Natural Heritage in the Republic of Kosovo: Looking for Potential UNESCO Sites

Behxhet Mustafa; Avni Hajdari; Valmir Mustafa; Bledar Pulaj

doi:10.3097/LO.201863

Authors

Behxhet Mustafa Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Science, University of Prishtina, Prishtinë, Kosovo
Avni Hajdari Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Science, University of Prishtina, Prishtinë, Kosovo
Valmir Mustafa The Regional Environmental Center for CEE Office Kosova, Prishtinë, Kosovo
Bledar Pulaj Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Science, University of Prishtina, Prishtinë, Kosovo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.201863

Keywords:

Kosovo, Natural heritage,, UNESCO, Endemic species, Endemic plant associations

Abstract

In addition to cultural heritage values, Kosovo is characterised by natural heritage values; these values identify different areas in Kosovo as potential sites for protection under UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) program and the Convention Concerning the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage. These natural values (i.e. geomorphological, hydrological, biodiversity- and ecosystem-related) are found mainly in the massifs of Kosovo’s four mountain ranges, i.e. the Sharr Mountains, the Bjeshket e Nemuna (Albanian Alps), the Koritnik Mountains, and the Pashtrik Mountains. These regions provide the largest number of potential sites for nomination to the World Heritage List or the MAB program.
Of the natural heritage values, 19 geomorphological areas of international importance were identified; additionally, 3 areas had regional (Balkan) importance, and 19 sites were caves. Furthermore, 152 glacial and nival lakes and a bifurcation (i.e. hydrological values), approximately 200 species and subspecies that are endemic to the Balkans, 8 locally endemic, 9 endemic and endemic-relict plant associations and 1 endemic animal species (i.e. biodiversity values), and ancient Beech forests (i.e. ecosystem values) were considered for conservation.
Consideration of the above mentioned areas for protection under UNESCO would provide a legal framework for the protection of natural and cultural values in Kosovo as well as support their sustainable development.
Additionally, protecting these areas would promote the development of environmental and educational projects and training as well as the research and monitoring of issues related to nature conservation and sustainable development at local, regional and international levels.

References

Amidžić, L. (1999). Visokoplaninska Flora i Vegetacija.U: Nacionalni Park "Prokletije" - Nucne i Strucne, Osnove Za Zastitu Planinskog Masiva Prokletija,

Bajraktari, F., Behrami, S., & Katallozi, F. (2010). Shpellat e Kosovës,

Baldacci, A. (1904). Sulle Foreste Del Montenegro Dell'Albania e Dell'Bollettinoufficiale Del Ministe Rod'Agricoltura,Industriae Commercio,

Baldacci, A. (1901). Revista della collezione botanika fatia nel 1897 nell' albania settentrionale. Memorie Della R Accademia Delle Scienze Di Bologna, 5(9), 227-267.

Belij, S. (1992). Savre menigeo morfološki procesi u krios ferise veroi stocne šar-planine. Glasnik Srpskog Geografs Kog Društva, 72(1), 13-24.

Belij, S. (1990). Tufuri na maja rusoliji. Geomorfologija in Ekologija, 5, 149-164.

Blecic, V., & Krasniqi, F. (1971). Zajednica endemicnog šibljaka forzicije i krtušca (polygalo-forsythietum europaea) u jugozapadnoj srbiji. Glas.Repub.Zav.Zaš.Prir.Muz.Titograd, 4, 35-40.

Blečić, V., Tatić, B., & Krasnići, F. (1968). Kratak prilog flori jugoslavije. Glasn.Bot.Zavoda i Bašte Univ.u Beogradu, 3(1-4), 227-232.

Blečić, V., Tatić, B., & Krasnići, F. (1969). Tri endemične zajednice na serpentinskojpodlozi u srbiji. [drei endemische pflanzengesellschaften am serpentinsubstrat in serbien]. Acta Bot.Croat., 28, 43-47.

Bornmüller, I. (1937). Zur flora von mazedonien. Repert.Spec.Nov.Regni Veg., 42, 126-142.

Bornmüller, J. (1933). Zur flora von montenegro, albanien und mazedonien. Magyar Bot.Lapok, 32(1-6), 109-142.

Bornmuller, J., & Rudski, I. (1935). Achillea alexandriregis, species nova von der oshljak-planina. Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vagetabilis, 38(13-25), 51-56.

Çavolli, R. (1981). Regjionalizimi fizionomik i sharrit në territorin e kosovës. Enti Krahinor Për Mbrojtjen e Natyrës, , 2.

Cvijic, J. (1901). Glacijalna epoha na balkanskom poluostrovu. Prosvetni Glasnik, , 105.

Cvijic, J. (1902). Struktura i podela planina balkanskog poluostrova. Pristupna Akademska Beseda Glas S.K.A, 63(1), 24.

Cvijić, J. (1913). Ledeno doba u prokletijama i okolnim planinama. Glas Serb Roy Acad Sci, 91, 188-267.

Gavrilovic, D., Menkovic, L., & Belij, C. (1998). Zaštita geomorfoloških objekata u geonaslegju serbije. Zaštita Prirode, , 50.

Heath, M. F., & Evans, M. I. (2000). Important Bird Areas in Europe: Priority Sites for Conservation,

Hundozi, B. (1980). Vegetacija Nizinskih Livada Na Kosovu, Dissertation,

Ibrahimi, H., Vitecek, S., Previšić, A., Kučinić, M., Waringer, J., Graf, W., . . . Pauls, S. U. (2016). Drusus sharrensis sp. n. (trichoptera, limnephilidae), a new species from sharr national park in kosovo, with molecular and ecological notes. ZooKeys, 2016(559), 107-124. doi:10.3897/zookeys.559.6350

Jankovic, M. M. (1984). Vegetacija SR Serbije; Istorija i Opste Karakteristike,

Jankovic, M. M. (1998). Opšti pregled vegetacijski diversitet prokletija. Zaštita Prirode, 50, 41-56.

Jankovic, M. M. (1958). Prilog poynavanju munikovih šuma (pinetum heldrachii) na metohijskim prokletijama. Arhiv Biološkihn Auka, 10(1-4), 51-77.

Janković, M. M. (1982). Prilog poznavanju vegetacije šarplanine sa posebnim osvrtom na neke značajne reliktne vrste biljaka. Glas.Inst.Bot.i Bot.Univ.u Beogradu, XIII, 15(1-3), 75-129.

Janković, M. M., & Bogojević, R. (1962). Prilog poznavanja sume endemicnih borova munike (pinus heldreichii) i molike (pinus peuce) na severnoj strani sar-planine I njenim metohiskim ograncima. ARh.Biol.Nauka, 14(3-4), 143-155.

Kirchmeir, H., & Kovarovics, A. (2016). , 409.

Košanin, N. (1913). Die verbreitung von forsythia europaea deg. et bald. In Nord Albanien Magyrar Botanikai Lapok, , 12.

Krasniqi, F. (1998). Veçoritë e Florës Dhe Vegjetacionit Të Kosovës Dhe Problemi I Mbrojtjes Së Tyre, 6

Krasniqi, F. (2008). Phytodiversity, Main Component of the Biological Diversity in Kosovo and the Human Factor,

Krasniqi, F. (1987). Endemi u flori kosova i problemi njihove zaštite. ANU.BiH.Posebna Knjiga, 83, 119-124.

Krasniqi, F. (1972). Forest vegetation of mountain regions of kosovo. (šumska vegetacija brdskog regiona kosova. Šumska Vegetacija Brdskog Regiona Kosova, 27

Krivokapić, D. (1969). Sharplanina- turističko- geografski prikaz predela i naroda. S?Ar-Planina: Turistic?Ko-Geograf Skiprikaz Predela i Naroda,

Krivošej, Z. (1989). Flora Planine Grmije Kod Prištine.Magistarska Teza,

Krivošej, Z. (1997). Vaskularna Flora Planine Ošljak [Vascular Flora of Mt Ošljak],

Mala, X. H. (2010). Flora Vaskulare e Maleve të Mushtishtit,

Melovski, D., Ivanov, G. J., Stojanov, A., Avukatov, V., Trajçe, A., Hoxha, B., . . . Breitenmoser, U. (2019). Distribution and conservation status of the balkan lynx (lynx lynx balcanicus bureš,1941). Proceedings of the IV Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of Macedonia with International Participation, , 50-60.

Menkovic, L. (1985). Glacijalna Morfologija Koritnika,

Mustafa, B. (1998). Basic characteristic of flora and vegetation of kosovo and danger of their disappearance. Albanian J Nat Tech Sci, 5, 115-121.

Mustafa, B., Hajdari, A., Mala, X., Veselaj, Z., Pulaj, B., & Mustafa, N. (2015). The pashtrik mountain, a potential protected landscape area. Biologija, 61(2), 73-82.

Mustafa, B., & Hoxha, E. (2001). Some Characteristics of Flora and Vegetation of Sharr Mountain and their Protection, , 5-6.

Nopcsa, F. (1905). Zur geologie von nordalbanien. Jahrbuch Der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Geologischen Reichsanstalt, 55(1), 85-152.

Nowack, E. (1926). Der Nordalbaniche Erzbezirk,

Pantic, N., Belij, S., & Mijovic, D. (1998). Geonaslegje u Sistemu Prirodnih Vrednosti i Njihova Zašstita, , 50.

Pichler, V., Hamor, F., Vološčuk, I., & Sukharyuk, D. (2007). Outstanding universal value of the ecological processes in the primeval beech forests of the carpathians and their management as world heritage sites. Acta Ecologica, 62

Plachter, H., Hoffmann, A., Panek, N., & Schmidt, P. A. (2008). European beech forests as a natural site on the world heritage list of UNESCO. Beech Forests-a German Contribution to the Global Forest Biodiversity., , 53-60.

Rexhepi, F. (1978). Zeljaste Zajednice Brdskog Regiona Kosova, , 113-121.

Rexhepi, F. (2000). Kosovo Endemics Plants,

Rexhepi, F. (2007). The Vegetation of Kosova, , 11-28.

Rexhepi, F. (1982). Endemikët e ballkanit në florën e maleve të kosovës, buletini i fakultetit të sheken cave. Matemeatike Dhe Natyrore, 8, 211-219.

Rudski, I. (1936). O vegetaciji planine ošljaka. Glasnik Hrvatskog Prirodoslovnog Društva, 41-48, 118-146.

Shuka, L., Malo, S., & Tan, K. (2011). New chorological data and floristic notes for albania. Bot.Serbica, 35(2), 157-162.

Shuka, L., Tan, K., & Krasniqi, E. (2012). Tulipa kosovarica (liliaceae), a new species of tulip from kosovo. Phytotaxa, 62, 1-9. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.62.1.1

Solár, J., Janiga, M., & Šoltes, R. (2017). "Current biodiversity and hotspots in the primeval beech forest. Poloniny National Park, the Eastern Carpathians, , 1-11.

Stevanovic, V., & Jankovic, M. M. (1984). Pregled nekih znacajnih endemicnih i reliktnih vrsta visokoplaninske flore kosovskog dela šarplanine. Priroda Kosova, 1, 55-82.

Stevanović, V., Jovanović, S., & Lakušić, D. (2019). Potentillo doerflerii-juncetum trifidii-nova endemicna zajednica hazmofita na silikatima šarplanine. Glasnik Instituta Za Botaniku i Botanicke Bašte Univerziteta u Beogradu, 23, 77-84.

Tatić, B., & Krivošej, Z. (1997). Tulipa serbica (liliaceae), a new species from serbia. Bocconea, 5(2), 733-736.

UNEP. (2010). Feasibility study on establishing a transboundary protected area Sharr/šar planina - korab - dešat / deshat. Feasibility Study on Establishing a Transboundary Protected Area Sharr/šar Planina-Korab-Dešat/Deshat,