Publication Name

Climate change is also a very real risk for forests and

their management. Forest fires are already a major

hazard across the Balkans. A significant increase

in the number and intensity of wildfires across the

region has been linked to higher temperatures in

summer, prolonged droughts and earlier melting of

snow in the mountains (Mátyás, 2010). In the future,

the probability of forest fires occurring, the length of

the fire season, and fire frequency and severity are

likely to increase in the Mediterranean (Alcamo

al.

, 2007). Furthermore, rising atmospheric CO

concentration, higher temperatures, changes in

precipitation, flooding, and drought duration and

frequency will have significant effects on tree growth.

These changes will also have associated consequences

for the frequency of pest and disease outbreaks

and changes in fire occurrence, and changes in

wind storms and frequency – all of which will have

big implications for forest ecosystems (European

Commission, 2008). Mountain forest ecosystems are

especially vulnerable due to a rise in the elevation of

snow cover and altered river run-off regimes.

Biodiversity and protected areas

The Western Balkans is a biodiversity hotspot within

Europe and contains a large variety of ecosystems.

The territory encompassing the former Yugoslavia

is one of six European centres of biological diversity,

containing 39 per cent of Europe’s vascular plants,

51 per cent of fish, 74 per cent of birds, and 68 per

cent of mammals (World Bank, 2003 in UNEP/

ENVSEC, 2012). There is a high level of endemism

in the Balkan countries because of the extremely

varied diversity of geology, soils, climatic ranges

and altitude. For example, FYR Macedonia has 900

endemic species (UNEP/ENVSEC, 2012). Some

of the highest levels of endemism occur at high

altitudes. For example, the mountainous Sutjeska

National Park in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which

borders Montenegro, has 2,600 different species

of vascular plants, a high percentage of endemic

and rare species and contains one of the last two

primeval forests in Europe.

The number and size of protected areas in the

region has been increasing, although the share of

protected land is still low if compared with that of

the EU. Some protected areas have been established

recently or are in the process of being included

in the transboundary protection system, such as

Neretva River Delta, Lake Skadar, Lake Ohrid, Lake

Prespa, Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mountains, Djerdap

National Park, Balkan and Tara Mountains, and the

Danube River.

Biodiversitywithinthe regionfaces anumberof threats,

including deforestation, soil erosion, uncontrolled

land use and pollution, as well as unsustainable levels

of hunting, fishing and grazing (Centre for Climate

Adaptation, 2015). Generally speaking, there are

significant gaps in information and knowledge related

to the impact of climate change on biodiversity in the

region and across the countries.

Climate change is expected to impact all ecosystems in

the region, however certain ecosystems with limited

possibilities for species to migrate are considered

particularly at risk. High mountainous and mountain

ecosystems (above 1,500m) are particularly sensitive

because temperature is rising faster at these altitudes

than at lower altitudes, and high-altitude species

that live in cooler temperatures have nowhere to

go. Predicted large reductions in snow cover are

expected to lead to declines in alpine flora and fauna

because vegetation of the pre-mountain regions will

be replaced by vegetation from temperate zones.

Individual species such as oak will be threatened in

hilly ecosystems, because migration will be hindered

due to their heavy seed.

15 %

Croatia

Serbia

Albania

Kosovo*

Bosnia and

Herzegovina

FYR

Macedonia

Montenegro

Hectares

Percentage of

total territorial area

500 000

200 000

30 000

Protected areas

Sources: WorldBankDatabank;Sida'sHelpdesk forEnvironmentandClimateChange,2012,

“WesternBalkan–EnvironmentandClimateChangePolicyBrief”;CroatianMinistryof

EnvironmentalandNatureProtection,2014,“Fifthnational report toCBD”;SerbianMinistryof

AgricultureandEnvironmentalProtection,2014,“Fifthnational report toCBD”;AnnualReport

on theStateofEnvironment for2014, “EPAMontenegro”;MinistryofForeignTradeand

EconomicRelationsofBosniaandHerzegovina,2012,“Reporton thestateof theenvironment

inBosniaandHerzegovina in2012”;KEPA/KINP,2015, “StateofNatureReport2010-2014”.

*This designation is without prejudice

to positions on status, and is in line with

UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on

the Kosovo declaration of independence.

2005

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