„Wetland Tourism: A Great Experience“

Press Release from January 27th, 2012

Radolfzell.   The eastern Adriatic coast has more to offer than just beaches and a steel-blue sea: underground caves, huge lakes and karst moors - flooded and dried out by subterranean watercourses. At the World Wetlands Day on February 2nd, the Pan-European nature conservation organisation EuroNatur wants to draw the attention to the importance of wetlands on the Balkan Peninsula. This year’s campaign day, organised once per year by the Ramsar Convention, will be dedicated to the theme “Wetland Tourism: A Great Experience”. “A great abundance of wetlands stretches along the eastern Adriatic coast from Slovenia via Croatia, Bosnia, and Montenegro to Albania. The biodiversity of this natural paradise is, however, severely endangered by drainage, buildings and bird hunting,” says EuroNatur executive director Gabriel Schwaderer.

In addition, the wetlands at the eastern Adriatic coast offer not just ecological but also great economic benefits. In contrary to the beaches, nature travel destinations like the caves of Škocjanin in Slovenia, which have been declared as UNESCO world natural heritage, or the great Balkan lakes Prespa and Ohrid in the three-border region between Macedonia, Albania and Greece, have the potential to attract visitors all over the whole year thus providing a constant stream of income. Crane watching on and around the Baltic island Ruegen, for example, extends the summer season from September to October. EuroNatur promotes to introduce similar projects in southeast Europe - as the economical potential of sustainable nature along the Adriatic coast has not been fully used yet. Even though countries like Croatia and Montenegro advertise with slogans like “The Mediterranean - as it once was” or “wild beauty”, there is still not enough information for tourists to help them discover the many hidden treasures. 

EuroNatur’s travel guides “Eastern Adriatic Coast” and “Prespa-Ohrid Region” are first, important steps ‘on the journey’ to make this part of Europe with its magnificent natural and cultural heritage more popular and prevent it from destruction. “The countries along the eastern Adriatic coast want to have a longer tourist season. We help them to get there. By doing so, we create solid alternative solutions which hold long-term economical prospects without damaging the nature or shooting birds,” says EuroNatur project leader Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby. 


More information about:

• World Wetlands Day 

• about EuroNatur projects for the protection of the Prespa-Ohrid region
  
  

For questions please contact:

EuroNatur
Konstanzer Straße 22
78315 Radolfzell
Tel.: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 10
Fax: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 22
E-Mail: info@euronatur.org
Internet: www.euronatur.org
Contact: Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby
Press contact: Katharina Grund

Solana Ulcinj to be auctioned on January 16

Press release from 10 December 2012

Radolfzell.  Since December 16, countdown is running for the most important resting area for migratory birds on the Eastern Adriatic coast. On January 16, the Solana Ulcinj shall be sold for at least 257.8 million euro, which implies the imminent loss of these valuable wetlands.

"Many migratory birds - especially the garganeys, curlew sandpipers and slender-billed curlews - would not survive the tremendously long flight of up to 5.000 km from Eurasia to Africa without being able to roost in Solana Ulcinj. The risk that this ecological treasure falls victim to greedy businessmen is imminent", says Gabriel Schwaderer, managing director of the European Nature Heritage Fund EuroNatur. In the course of privatization of the formerly public enterprise in 2005, the company Eurofond acquired 75% of the Solana Ulcinj business for just 800.000 euro from the State of Montenegro, including the Solana area of totally 14.5 million m², a size of approximately 1.450 football grounds. Since then, the fate of the Solana Ulcinj is in the hands of Veselin Barović who controls Eurofond.

The fact that instead of winning salt, selling the ground now is a big deal, results from the scandalous amendments to the Spatial Plan of Montenegro (2005-2020) which were passed in 2007. The draft of the Spatial Plan was supported by the German Government, and experts from the GIZ (German society for international cooperation) participated in the preparation of the document. The aim of the original version of the Spatial Plan was to open up new economic perspectives to Montenegro through sustainable development. However, the amended version submitted to the Parliament for voting, clearly diverged from the one that underwent the environmental impact assessment and was presented to a public hearing shortly before:

First, the designation of new protected areas was deleted; unfortunately, this also applies for the Solana Ulcinj. Secondly, the Solana was earmarked for tourist land use, including - thirdly - the construction of new accommodation facilities. And so the important wetlands "Solana Ulcinj " were turned into a potential building site, exceeding the financial speculation value many times over.

"Being a candidate country for EU-membership, Montenegro cannot afford to declare a future Natura 2000 site a building terrain. There are still abandoned hotels from Yugoslavian times. Instead of more hotel accommodations, Montenegro needs attractive and effectively protected nature reserves", says EuroNatur project leader Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby.
EuroNatur supports the petition of the Montenegrin nature conservation and environment protection associations and strongly requests Prime Minister Igor Lukšić to withdraw the amendments from the Spatial Plan. The Solana Ulcinj must become a nature reserve, in order to be preserved as a tourist attraction and as a vital roosting place for migratory birds.

Background information:

• Solana Ulcinj is also known under the company name Solana "Bajo Sekulić" or "Ulcinj Salina".

• Since 2003, EuroNatur supports the development of the Solana Ulcinj into a wildlife bird sanctuary and target area for nature tourism along the Adriatic flyway.

• Link to the petitions of the NGOs 

• Link to the Spatial Plan of Montenegro (2005 – 2020)

Further enquiries: 

EuroNatur

Konstanzer Str. 22

78315 Radolfzell

Phone: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 10

Fax: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 22

E-Mail: info@euronatur.org

Internet: www.euronatur.org

contact: Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby

 press contact: Katharina Grund

Both killed animals belonged to a pack of three adult wolves and two to three pups. The killed male and female wolves were probably the young wolves’ parents. The death of these two wolves seriously threatens the survival of the wolf pack.

The Belgian hunters stated to have taken the animals for raccoon dogs. This does not sound plausible to Wilk: wolves and raccoon dogs considerably differ in size and appearance. The Polish authorities are now investigating the background of this incident. 

Since the end of the 1990ies, EuroNatur and Wilk have become involved with the protection of Polish wolves. The positive increase of the wolves’ population is evidence of successful protection measures: 20 packs of 95 to 100 wolves live again in territories, which have been uninhabited for a long time. Yet, it is still a long way away from a stable population. Poaching, road accidents and parasites are a constant threat to the population of wolves. 

Link to article of Wilk of 14th December 2011

More about EuroNatur’s projects for the protection for wolves in Europe

EuroNatur: The government of Macedonia must stop this project!

Press release from 14 December 2011

Radolfzell.   In middle of the second oldest and largest national park of Macedonia, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to finance the construction of a large hydroelectric dam for power generation. The so called "Boskov Most" project means a serious threat to the Mavrovo National Park. Hence, the international nature heritage fund EuroNatur requests from the EBRD to withdraw the loan promise made to the Macedonian power supplier ELEM for the construction of the hydro power plant in the national park. 

„Large infrastructure projects, such as ‘Boskov Most’ reduces the national park ad absurdum. On the one hand, Macedonia seeks membership in the EU; on the other hand however, they show utter contempt of the European conservation law by approving such projects. The impacts caused by the hydro power plant project are by no means consistent with the fact that this protected area is part of Emerald-Network and also a future part of the Natura 2000 network", says EuroNatur director Gabriel Schwaderer. Backed by six Macedonian NGOs, EuroNatur asks the Macedonian Government to stop this nature-destroying project.

Time is short, as according to ELEM excavation works shall start as soon as April 2012. In November this year, ELEM signed a loan agreement with the EBRD to finance the project, which includes the construction of a dam power plant of up to 70 megawatt in the southern part of the 73.100-hectare national park. The bank has declared to grant a 65m-euro loan to finance the "Boskov Most" project. The dam will be 33 m high.

"EuroNatur has information at hand according to which the environmental impact assessment (EIA) study for the construction of the dam power plant is technically assailable. We do not understand why the EBRD is satisfied with such highly questionable results", says Gabriel Schwaderer. Beside the fact that the dam shall be built in the middle of a nature reserve, there are no reliable studies about the impact of the project on the last known stable population of the Balkan lynx, an endangered subspecies of the Eurasian lynx. The impairment of the population of Balkan lynxes in the Mavrovo National Park could entail the extinction of this subspecies. In EuroNatur's view, until now neither the Macedonian Government nor the EBRD have taken sufficient account of the arguments presented by the coalition of six Macedonian NGOs, which are fighting for the conservation of the Mavrovo National Park.

In any case, the regional population will not profit from the project. In contrast to "Boskov Most", alternative ways of development such as the marketing of local products and the promotion of sustainable nature tourism would create new jobs and add to the yet positive image of the Mavrovo National Park.


For further information please contact:

EuroNatur
Konstanzer Straße 22
78315 Radolfzell
Phone: 07732 - 92 72 10
Fax: 07732 - 92 72 22
E-Mail: info@euronatur.org
Internet: www.euronatur.org
Press contact: Katharina Grund
Contact: Gabriel Schwaderer

We look forward to receive the most beautiful and spectacular photos of animals, plants or landscapes in Europe. No matter if the breathtaking display flight of white-tailed eagles, a tree frog bathing in duckweeds or stunning waterfalls framed by the flaming colours of an autumn forest: it's your personal view of the outstanding in Europe's flora and fauna we ask for. 

For the 19th time already, EuroNatur, in cooperation with Deutsche Lufthansa AG, "natur+kosmos" and NaturVision, arranges this important nature photo competition. It's worth the effort: you stand a chance to win attractive prizes such as travels and other valuable, non-cash prizes. So start your personal photo safari and send us your discoveries captured on camera!

See more information and terms of participation of the photo competition "Nature Treasures of Europe 2012"

The winners of the photography competition 2011

By the way: The winner photos will be published among others in the large-size wall calendar "EuroNatur 2013".
This year’s winners decorate the Euronatur-Calendar 2012. You can order the calendar now exclusively at the EuroNatur-Shop.

Shop now

Macedonia’s environment minister Abdulaqim Ademi stated on a trilateral conference in Popova Shapka in Macedonia (Shar mountains), which was organised by an environmental committee of the United Nations (UNEP), that this hotspot of biodiversity shall become a designated National Park in 2012. For many years, EuroNatur and the Macedonian Ecological Society have jointly promoted the protection of the 50,000 hectar-wide mountain region.

There is soon to be a nature preserve with more than 2,000 square kilometres combining the existing Shar National Park in Kosovo, the Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia and the Korab region in Albania, which is also to be a designated nature park as of 2012. EuroNatur supports the project to create one of the largest adjacent nature preserves in southeast Europe. 

More about the EuroNatur projects to protect the Balkan Green Belt.

Still in search for the right Christmas gift? Adopt a lynx by a EuroNatur sponshorship!

Thus, you will help to increase the chances of survival of these rare big cats in Europe - amongst others, by protecting their habitats along the Balkan Green Belt.

The majority of the Swiss parliament already voted for a law to relax the protection for wolves in September last year. Their members requested the government to draft a petition to modify the Bern Convention accordingly (EuroNatur reported this on October 6th, 2010). The government will now submit this proposal to the Bern Convention. In case the member states will reject this law, Switzerland will opt out completely of the agreement.
All over Europe, wolves have enjoyed special protection by the Bern Convention, which Switzerland also ratified in 1982. The international agreement aims to conserve wild fauna and flora and their habitats on a permanent basis. It lists wolves as a strictly protected species and they may therefore only be shot in exceptional cases.

Nature conservation organisations like EuroNatur are highly alarmed. EuroNatur project leader Annette Spangenberg warns: “This initiative threatens the protection of species in Europe altogether. Switzerland has often acted as a pioneer in nature conservation but with this resolution they give out entirely the wrong signal to other states.” 

Link to press release about KORA of 16.11.2011 (German)

Link to press release of EuroNatur of 06.10.2011

Conference for the protection of the European natural heritage along the former Iron Curtain in Ulcinj (Montenegro)

Press release from 22. November 2011


Radolfzell/ Ulcinj. From 16th to 19th November 2011, more than 50 representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations met in order to discuss about the future of the European Green Belt in South-Eastern Europe. The 3rd European Green Belt Regional Meeting for the Balkans was organized by EuroNatur with financial support by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and by the German Federal Environment Agency.

“One of the main tasks of nature conservation in Europe is to safeguard the natural treasures along the Green Belt by proclaiming national and nature parks. We therefore call upon all governments of the countries along the Balkan Green Belt to take action and to protect these important elements of the European natural heritage. Large devastating infrastructure projects which endanger and fragment this important European ecological network should not be allowed”, demands Gabriel Schwaderer, Executive Director of EuroNatur Foundation during closing the conference.

Large parts of the Balkan Green Belt are under official protection. Nevertheless, still there are important natural treasures along the former border between East and West which urgently need to be conserved. These areas are important retreats for many endangered animal and plant species.

One of the main problems pointed out by the participants of the conference was the lack of functioning administrations in national parks and strict nature reserves which are necessary to monitor the compliance of the protection targets and the development of nature areas. In addition, the pressure on the valuable natural treasures along the Green Belt caused by large scale infrastructure projects such as dams, ski areas, wind parks and long distance roads constantly increases. 

Main objective of the European Green Belt Initiative is to safeguard and develop the former Iron Curtain which divided Europe for decades as an ecological network, spanning over 12.500 km throughout the continent. Since 2005, two similar meetings took place in Novi Sad, Serbia, and Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria.


Background information:

• Read more about EuroNatur’s projects along the Balkan Green Belt
  

• Presentations held at the 3rd European Green Belt Regional Meeting for the Balkans

For further information please contact:

EuroNatur
Konstanzer Straße 22
78315 Radolfzell
Tel.: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 10
Fax: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 22
E-Mail: info@euronatur.org
Internet: www.euronatur.org
Ansprechpartner: Gabriel Schwaderer
Pressekontakt: Katharina Grund

Unhurried, the female bear 'Villarina' strolls through the forest in the Cantabrian Mountains in Northern Spain, wallowing in the leaves. With a hidden camera, EuroNatur partner Fapas succeeded in capturing rare insights into the life of the young bear. "'Villarina' is strong and in rude health. I assume that she will have her first offspring in spring next year", concludes Roberto Hartasánchez, director of Fapas, from the video material.

This positive development is all the more good news, because 'Villarina' had a difficult start to her life. In June 2008, tourists found the then six-year-old bear on a road in the Nature Park Somiedo, in the west of the Cantabrian Mountains. She seemed puzzled and alone and had probably been hit by a car. She was then looked after in an animal clinic and after her recovery released into the wild in a valley of the Cantabrian Mountains where she could find plenty of food. In June 2010, a picture from a hidden camera delivered the proof for her successful reintroduction. Now, the current video records deliver further evidence that 'Villarina' is in good health and well on her way to add to the bear population of the Cantabrian Mountains.

Since mid of the nineties, EuroNatur and Fapas have been active in protecting this spectacular mountain range close to the Atlantic coast in northern Spain as habitat for brown bears. Thanks to their consistent efforts, the conditions for brown bears have slowly, but steadily been improving, at least in the western parts of the Cantabrian Mountains.

Link to video of Bear Villarina on YouTube