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2. HOW BIOSPHERE RESERVE COORDINATORS ACCOMMO-DATE MULTIPLE DESIGNATIONS(I.E. BIOSPHERE RESERVES WHICH INCLUDE WORLD HERITAGE SITES, RAMSAR WETLANDS, NATURA 2000 SITES, ETC.)

PLENARY PRESENTATION ON LOWERMORAVA BIOSPHERE RESERVE, CZECHREPUBLIC, BY PETR CUPA

In 2003 the Committee of the InternationalCoordination Council of UNESCO’s MAB pro-gramme approved the extension of the PálavaBiosphere Reserve (that was designated in 1986) toinclude the Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape andthe floodplain forests at the confluence of theMorava and Dyje rivers. The newly designated area,covering over 300 km2, was renamed the LowerMorava Biosphere Reserve thus creating theyoungest Czech Biosphere Reserve.

Situated in the south-east corner of the CzechRepublic, about 35 km south of Brno, the Reservehouses a unique combination of limestone cliffs ofthe Palava Hills, the rare Central European lowlandfloodplains along the lower reaches of the Kyjovka,Dyje and Morava rivers covered by hard-wood allu-vial forests and continental flood-plain meadows(some 8,000 ha) and the largest European man-made landscape – Lednice-Valtice Cultural Land-scape.

Amongst other various types of habitat you can findkarst, dry grassland, oak forests and scots pine plan-tations, fishponds and other standing water habi-tats, saline meadows and marshland, vineyards andother mostly intensively farmed agricultural land.Our biosphere reserve is located in a region that hasbeen formed by human activity for centuries andevery remnant of the original habitat is precious.Even today over 20,000 people living in the bios-phere reserve are mainly engaged in agriculture and

small-scale industry. Tourism has increasinglybecome an alternative source of income as theLower Morava Biosphere Reserve encompasses anumber of areas of national and internationalimportance that attract the well deserved attentionof public.

As from August 2004 the Lower Morava BiosphereReserve Public Benefit Corporation became theadministrative authority responsible for meeting theobjectives and fulfilling the functions of the LowerMorava BR. In the Czech Republic it is for the veryfirst time that a biosphere reserve is administered bya non-governmental organization. This concept ofindependent management is unique as the rest ofthe Czech biosphere reserves are linked to officialgovernment protected areas and share the manage-ment. In case of Lower Morava the founders of thePublic Benefit Corporation came from a wide spec-trum of society. Among founders are representativesof local businesses, agriculture and industry togeth-er with the Ministry of Environment and the largestnature conservation nongovernmental organizationin the Czech Republic, creating a colorful and some-times stormy environment for sharing ideas relatedto the reserve.

Biosphere reserves in the Czech Republic are recog-nized as sites of international importance, neverthe-less as institutions have no legal ground in Czechlegislation. The lack of official power determines thestyle of reserve management and the way of prob-lem solving processes in the accommodation of mul-tiple designations of biosphere reserves. This legallimbo can be perceived as a problem while pursuingcertain goals. On the other hand it brings a greatopportunity for a "non-directive" approach to vari-ous parties enabling us to act as an arbiter betweenprivate interest holders, government conservationofficials or others. We consider finding the balancebetween the development of the area and natureprotection one of the most important yet most diffi-cult tasks of every biosphere reserve. Lower MoravaBiosphere Reserve includes 20 sites designated bythe Natura 2000 network (3 Special Protection

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Areas for birds and 17 Special Areas ofConservation), over 25 national categories of natureprotection areas including the Pálava ProtectedLandscape Area, the Lednice-Valtice CulturalLandscape listed as a World Heritage Site and also asa Czech historic zone, two Ramsar sites, the DyjeFloodplain Nature Park and many others.

Having this number of interests of various institu-tions within our reserve boundaries gives us achance to co-operate with local, national and inter-national organisations and programmes involved inconservation and/or management. Exchange ofexperience and an opportunity to use external infor-mation sources are priceless for strategic decisionmaking in the reserve management.

So many various designations make Lower Morava agreat place for study and monitoring, education,increase of public awareness of the biospherereserves as well as a wonderful work-bench forinteresting and helpful projects promoting ideas ofsustainable development. In many cases several dif-ferent protection institutions cover a single locationwhere a certain project is planned. On the one handit makes permission process more difficult andsometimes leads to its failure before it even starts.On the other hand it broadens the range of poten-tial financing sources in case the project is agreed.While co-ordinating the projects, Lower MoravaBiosphere Reserve also serves as a platform, wheredifferent parties can find a compromise. This wouldnever be possible without the direct involvement oflocal people. In order to engage the locals in bio-sphere reserve management, including decision-making processes, we have representatives of threeregional community associations on our board oftrustees. This set gives us an advantage of first handfeedback while proposing new projects or searchingfor compromise in tight situations. The board oftrustees also includes representatives of chambers ofcommerce and agriculture, nature conservationauthorities and representatives of local businesses.Accommodation of multiple designations of thereserve demands a fair amount of funding. Unfor-

tunately there is no sufficient financial source to sat-isfy all the needs. Our managerial goal is to make asmuch use of economic/financial incentives providedby European or Czech funds for sustainable resourceuse as possible. Some of our projects are interestingenough to catch the attention of private donors.Our formula for successful fundraising is to come upwith projects promoting local traditions, well-beingof local people and all of that in accordance withlong-term sustainable development and nature con-servation. Our best resources for project ideas arepeople living and working within the reserve, i.e.foresters, farmers, vintners and other local stake-holders.

Whatever steps we take, we have to bear in mindthat the locations are not isolated islands and every-thing has to be considered in a broad context. Ibelieve the main credo in accommodation of multi-ple designations of any biosphere reserve should berespect paid toward the land and the people wholive and work there. Only then can we succeed.

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2.1 WORKSHOP SESSION RESULTS

RAPPORTEUR: Giorgio Andrian, UNESCO-ROSTEModerator: Vanja Debevec Gerjevic, The KarstBiosphere Reserve, Park Skocjanske jame, Slovenija

CASE STUDIES PRESENTED: • H. Kargiolaki, Greece: White Mountains

(Samaria Gorge), focus on the management aspects according to the various designations (Biosphere Reserve, National Park, Council of Europe Diploma Site, Natura 2000 site and the wildlife refuge);

• Urtan Andris, Latvia: focus on the transboundarycooperation between the BR framework and theRamsar site designation;

• Havrylenko Viktor, Ukraine: focus on the steppelandscape management, based on the Ramsar sites and the BR ‘Askania Nova’, as a basis of conservation of the regional and transboundarybiodiversity;

• Debevec Gerjevic Vanja, Slovenia: focus on the integrative approach in managing the Karst Biosphere Reserve.

The diversity of the case-studies presented and thefollowing vivid discussion emphasised how multipledesignation sites are facing the complexity of thevarious operative frameworks to be implemented;the difficulties are compensated by the challenges.Few common issues emerged from the various par-ticipants’ contributions; namely: the key role ofknowledge, needed to properly present the site, tointerpret the reasons for individual designations, toestablish proper “bridges” among different respon-sible actors, stakeholders, and interests; the impor-tance of the responsibility, in terms of proper coor-dination for handling the various requirements, con-straints, directives and also to define the operativeframework for each designation scheme; additionalresponsibilities are linked to the need of coordina-tion action to accommodate various institutions andpersons in charge, avoiding conflicting issues andmaximising the conservation and protection efforts;the relevance of communication, to facilitate the

dialogue among the various stakeholders within andoutside the BR; tourism as a key-sector to be devel-oped to raise public awareness and to foster thelocal economy; the need for research and monitor-ing that enables the BR coordinators to performconservation and development activities on the basisof solid scientific arguments.

Assuming the diversities in national ‘interpretations’of the BR concept, both in legal and operative terms(e.g. the case study from Latvia demonstrated howit was useful to implement a specific law on BRs toassure a proper protection regime for the corezones), participants agreed on the assumption thatBRs are not only ‘labels’; specific actions are to betaken to foster the relationship between the sitecoordinators and the national and internationalauthorities.

Ultimately – as suggested by the French participants– the ‘core business’ of the BR operative conceptshould be integrated zoning; identification of flexi-ble and appropriate mechanisms to articulate thevarious components and designations is expected tobe the major concern of the BRs coordinators.

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2.2 WORKSHOP SESSION RESULTS

MODERATOR: Duska Dimovic, MAB Committeefor Serbia and Montenegro

CASE STUDIES PRESENTED: Bilateral Transboundary Biosphere ReserveKrkonose/Karkonosze. (with the focus on the jointinitiatives, generated by the two protected areasauthorities to harmonise the management planwithin the TBR framework) – Petra Stastna,Krkonose/Karkonosze BR, Czech Republic.

Kristianstads Vattenrike BR: focussed on the inte-grated landscape management aspect possibly acti-vated by the BR – Sven-Erik Magnusson,Kristianstads Vattenrike Biosphere Reserve, Sweden

The two case studies presentation and the relateddiscussion focussed on the fact that within the mul-tiple designation scheme to be accommodatedwithin BRs, the traditional protected areas frame-works – the national parks in particular – are betterknown, while the other are less understood by thepublic.

Furthermore, harmonisation of the various operativeand legal aspects is always a very complex activity; inparticular a fully shared management plan to bejointly conceived and activated is still very difficult toachieve. In particular, the term ‘Biosphere’ maywrongly evoke isolated and fully protected areas,with little help in promoting the flexibility incorpo-rated in the original concept. Ultimately, participantsrecognised the key importance of disseminating the‘BR idea’ rather that the name itself.

CASE STUDIES

WHITE MOUNTAINS, SAMARIA GORGE,GREECE, BY HARIKLIA KARGIOLAKIHumans nowadays pose a strong pressure onnature, due to the contemporary high exploitationof its resources. Industry, energy production, hous-ing, road construction, conversion of lands to agri-cultural or other ‘development’ schemes haveincreased, resulting in sometimes irrevocablechanges in the landscape and the organisms thatsurvive on it. The need for natural environment con-servation has led to the development of protectedareas that safeguard biodiversity, habitats and land-scape.

Samaria Gorge, an area on the White Mountains ofCrete (Greece), has been known for long due to itsrich biodiversity, its characteristic ecology and geol-ogy forming a unique landscape that has hosted ahuman presence for years.

The formation of the gorge itself is an importantgeological phenomenon; in addition, the examina-tion of the rocky substrate also reveals over a hun-dred and fifty million years of geological history (fos-silized organisms, lenses, intercalations of cherts,etc.). On top of this valuable substrate contempo-rary plant and animal communities live. A variety ofecosystems, ranging from the arid on the highmountainous, above the tree line areas, to thecypress, pine and oak forests and also the uniquecave and mountain plateaus form the gorge’s high-ly variable ecology. Many of these ecosystemsbelong to the endangered biotope list as mentionedin the NATURA 2000 network. Species diversity isalso one of the highest with many special plant andanimal species. There are records of one hundredsixty two (162) different plant species with 136 ofthem endemic, some to the specific gorge area.Twenty-six of the plant species are protected andcatalogued as endangered, while six of the priorityspecies (Habitats directive 92/43/EEC) are foundnatively within the protected area of the gorge(Hypericum aciferum, Zelkova abelicea, Bupleurum

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kakiskalae, Nepeta sphaciotica, Origanum dictam-nus & Cephalanthera cucullata). The fauna is alsorich with fifty recorded animal species that includethirty endemics. Five animal species are mentionedin the Red Data book as endangered for extinctionand priority species (Capra aegagrus cretica, Elaphesitula, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Rhinolophus fer-rum – equinum & Monachus monachus).Ornithological records include 69 bird species with41 permanent residents of the gorge; they includegriffon vulture and bearded vulture (Gypaetus bar-batus).

Man has resided in the gorge since very early.Excavations revealed the ruins of ancient temples,some going back to the 6th century B.C. Venetiancastles, Byzantine chapels and the old Samaria settle-ment reveal the almost continuous human presenceinside the gorge. Architecture as well as resource useof the old Samaria settlement are still under investi-gation, since Samaria village represents a human sys-tem that was traditionally based on sustainable useof its natural resources; Communication with theoutside world was difficult, so rather rare. However,human presence as a permanent resident of thegorge has stopped as early as 1962, when the areawas nominated as a National Park.

Currently, land uses in Samaria gorge (4,850 ha) aremainly forests (72%) and a small percentage ofranging lands (25%) with the remaining 3% beingarid rocks. No human activity (agriculture, forestry,livestock grazing, hunting, etc.) has been allowedwithin the National Park since it was nominated on1962. Nature was simply protected from any humaninterference and left alone to take on naturalprocesses. National Park regulations do not allowadmittance to the gorge during winter (Novemberto April), while in summer entrance is allowed onlyduring the day, without permitting overnight camp-ing. The once cultivated areas within the gorge havebeen naturally reforested after the removal of thepeople from the village of Samaria, since the areabecame a National Park. Scientific research is theonly encouraged activity within the core area. The

pathway is excluded from the strict ban since insummer it accepts many visitors, who are managedin a restricted area for a specified length of time.A larger area of the White Mountains that isplanned to be included to the National Park exten-sion is currently very scarcely inhabited. The reasonis that the whole area is very mountainous with dif-ficulties in human access, i.e. many difficult gorgesin the vicinity of Samaria and the treeless alpinemountain peaks with extreme climatic conditions.There are seven villages that are located adjacent toSamaria gorge; the mountain peak lines that definethe boundaries of the core area of the National Parkform also the different village borders with thegorge. Average human density outside the core areais very small (1 person/ 10 ha), a result of the harshconditions of the area that oblige them to live inonly a few square meters and leave the rest of thearea uninhabited. Land uses of this zone are forests(45%), a large percentage of ranging lands (52%),the remaining being arid area (3%) and a minute0.41% of cultivated land. They represent mainlyolive cultivations on terraces, as practiced in Cretefor centuries. Other human activities are free graz-ing and tourism.

Besides the National Park, the wider area of theWhite Mountains has been included in the NATURA2000 network with six nominations in total: GR-4340005 (Sougia gorge of Lissos), GR-4340007(gorge of Therissos), GR-4340008 (White Moun-tains), GR-43400011 (Fres, Tzitzifes, Nippos), GR-43400012 (Asfendou, Kallikratis) & GR-43400014(National Park of White Mountains core area).

Management according to a biosphere reserve, anational park, a CoE Diploma site, a Natura 2000site and a wildlife refuge.

Every country appreciates in a different way the nat-ural wealth it owns. Most of them, however, haveintroduced specific laws for the protection of natu-ral environment, as well as several of its components(water, air, forests, etc..). Specific bodies are respon-sible for the legislation enforcement. The manage-

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ment of a protected area incorporates a variety oflegislation that includes all the above, as well assome specific legislation for the protected area.

Where a protected area owns more than one desig-nation the issue becomes more complicated since avariety of functions are required from the designat-ed area. It is then left to each country to enforce allrequirements to the area management body.However, the legal system of each country is themain lever that is used. Thus, some nominations(national or international) have gone through eachcountry’s legal system by passing specific legislativedecrees. Their disobedience means suing and takinglegal measures against the defiant. Others give rec-ommendations that their defiance means eventualremoval from the network, while others simply givesuggestions on the way of management.

In the case of the White Mountains SamariaBiosphere Reserve the designations and the requiredfunctions are as follows:

• A Biosphere Reserve (according to MAB/ UNESCO guidelines) aims at the conservation ofnatural and cultural resources, the develop-ment of the area (ecologically sound and social-ly sensitive) and the logistics (communication, scientific research, environmental education).

• A Greek National Park (L.D. 86/69, art. 78 & 1650/86 art. 19) aims at the conservation of the natural heritage, the ecological balance &in parallel to the above environmental educa-tion and recreational activities.

• A Council of Europe diploma site requires from the area to work on the conservation of biolog-ical and landscape diversity and public informa-tion and access, while the socioeconomic inter-est of the area are a subordinate function.

• A NATURA 2000 site. It will eventually require from the finally designated areas the conserva-tion of the natural habitats (following an authorized Management Plan).

• A wild life refuge requires the conservation of wild life and is introduced via a Ministerial Decree.

• The existence of priority species and biotopes inan area (Habitats directive 92/43/EEC) also means a specific management following an Action Plan for each species survival. (The direc-tive was incorporated in Greek legislation by theintroduction of a law.)

The Greek Forestry Service (under the jurisdiction ofthe Greek Ministry of Agriculture) is managing theNational Park of the White Mountains, following anapproved management plan. Park management isthe duty, among others, of the Dept. of Manage-ment, (Forest Directorate of Chania). The samedepartment is responsible for the management ofthe forests and the wildlife of the region.

The actual area management follows an Action Planderived from a Management Plan and the mainfunctions are habitat conservation, environmentaleducation, recreation and management of visitors. Itis obvious that the requirements of most designa-tions are followed and management is a combina-tion of all above designations.

The system is rather centralized, since the GreekMinistry of Agriculture supervises the ForestDirectorate, decides the forest policy and allows acertain budget. The income of the Park (feeentrance) is transferred to the budget of the Ministryand some of it (30%) returns to the local communi-ties (adjacent municipalities); while the Ministryfinances selected activities (seasonal personnel, vari-ous public works and studies inside the protectedarea).

The zonation of the Biosphere Reserve is taken intoaccount since the core area of the Biosphere Reservecould be defined by the current National Parkboundaries with conservation and scientific researchas the main management targets for it. TheManagement Plan proposes an extension of thePark from its current 4,850 to 24,594 ha; thus, thenow proposed Park extension could serve as theBiosphere Reserve buffer zone. It is an area that sur-rounds the core area. It also includes the pathway,

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where visitors are allowed to enter (in a specific areafor a specified length of time – daytime only in sum-mer) In this zone, Environmental Centers are built(one general – some thematic on specific issues oflocal interest). The functions of this zone are besideconservation, environmental education and recre-ation. The much wider NATURA 2000 site; coveringalmost the whole of the White Mountains area,could act as the external transition zone. The lastzone could have no clear outside boundaries andincludes a number of inhabited villages. The maincharacteristic of the villages in this zone is their insu-larity, either they are mountainous or by the seaside. A balanced sustainable development plusnature conservation are the main function of theexternal zone, however, the ability of the currentmanagement body to enforce the former is ques-tionable. The main difficulty that a multi-designation causes isthe confusion that arises from:

• The hierarchy and the decision making process,since some designations are vaguely known & enforced by soft laws.

• In cases where there is no specified manage-ment body for the area, responsibility for the enforcement of each function.

• The lack of information on the management ofpriority species – Specific Action Plans.

• Lack of authority and resources for the fulfill-ment of each designation.

Consequently, for the proper utilization of each des-ignation, it is necessary:

• to have detailed knowledge of each designation, the responsibilities but also the opportunities that they create.

• to bridge differences between designations and put functions in a hierarchical order for different areas within each site.

• to assure financial and statutory ability of the Management Body.

Multi-designated areas are a challenge and a duty.The challenge, however, goes together with privi-leges which the area gains from each designation.

ASKANIA NOVA BIOSPHERE RESERVE,UKRAINE, BY VICTOR HAVRYLENKO

An analysis of implementation of UNESCO Man andBiosphere Programme and the subsequent strate-gies accepted by the international nature protectionsociety shows that part of humanity is concernedwith harmony between man and environment. Thenumber of territories under environmental protec-tion has increased considerably for the last ten yearsin Ukraine. The Biosphere Reserve "Askania Nova" isof great importance among nature protectedobjects situated in the steppe zone because"Askania Nova" is the oldest steppe Reserve of theWorld Network and in Ukraine, the largest one inEurope.

Having been thought over and realized the systemof nature used by the founder of the Reserve,Friedrick Falz-Fein, forestalled views of world com-munity on nature protection. Today I would like toproduce to you evidence of the fact that a prototypeof an modern biosphere reservat was found at theend of 19th century in Askania Nova. Friederick Falz-Fein reserved a steppe plot of about 600 ha in 1898,it is the core of the current reservat. The plot wasmarked by a ditch visible the in reserved steppetoday. We find confirmation of this fact in publica-tions of Yo. Pachoskiy (1906, 1908), who began todo a botanical description of the reserved territorysince 1902. A schematic map of land use and expla-nations by K. Zalesskiy (1915) is especially importantfor us (Fig. 1). Describing the map K. Zalesskiywrites: "Thus the Reserve is surrounded by somecicules, which preserve it from direct accidental inva-sion of outside elements. The next protected barrierfor the Reserve is a hayfield preserved quite well,which is situated along the eastern and widest sideof the big protected plot. Pastures are situated nextto the hayfield and arable lands are farther." Itshows that a structure of a modern biosphere reser-vat developed in Askania Nova at that time. Thisstructure consisted of a natural core area, bufferzone (pastures and hayfields) and an anthropogeniclandscape zone (settlements and arable lands). The

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arable lands occupied only 17% of the total area ofF. Falz-Fein's land-property (40,000 ha). Besides theconservation of steppe biodiversity, the formerowner kept 35,000 sheep, 1000 cows, 200 camels,400 horses, the well-known zoo with semi-free ani-mals and an irrigated dendrological park.

Askania Nova was declared as a national reserve in1919. Its structure was not changed till 1927, afterthat the core area increased to 1200 ha. The areasof steppe ecosystems, including Askania Novaregion decreased abruptly later. However, the corearea of Askania Nova Reserve increased severaltimes. The stages of development of the currentReserve structure are shown in figure 2. A total of1156 ha were ploughed up in 1959 and 1960.Agricultural use of the plot lasted till 1966. Afterthat the plot was returned to the reserved area forrenaturalization. Unfortunately spacious pastures inthe buffer zone of the Reserve were ploughed up inthe time of the Soviet Union. It has affected somesteppe and semidesert species, which do not needstrict reserved conditions, but they need temperategrazing by herbivorous animals of big and middlesize.

The favourable conditions for development benefitmore than 2300 representatives of plants and 1500of animals due to reservation. The optimums of exis-tence of different species of rarity and typical floraand fauna do not coincide. Some rare species ofbirds such as Great Bustard, Little Bustard,Demoiselle Crane, Steppe Eagle and Lesser Kestrelwere lost on the nesting. But numbers of otherspecies are reduced. Certainly the reserved regimeand some other factors affected this.

A a century of experience of nature protection inAskania Nova shows that a polyvariant system ofnature use must be developed as a condition for thefunctioning of a modern reservat.

There are three systems of use of the reserved corearea in Askania Nova. The core area of the Reserveis divided into three parts according to their use. The

first part is a hay-cutting area of 1400 ha, within itevery year one or another plot of 700 ha is mowed.The second one is a pasture area of 2300 ha for zooanimals. The last one is a strictly protected area of7354 ha. There are more than 1900 species andforms of introduced plants in the Dendropark situat-ed in the buffer zone of the Reserve and in nearbyterritories. This is a rather original structure whichcollides to some extend with requirements of thepresent nature protection legislation of Ukraine. Butthe structure provides a chance to conserve region-al and transcontinental biodiversity for a long time.

Phytobiota within the current core area of theReserve "Askania Nova" have been studied forabout 160 years. Most research concerned the flow-ering species, bryophyta, lichens, algae, micro- andmacromycetes. Biodiversity of the present flora ofthe reserved steppe preserves in the main. Now itnumbers 478 species of 237 genuses and 56 fami-lies. Rare and endemic flowering species total19.4% of all species. Some new species were foundand described namely in Askanian biotopes (2 ofthem are algae, 1 is of fungus, 25 are of floweringspecies). Besides new species of soil algae (54species), micromycetes (11) and agaric fungi (23)were found for the first time in the steppe zone ofUkraine. Polyendemic species from the Black Searegion form the endemic core of autochthonousflora in the virgin steppe. Twenty seven species ofthe flowering plants, 4 species of lichens and 2species of fungi are listed in various Red Lists andBooks of international, national and regional levels;the species need special protection. The main prob-lem of their protection lies not only in their peculiarbiology, but also in the specificity of the manage-ment of the given territory, particularly in a reservedsystem. That is to say the given system may beappropriate for some species and may influence oth-ers negatively. A detailed geobotanic cartographicmonitoring, which has been carried out since 1927,shows that the process of transforming steppe areasinto meadows is very slow due to the fact that theclimate in the south of Ukraine is arid. That's whybeing under protection, vegetation in the oldest

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reserved plot remains within demutation stages fora 100-years period. Although plant associationswith dominance of the rhizome graminids andsedges occupy 30% of the area, shrub invasion andespecially forestation will not threaten the reservedplot for a long time.

Since 1995 some plots in the buffer zone andanthropogenic landscape zone around the core areahave been stopped and the demutation process hasbeen setting in there. Anemochorous and zoochoresspecies of plants begin to grow on the plots, theirseeds are brought from the core area. Small tussocksof exclusive steppe species, specifically feathergrasses: Stipa capillata, Stipa ukrainica and S-.Lessingiana, are to be found among them. Sodingplots have appeared between the 6th and 8th yearafter beginning of spontaneous grassland formationat the side of prevailing winds. Thus the classicmodel of self-recovery of natural vegetation isobserved. It occurs in the former fallow lands,excluded from cultivation in 1966. That's why wehave a prospect to restore lands in the buffer zoneto their traditional use as pastures and hayfields.First of all the conception of Askania Nova is associ-ated with steppe. Among the arid and boundlesssteppes a system of depressions with interzonal veg-etation and peculiar fauna exists between the riversDnepr and Molochna. They are flooded by waterfrom melted snow. Most of the depressions wereploughed up or their vegetation was overgrazed bylivestock. The exception is the Great ChapelskiyDepression included into the core area of theAskania Nova Reserve. Formerly the bottom of thedepression of nearly 1000 ha had been flooded withwater from melted snow every year and the waterremained there up to the middle of summer. For thelast ten years artesian water is supplied here to fill apond. Since 1966 due to environment protectionand the consequent decrease of the anxiety factorthe total of migratory birds number staying hereduring winter has increased. Flights of the big white-fronted goose (Blessgans) of 30,000 to 500,000individuals, the gray-gag goose (Graugans) wereregistered here in the territory of 2300 ha between

the end of 20h and at the beginning of the 21stcenturies. Such rare species as the Zwerggans andthe Rothalgans are observed with the above-men-tioned species. For example, we registered a flight ofthe Rothalgans of 6,500 individuals on January 12,2005. Askania Nova is well-known in ornithologicalcircles as a location where one of the biggest migra-tory flights of the common crane is recorded. Theirnumbers varies from 6,000 to 42,000 individuals.Due to migratory birds, Askanian transcontinentalconnections reach to the west of France, east of theCentral Siberia, north of the islands of New Landand south of the river head of the Blue Nile, as hasbeen found out by ringing. That is why the GreatChapelskiy Depression was included in the list of theRamsar Convention.

Having success in conservation of biodiversity wehave problems with birds on the agrolandscape. Theflights of birds harm the seedings of wheat, barleyand maize. A zone of their daily influence reachesup to 40 km in radius away from the core area ofthe Reserve. The negative influence the reservedecosystem is observed at the locations of their nightconcentrations. Nitric connections and heavy metalsare supplied here. Unfortunately the internationalscientific conference "Cranes on boundary of mil-lenniums" held in 2002 couldn't produce recom-mendations to solve the problem. It is difficultbecause the rare species Entenvogel, Kraniche,Trappen, Austernfischer fly together with other birdsand create excessive concentrations only in AskaniaNova. It is impossible to regulate their numbers andfrighten them off. The problem cannot be solved onthe international level because Ukraine just declaredabout a possibility to compensate losses incurring bywild animals. But a real mechanism does not exist.This fact makes for strive between the administra-tion of the protected area and surrounding loca-tions. It is contrary to the purposes of the SevilleStrategy. The same happens also in other countries(Turkey, Romania) where birds fly farther.Unfortunately we don’t know the causes why theGlobal Ecological Fund stopped financing the proj-ect on conservation of biodiversity at the Azov and

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Black Sea migratory path. Askania Nova is includedin this Project as a stationary center for the birds.Thus we use the polyvariant system, which involvesthe preparation of a set of legislative documents forsettling a problem of interaction between natureand people who live at the anthropogenic landscapezone. At the same time we raise the status of pro-tected objects from a national to an internationalone. We apply various systems of territorial use forgrowing and keeping species. The explanatory workwith people from the region and different countrieswho visit the steppe oasis is carried out by a centerof ecological education in Askania Nova.

INTEGRATIVE APPROACH IN MANAGING THEKARST BIOSPHERE RESERVE, SLOVENIA, BYALBIN DEBEVEC AND VANJA DEBEVECGERJEVIC

Park Skocjanske jame, Slovenija, is a multidesigna-tion site, located in the south western part ofSlovenia. In 1986 the Skocjanske jame SkocjanCaves were listed in the UNESCO world heritage list,in 1996 the Government of Republic Slovenia estab-lished the Regional Park Skocjanske jame, Slovenija.In 1999 the underground course of The Reka Riverin Skocjan Caves was designated a Ramsar site asfirst underground wetland of international impor-tance.The park lies within three locations Natura 2000. In2004 Park Skocjanske jame became a MAB localityas The Karst Biosphere Reserve.The park authority is very proud to present the localand global importance of international designationsthrough the work of natural and cultural protectionand conservation. In a constant process of publicawareness we have achieved a high level of accept-ance by the local people. Implementation of designations conventions anddirectives gives a strong input in performing oureveryday work according to national legislation.Designations of our site offer a lot of opportunitiesand challenges for performing the developmentprogrammes in a qualitative way, considering themas the highest recognition which results in responsi-ble managing of The Karst Biosphere Reserve.In 1986, the Skocjanske jame caves were included inthe UNESCO list of world natural and cultural her-itage due to their exceptional significance for cultur-al and natural heritage (Law about Ratification ofthe Convention for the Protection of the WorldNatural and Cultural Heritage, Official Gazette ofthe Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, no.56/74).In order to preserve and explore its outstanding geo-morphological, geological, and hydrological forma-tions, rare and threatened plant and animal species,paleontological and archaeological sites ethnologi-cal and architectural characteristics and the cultural

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landscape, and to ensure conditions for adequatedevelopment, the Parliament of the Republic ofSlovenia passed a law on the Skocjanske jameRegional Park (Official Gazette of the Republic ofSlovenia, no. 57/96). The Public Agency ParkSkocjanske jame was founded with a decree of theGovernment of the Republic of Slovenia and startedcarrying out its activities in 1997.In 1999, the Skocjanske jame entered the RamsarList of Wetlands of International Importance. Theyare the first European Ramsar site included on thelist according to the criteria for identification ofunderground wetlands. (Decree on Ratification ofthe Convention on Wetlands of InternationalImportance, especially as a water bird habitat;Official Gazette of the Socialist Federal Republic ofYugoslavia, no. 9/77, Act on the SuccessionNotification, Official Gazette of the Republic ofSlovenia, no. 9/92).The protected area of the Park measures 413 ha andthere are three villages within its borders, namelySkocjan, Betanja and Matavun, with the populationof 69 inhabitants. The buffer zone covers the entireReka River watershed and measures 45,000 ha.

In October 2004 Park Skocjanske jame became amember of the international network of Man andBiosphere localities as The Karst Biosphere Reserve.The entire MAB locality is situated in three Natura2000 areas: SPA SI 5000023 Karst, pSCI 3000276Karst and pSCI 3000223 the Reka River.It integrates aspects of nature, culture and man’spresence. The position of the Park is geologicallyoutstanding. This area is being referred to as theClassical Karst, as this is the part of Slovenia wherekarst explorations were started and where its phe-nomena were described for the first time.International karstologic terminology uses someSlovene words for describing the phenomena thatdeveloped in limestones. Dolines and collapseddolines have left evident traces on the rocky surfaceabove underground caves, rivers and lakes. Ponors,sinkholes, through which the Reka disappearsunderground, have developed at interface of flyschand limestone.Intensive explorations of the Skocjanske jame cavesand the surroundings were started to satisfy theneeds of the water supply and the curiosity arousedby the stony landscape and its interesting history.

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Figure 1: Map of TheKarst BiosphereReserve

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Rich archaeological finds prove that man has beenpresent in the area since the Late Pleistocene(140,000-10,000 years ago). People used to seekshelter or dwell in the caves; they buried their deadand held religious rituals there. Traces of man’s con-stant presence in the area are evident. Inhabitants ofthe area were either cave guides or explorers, thusliving with the cave; millers or sawyers, living withthe torrential river; or farmers, living with the soiland fighting the great lack of drinking water. Man inthe Karst accommodated to harsh natural condi-tions and has always striven to preserve fertile soiland water. The extremely dissected surface in the Park is suit-able for the thriving of various plant species. TheKarst is the only habitat for many of them, some canbe found in the Alps as well, numerous others growall over Slovenia. In the second half of 19th centurythe Karst was grown over with the black pine (Pinusnigra), which is being supplanted by wild species likehop hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia) and floweringash (Fraxinus ornus). Among rare plants that arethriving in the Park one should mention maidenhair(Adianthum capillus – veneris), Campanula justini-ana, and ivy broomrape (Orobanche hederae).Karst grasslands, overhanging walls and rock cracksshelter numerous animals. Among the birds oneshould not forget mentioning the wall creeper(Trichodorma muraria), Alpine swift (Apus melba),rock dove (Columba livia) and eagle owl (Bubobubo). Bats dwell in deserted old karst houses andespecially in the caves. The Skocjanske jame cavesare a permanent or temporary shelter for 15 batspecies, which is more than a half of all bat speciesthat are found in Slovenia. The most importantamong them are Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum,Miniopterus schreibersi, and Myotis capaccinii (long-fingered bat). There are many animals that areextremely well accommodated to conditions in thedark and inaccessible underground. In such anunpleasant environment one can find the endemicproteus (Proteus anguinus) and numerous inverte-brates. Biotic diversity is a precious value in the park. It is aunique witness of Earth’s history and geological

development of the area. The data kept in thegenetic code of rare and endangered animal andplant species is part of the history of the area and itsinhabitants. The facts mentioned enable a specialapproach to environmental education.There are many good examples of man’s responsibleattitude towards nature, which resulted in harmonybetween them. Peasants cleared rocky fields inpreparation for cultivation of the land and built rockwalls. Borders between parcels are still visible andgardens are sheltered from gusts of wind by rockwalls, which display special building skills and are ahabitat of mosses, lichens, reptiles, and insects. Alsothe ponds that man built with the goal of collectingwater, mostly for the needs of cattle breeding, are agood example of this close relationship. Besidestheir cultural significance, they are an importanthabitat for amphibians and dragonflies. A high level of co-operation with the local peoplehas been achieved since the park was founded,especially in the fields of protecting natural and cul-tural heritage, renovating cultural heritage and set-ting up various activities. The Park managementclosely co-operates with the local people and theTourist Association of Skocjan, with the municipalityof Divaca, and local communities in the buffer zone,namely with the municipalities Hrpelje-Kozina,Ilirska Bistrica, Pivka, and Postojna. We have trained59 volunteer park wardens from the park area andthe buffer zone.The natural protection supervisory service pro-gramme is based on the constant education of parkwardens and attractiion of new forces among thehunters, cavers, fishermen, foresters, nature lovers,mushroom pickers, local people and others. Thesupervisory service is constantly present in the parkarea and awareness-raising, informing and preven-tion of law violations or even catastrophes ranksamong its most important tasks. Also the childrenfrom the whole Reka watershed area – in Italy andSlovenia – are included in these activities. A part ofthese efforts is a school network that includesschools from the buffer zone, the park and the areaacross the Italian border. The network enables chil-dren to take part in research projects, it promotes

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good relations between various generations, it aimsat familiarizing pupils with other languages anddialects, and acquaints them with the work in gov-ernmental and non-governmental institutions. Weare paving the way for seeking tolerant and respon-sible solutions regarding environment protection;presenting the benefits of not only biotic, but alsosocial and cultural diversity, and thus establishing abase for awareness of the precious heritage that wecreate as well.The park authorities witnessed two years ago astrong initiative by local people from the Dane vil-lage beside the border of the parks core zone. Inorder to take part in activities in world heritage siteand contribute to the conservation of the under-ground world, they proposed the extension of thepark to the Mejame cave area, which is marked withthe dashed line on the map. The Park managementis now planning to enlarge the Park area. The bor-der is supposed to move towards the contact karstthat lies to the south. It comprises the Mejame cavesand the Golobert torrential stream, and is a geomor-phologically rich area with biotic diversity. Its inhab-

itants would like to join the park, as they are awarethat this can improve their living conditions. Thearea measures 200 ha. The local people from that area already establisheda local Tourist Society in order to have a formal insti-tution as an official partner of the park. This clearlyshows the high value of natural and cultural her-itage and evident respect for UNESCO designation.Biosphere Reserve integrated monitoring. Karstenvironment is extremely vulnerable and its resistivi-ty is not infinite. Underground ecosystems differfrom the ones on the surface by their specific climat-ic and biotic parameters. One of their most impor-tant characteristics is an extraordinary faunal diversi-ty. Their outstanding vulnerability arises from theirlow ecological power and the relatively small habi-tat. Pollution and changing the ecological conditionsmay well lead to their extinction. Species in theunderground ecosystems are endangered due to thehabitats’ destructions, vandalism, excessive hunting,chemical and bacterial pollution, tourist visits to thecaves, especially if the number of visitors is toolarge. That’s why one of the main assets in the park

CHAPTER IVPlenary Presentation and Workshop Results

Figure 2: Map of TheSkocjan CavesRegional Park with pro-posed extension ofcore zone

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is monitoring the state in the cave system, especial-ly because underground water from that area repre-sents a part of a large karst aquifer for potablewater in the karst in Slovenia and Italy.The surface area is also very important in preservingthe underground. Tourism and other accompanyingactivities are thus being introduced very slowly andwith great precautions. Also farming and construc-tion activities should be carried out in a sustainableway. To reach the goals of sustainable developmentmonitoring should anticipate development plansand along with education provide for a rise in thequality of life in protected areaa. The monitoring as a process is anticipated in theLaw on the Skocjanske jame Regional Park (OfficialGazette of the Republic of Slovenia, no. 57/96, arti-cle 16) and is a part of the management plan of thePark. Since all designations declare the importanceand give a scientific basis for its implementation wefound the Biosphere Reserve monitoring the mostappropriate for our site. Detailed study and imple-mentation of human ecology should enable us toestablish biotic, abiotic and social parameters.

Through different sciences branches we could iden-tify and explain a problem and anticipate the effectof changes. Monitoring of complex system is theonly way the decisions will be made on holisticresearch studies. Figure 3 represents a model of BRIM monitoringschematically focused here on two problems:human impact on the caves and the quality of water.The quality of life in protected area depends also onthe implementation of research studies, participa-tion of local people in the monitoring and decisionmaking process and education for sustainability.In park Skocjanske jame, Slovenija we believe thatproperly designed monitoring will give rise of publicawareness and also enable us to implement a man-agement plan of the park where all designationshave been taken in consideration.Integrating designations of national and internation-al importance: The most important document,which is also an official tool for integration of sever-al designations, is our management plan for 2005 –2009. It is focused on establishing the goals set bythe UNESCO Natural Heritage and Ramsar

CHAPTER IVPlenary Presentation and Workshop Results

Figure 3: A draft for amodel BRIM in the

Karst BiosphereReserve

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Conventions and MAB programme preserving natu-ral resources; protecting archaeological sites, andpreserving ethnological and architectural character-istics of the area; developing tourist offer that aimsat presenting natural resources, cultural heritageand the karst; nature-oriented development; estab-lishing constant monitoring and analysing the stateof natural and cultural heritage in the Park; present-ing the Park and establishing educational pro-grammes, focused on the environment, in Sloveniaand abroad; improving the cave and park infrastruc-ture; open new tourist trails and renovate the oldones; safety devices; functional and aesthetic reno-vation of the Park Information Centre; collectingand purifying wastewaters in the Park and its sur-roundings. Commitments from Natura 2000 havealready been performed by our special law since theRegional Park was established.We have established connections with other pro-tected areas in the world, which enables us toexchange knowledge and practical experience andcompare environment evaluations and our projects.Besides playing an active role in discussions, weorganize round-table discussions and attend confer-ences on various topics. Our international activitiesare based on activities that stimulate broad-minded-ness and are carefully prepared. We are aware thata wider public brings greater responsibilities and weare more subject to criticism. That is the reason forconstant expert educations in the Park, includinglanguage courses and presenting the latest scientif-ic and technological achievements. With educationand the sensible presentation of outstanding sites itis possible to gain awareness of the significance ofnatural resources as an important part of our her-itage from the past. The Park plays an important rolein both aspects mentioned. Especially the latter isbased on historical facts, rich local culture and uniquekarst nature.In conclusion, Park Skocjanske jame, Slovenia, is aprotected area and is inscribed in the UNESCOWorld Heritage List. The protected area is relativelysmall (413 ha), but an extreme biotical diversity canbe observed on the surface and underground,namely in the Skocjan cave system that has 6400 m

of underground channels. The Park is managed inaccordance with Slovene legislation, Ramsar andUNESCO World Heritage Conventions. As The KarstBiosphere Reserve the implementation of MAB pro-gramme has resulted in new initiatives for efficientmonitoring and a holistic approach in presenting thearea and planning its development as well. Theirimplementation of a carefully prepared manage-ment plan, which is to be approved by the Slovenegovernment, is extremely important for protectingand preserving the heritage. The management planis a document that the Park management has drawnup in accordance with expert guidelines and Slovenelegislation. The task to present the Classical Karstand Slovenia provides a strong stimulus to strive forgood, expert and carefully planned work. We have accepted all designations with honour andpride. They present a strong commitment to providesuccessful work in preserving and creating our nat-ural and cultural heritage. Through tools, aims, ideasand challenges gained by UNESCO, Ramsar, MABand Natura 2000 we actively participate in thedynamic life of our biosphere, hoping we are able tocreate our heritage for future generations.

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BILATERAL KRKONOSE/KARKAONOSZETRANSBOUNDARY BIOSPHERE RESERVE, BYPETRA STASTNA, CZECH REPUBLIC

Biosphere Reserve Krkonose/Karkonosze is createdby the Czech and Polish side of the Krkonose moun-tains. From the geographic view, the Krkonose Mts.are a part of the Sudetes chain, located in north-eastBohemia and west-east part of Poland. Its area is425 km2. The altitudes reach from 400 m to 1602m (Mt. Snezka). The vegetation formation is dividedinto four zones according to altitude; its majorecosystem types are mixed mountain and highlandsystems. The most valuable are the highest parts ofmountains, formed by tundra biotopes and geomor-phologic relicts from the glaciation’s periods inQuaternary.This region is also called an ecological island of arc-tic and alpine ecosystems in central Europe.Counterparts of such kinds of ecosystems are thenfound in the Alps, north and north-west Scandinaviaand even in the British Isles. Because of its nature uniqueness this area has mul-tiple designations. In some cases we have no infor-mation from the Polish side of the mountains.

• Biosphere Reserve (bilateral Czech Republic/ Poland) since 1992

• National park and its buffer zone since 1959 Polish side, since 1963 Czech side

• Natura 2000 Site (both sides): SPA /Birds Directive since 2004 Czech side, Polish side no informationpSCI/Habitats Directive since 2005 Czech side, Polish side no information

• Ramsar site (subarctic peat-bogs only) since 1993 on the Czech side, Polish side in prepara-tion today

• IBA (Bird Life Int.) since 1989, only on the Czechside

All multiple designations are overlapping in the coreand buffer zone of the Biosphere Reserve (36,327ha – 66% of the area at the Czech side) as is shownon the maps of the slide show. Only the designation

of Natura 2000, Biosphere Reserve and the bufferzone of national park cover also the area of a tran-sition zone. Implementation of Natura 2000 is stillnew for the country and there is not yet a clear strat-egy how and when to use this designation in anexecutive way. There are 29 towns and villages situ-ated in the transition zone. The whole area ofmountains is settled by around 26,700 inhabitants.

As elsewhere it is not easy to persuade local peopleto accept other new protective proceedings. Natura2000 was accepted only because entrance toEuropean Union was conditional upon it. The situa-tion of Krkonose Mts. must also be seen from sever-al points: The Krkonose are the highest mountains inthe country and the transition zone has been usedas a recreation area for years. Original locals therewere mostly Germans; they had to leave this placeafter World War II. Latter settlers had been mostlypeople without any connection to this region. Afterthe end of the communist period most of the localsas well as parvenus from the rest of country madeliterally a “goldmine” out of this area. We haveabout 5.4 millions visitors per year to this small area.Demands of visitors for accommodation and sportfacilities are still increasing; environment takes abackstand. Most town councils support building ofnew hotels and apartments, developing sport facili-ties because many inhabitants live off tourism, andmanagement of the landscape declines.

The present political situation in the country is morefor the developing strategy of regions than for land-scape protection. The villages and towns at thefoothills are slowly loosing their original character,some local people are slowly moving out, new par-venus and firms come from Prague and run many ofthe lodging and sport facilities. In this case it is veryhard to persuade “locals” to make some change inunderstanding the worth of this landscape. For us(also working as the staff of national park) the beststrategy is to secure protection for the most valu-ables biotopes in core and buffer zone than to geton the wrong side of the locals. Visitors are allowedto move in the core and buffer zone on the trails; in

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the transition zone are no restrictions. For the entre-preneurs it is profitable to attract visitors by the nicenature near the villages, huts or hotels; it is somekind of a compromise between them and natureprotection. For the staff of the national park andBiosphere Reserve these multiple designations are agood argument in many ways for showing theuniqueness and value of this place.

3. PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS IN BIOSPHERE RESERVES

PLENARY PRESENTATION ON NORTHVIDZEME BIOSPHERE RESERVE, LATVIA, BYANDRIS URTANS

North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve (NVBR) is locatedon the edge of the Republic of Latvia and representsa majority of features characteristic for the marginalareas throughout the rural areas of Europe – slowprogress in rural social economics and supportiveservices, ageing and negative population statistics.According to official statistics (2003), 56% of theNVBR’s population was of working age, 23% wasretired, and 21% was of school age or younger. Theaverage monthly salary in NVBR is approximately120 LVL (170 euro). Approximately 15% of theNVBR workforce is unemployed. More than one halfof the people work in the private sector, mostly infarming, forestry and retail. Only about 7% of NVBRresidents have post-secondary education. Nearly20% of households have more than five people. North Vidzeme countryside now represents a phe-nomenon where features of different historicalepochs exist side by side, which are best seen in landproperty and landscape structure, farming technolo-gies, architecture and customs of the people. Socialand economical conditions are changing and manylocal people need to find a practical justification fortheir staying there. At the same time farmers still arepractically responsible for safeguarding landscapeand nature diversity in more than 2/3 of the NVBRarea with rather minor State assistance. Thus to reach the goals set by the Biosphere Reserveconcept, Administration of NVBR as a state institu-tion must act as promoter, mediator and educator,at the same time representing State Environmentalpolicy to the local people. It must be done practical-ly. And in our conditions it is possible only by beingamong local people in their everyday life. To under-stand them and to be understood by them. And givethem facts proving belief that the Biosphere Reserveis supportive and gives local people additional

CHAPTER IVPlenary Presentation and Workshop Results