Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the Western Balkan Mountains

management and use of wetlands ecosystems and biodiversity; reducing the impacts of saline water intrusion; and implementing high-priority investments for water pollution control. Following the EU directives, Croatia foresees a mechanism to protect and restore regulatory ecosystem services. Inaccordancewith spatial plans, every building under construction has to undergo an environmental impact study. The EU Directive SEVESO II is also implemented into national legislation. • Inadequate national policy coverage for adaptation related to water-ecosystems biodiversity and flood management • Lack of/limited adequate vertical integration from EU to local administrations Impaired ecosystem functioning and loss of species Risk of landslides due to flooding. Risk of inaccessibility of essential services and disrupted communication due to heavy snow precipitation and cold extremes. Adaptation measures in the transport, infrastructure and communication sector in the Western Balkan countries are not explicitly indicated as such, and no adaptation measures or strategic goals are mentioned for specific mountainous areas. Good practices of urban risk reduction related to inaccessibility of transport infrastructure do Key Policy gaps:

GOOD PRACTICES

Feasibility Study on Establishing a Transboundary Protected Area in Sharr/Šar Planina-Korab- Dešat/ Deshat region (Albania, Kosovo 1 and FYR Macedonia) Opportunities for transboundary cooperation in the Western Balkans

One of the major threats to habitats and species and a main cause of the decline in biological diversity in Europe is the fragmentation and isolation of habitats. Migration, dispersal and genetic exchange of wild species depend on the existence of transboundary linkages (ecological corridors) between the protected area networks of neighbouring countries. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has been promoting the establishment and strengthening of transboundary protected areas (TBPAs) and their many benefits. Through implementing an ecosystem approach, TBPAs can enhance the conservation of biological diversity, improve international cooperation between adjacent countries, and strengthen ecological networks. Within the Western Balkans, there is great potential for the establishment of TBPAs. One such area exists within the Sharr/Šar Planina- Korab-Dešat/Deshat region lying between Albania, Kosovo 1 and FYR Macedonia. The objectives of theUNEP-ViennaFeasibility Study on the Potential for Establishing a Transboundary Protected Area in the “Sharr/Šar Planina-Korab- Dešat/Deshat” region were to: • achieve a better understanding of the transboundary situation in the region, and to identify possible added values of transboundary cooperation

• analyse and evaluate the current status of transboundary initiatives, identify current shortcomings and impediments for cooperation, and recommend actions aimed at facilitating transboundary cooperation • assess the potential for success under the local conditions • indicate the type of external support that would be indispensable for the success of this initiative. The feasibility study concluded that all countries involved could derive significant added value and possible benefits from the proposed transboundary protected area, which would be largely facilitated by the trilateral transboundary cooperation in this region. These benefits included: • Achievement of their nature protection and biodiversity conservation objectives • Mitigation of the present threats to the environment and nature of the shared region • Promotion and implementation of sustainable development at local and regional level • Establishment of a long-term transboundary cooperation mechanism serving the local stakeholders. The full feasibility study report can be found at http://www.unep.at/documents_unep/Balkan_ Feasibility_Studies/Sharr_25-10-2010.pdf or visit www.unep.at; www.envsec.org

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