entire region, the average number of known occupied and breeding territories were both more than 40% lower in 1998–1999 than they were in 1982–1983. These data suggest severe long-term declines in the population of Baikal's Imperial Eagles. Because we observed only limited decreases in reproductive output, our interpretation of the patterns in these data is that mortality of non-breeding birds (wintering adults and all pre-adults) is the most likely cause for this decline. Addressing the causes of this decline is critical to protect this severely threatened population from extirpation.Восточный могильник (Aquila heliaca), уязвимый и сокращающийся в численности вид, широко, но разрозненно распространен по своему ареалу. В связи с тем, что большая часть его ареала находится в пределах русскоговорящей части мира, относительно мало опубликовано по этому виду на английском языке. Самая восточная группировка могильника находится в Прибайкалье. Она изучена особенно хорошо и из-за быстрого сокращения популяции вызывает особую тревогу и озабоченность природоохранников. Используя более чем >20 летние данные, рассмотренные в контексте исторических сведений опубликованных по-русски, мы оцениваем недавнее серьёзное сокращение этой популяции и последующие изменения в её природоохранном статусе. На территориях, находящихся под интенсивным обследованием в Прибайкалье, количество участков занятых орлами сократилось на 80–100% за последние 20–40 лет. Таким же образом, во всем регионе, среднее количество известных занятых территорий и гнездовых участков в 1998–1999 было на >40% меньше по сравнению с 1982–1983. Эти данные свидетельствуют о серьёзном долговременном сокращении прибайкальской популяции могильника. В связи с тем, что мы наблюдали лишь незначительное снижение результатов размножения, наша интерпретация модели по этим данным приводит к выводу, что смертность неразмножающихся птиц (зимующих взрослых и неполовозрелых птиц) является наиболее вероятной причиной этого сокращения. Выявление причин произошедшего падения численности очень важно для сохранения этой угрожаемой популяции от полного вымирания.

scholarly journals Assessing the global conservation status of the rock rose Helianthemum caput-felis

Oryx ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Sulis ◽  
Gianluigi Bacchetta ◽  
Donatella Cogoni ◽  
Domenico Gargano ◽  
Giuseppe Fenu
Keyword(s):  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Red List ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Red Lists ◽  
Global Conservation ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Starting Point

AbstractThe assessment of the conservation status of a species is the first step in developing a conservation strategy. IUCN Red Lists assessments are an important starting point for conservation actions and the most commonly applied method for assessing the extinction risk of a species. In this study, the global conservation status of the rock rose Helianthemum caput-felis Boiss. (Cistaceae), a perennial Mediterranean plant, was evaluated using the Red List criteria. The distribution of the species was determined by monitoring historical localities and all other suitable sites along the western Mediterranean coasts for 6 years. For each confirmed locality, the ecological and population parameters and the main threats were recorded; these data were used in a quantitative analysis of the species' extinction risk. Our findings indicate there have been several recent extinctions, and there is a continuing decline in the species' area of occurrence, habitat quality and number of reproductive plants. The main threats are related to human activities. Extinction models indicate a probability of quasi-extinction risk of c. 30% in five generations or c. 45% in three generations, with the species likely to become extinct in seven currently known localities within the next 10 years. Application of the Red List criteria indicates H. caput-felis should be categorized as Endangered. This study confirms that legal protection and passive conservation measures are insufficient to guarantee the persistence of a plant species. Active conservation and management actions are needed to protect this and other threatened species of the Mediterranean Basin.

Translocation of a large population of great crested newts

2019 ◽  
pp. 82-94
Author(s):  
John Box
Keyword(s):  
Survey Methods ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Receptor Site ◽  
Triturus Cristatus ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Favourable Conservation Status ◽  
Terrestrial Habitats

The great crested newt, Triturus cristatus, is a European Protected Species. Its legal protection requires appropriate mitigation and compensation measures to be developed for populations threatened by built development in order to demonstrate no likely detriment to the maintenance of the favourable conservation status of the species in its natural range. A major regeneration project at a site near Neath Port Talbot in South Wales, United Kingdom, resulted in the destruction of the breeding sites and associated terrestrial habitats of a population of great crested newts. Capture and translocation of 9,500 newts of all life stages was undertaken between 2009 and 2016 to an adjacent receptor site with waterbodies and extensive terrestrial habitats. Eggs and larvae have been observed in waterbodies in the receptor site throughout the monitoring period from 2013 to 2017, and great crested newts are colonising new waterbodies. The translocated population was much larger than the population size predicted from the baseline surveys of waterbodies on the development site. The design, planning and licensing of mitigation and compensation schemes for great crested newts threatened by built development projects need to give full weight to the limitations of survey methods when estimating the size of a population.

scholarly journals VII. International Conference on the Conservation of the Eastern Imperial Eagle, Bratislava, Slovakia, 2013

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-8
Author(s):  
Lucia Deutschová ◽  
Zuzana Guziová ◽  
Miroslav Dravecký
Keyword(s):  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Birds Of Prey ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
International Conference ◽  
Imperial Eagle ◽  
Aquila Heliaca ◽  
Czech Society ◽  
Visegrád Countries

Abstract The 7th International Conference on the Conservation of the Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) was held on October 2-5, 2013 at the Barónka Hotel in Bratislava, Slovakia, organised by Raptor Protection of Slovakia (RPS) in cooperation with the Czech Society for Ornithology and MME/BirdLife Hungary, under the auspices of the Ministry for Environment of the Slovak Republic, supported by the International Visegrad Fund. Results of research by 43 experts from ten countries, including three countries of the Visegrad region - Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary - were presented in 20 lectures and five posters. The conference featured several accompanying events, such as an excursion to imperial eagle breeding sites in the surroundings of the conference venue, a demonstration ofwork by a dog specially trained in Hungary for seeking poisoned bait and birds, and an exhibition of drawings and paintings by children from the Visegrad region focusing on birds of prey. During the conference a workshop was held to start the process ofupdating the present International Action Plan for the species from 1996. Furthermore, the action plan for improving the conservation status ofpopulations of the eastern imperial eagle in the Visegrad countries was agreed by the experts from those countries.

scholarly journals The Effects of Landscape Elements on the Breeding Sites of Bloodsucking Midge

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2863
Author(s):  
Kaowen Grace Chang ◽  
Hungju Chien
Keyword(s):  
Ground Surface ◽  
Preventive Strategies ◽  
Careful Selection ◽  
Public Concern ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Algae Growth ◽  
Potential Habitats ◽  
Landscape Factors ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Selection Of

Forcipomyia taiwana, a bloodsucking midge that is one of the most irritating biting pests in Taiwan, has raised widespread public concern. However, we have little information about the extent to which landscape factors affect their potential habitats. As a result, landscape professionals do not have enough information to implement preventive strategies to control midges. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between landscaping and algae growth for larval breeding sites of Forcipomyia taiwana. The intent is to determine the environmental strategies that make the planned landscape unsuitable for midges to breed. GIS based on data collected from 16 constructed landscape sites (317,187 m2 in total) was utilized to spatially examine the relationship between the occurrence of the algae for midge breeding sites and the ground surface types and planting characteristics in each landscape. The results revealed that the potential midge habitats can be controlled through careful selection of the ground surface, the improvement of the site drainage, and choosing plants with the appropriate characteristics. Apart from choosing the appropriate type of paving surface, the integrity of the paving installation and the coverage of the ecological surface also influence prevention efficacy.

scholarly journals Global and Regional IUCN Red List Assessments: 6

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 31-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Fenu ◽  
Mohamed Abdelaal ◽  
Gianluigi Bacchetta ◽  
Luciano Bongiorni ◽  
Annalena Cogoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Global Level ◽  
Regional Assessment ◽  
Iucn Categories ◽  
Status Assessment

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of four vascular plants according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessment ofEpipactismaricae(Croce, Bongiorni, De Vivo & Fori) Presser & S.Hertel at global level, and the regional assessment ofCerintheretortaSm. (Italy), PlatantherakuenkeleiH.Baumannsubsp.kuenkelei (Europe) andTyphaelephantinaRoxb. (Egypt).

scholarly journals Intrinsic Prey Preference and Selection of the Giant Gartersnake: A Threatened Predator in a Nonnative Prey-Dominated Community

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-173
Author(s):  
Julia S.M. Ersan ◽  
Brian J. Halstead ◽  
Erica L. Wildy ◽  
Michael L. Casazza ◽  
Glenn D. Wylie
Keyword(s):  
Exotic Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Central Valley ◽  
Prey Preference ◽  
Live Prey ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Behavioral Trials ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract The introduction of exotic species into an environment can introduce great change in the trophic dynamics of native species. This is of even greater concern if the native species is of conservation concern. The giant gartersnake, Thamnophis gigas, an endemic predator of the Central Valley of California and a species of conservation concern at the state and federal levels, has declined as a result of conversion of its once vast wetland habitat to agriculture. Another anthropogenic factor contributing to this snake's changing ecology is the introduction of nonnative prey into the species' habitats. These introductions have resulted in a prey community that is almost completely composed of exotic species and have potential for considerable effects. In order to assess prey preference and selection we performed three sets of behavioral trials on naïve neonates. We examined 1) neonate prey preference in response to olfactory cues of prepared prey extracts, 2) neonate consumption of different live prey items presented simultaneously; and 3) terrestrial feeding behavior and/or latency to successful attack. Results from the olfactory study suggest that native Sierran treefrogs, Pseudacris sierra, are preferred by neonates. Results from consumption trials suggest that neonates are more likely to select frog species than fish species. This is the first study that we are aware of that examines prey selection of this threatened species and serves to inform its conservation and management.

scholarly journals Distribution, habitat selection and behaviour of the East Coast Akalat Sheppardia gunningi sokokensis in Kenya and Tanzania

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erwin Nemeth ◽  
Leon Bennun
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Coastal Forests ◽  
East African ◽  
Elephant Population ◽  
Shimba Hills ◽  
Selection Of

This study investigated the distribution and habitat selection of the globally threatened East Coast Akalat Sheppardia gunningi sokokensis in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, the Shimba Hills (both Kenya) and the lowland East Usambara Mountains (Tanzania). The species is more abundant than originally thought. In Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, akalats occur in two of the main vegetation types, and an estimated 7,500–9,000 territories represent one of the largest populations of this species in the world. Akalats occurred at similar densities to those in Arabuko-Sokoke (c. 0.5 pairs/ha) in parts of Shimba Hills and East Usambaras, but were more patchily distributed. This akalat prefers areas where the undergrowth is partially open with large amounts of dead wood. It forages on or near the ground. In Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, areas where akalats were present had a higher abundance of ground-dwelling arthropods than areas where they were not. The akalat inhabits both primary forest and regenerated areas that have been selectively logged probably more than 20 years ago. Despite its relatively high densities where it occurs, this species (like other threatened birds in the East African coastal forests) is very patchily distributed and dependent on a habitat that is now highly fragmented and under considerable human pressure. The conservation situation in Arabuko-Sokoke gives cause for concern, and the destructive effects of a large elephant population threaten the forests of the Shimba Hills. The conservation status of the lowland Usambara Mountains is probably better and more stable.

scholarly journals Governance factors in the identification of global conservation priorities for mammals

2011 ◽  
Vol 366 (1578) ◽  
pp. 2661-2669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Eklund ◽  
Anni Arponen ◽  
Piero Visconti ◽  
Mar Cabeza
Keyword(s):  
Regional Differences ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Global Conservation ◽  
Governance Indicators ◽  
Conservation Costs ◽  
Governance Effectiveness ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Control Of Corruption ◽  
Selection Of

Global conservation priorities have often been identified based on the combination of species richness and threat information. With the development of the field of systematic conservation planning, more attention has been given to conservation costs. This leads to prioritizing developing countries, where costs are generally low and biodiversity is high. But many of these countries have poor governance, which may result in ineffective conservation or in larger costs than initially expected. We explore how the consideration of governance affects the selection of global conservation priorities for the world's mammals in a complementarity-based conservation prioritization. We use data on Control of Corruption (Worldwide Governance Indicators project) as an indicator of governance effectiveness, and gross domestic product per capita as an indicator of cost. We show that, while core areas with high levels of endemism are always selected as important regardless of governance and cost values, there are clear regional differences in selected sites when biodiversity, cost or governance are taken into account separately. Overall, the analysis supports the concentration of conservation efforts in most of the regions generally considered of high priority, but stresses the need for different conservation approaches in different continents owing to spatial patterns of governance and economic development.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document