CSI 007 Threatened and protected species (2008)
Fact sheet - West Balkan region/Biodiversity theme
Key policy question
What measures are taken to conserve or restore biodiversity?
Key message
Due to the fact that all the countries in the West Balkan region have their own
national legislation on protected and threatened species and therefore different
categorizations (others than IUCN), at the moment data is not aggregable at
regional level. Furthermore, the countries share many of the threatened
species, therefore an analysis of the particular species would be needed.
Nevertheless, specific assessments per country could help improving the quality
of the indicator in the future.
Key assessment (comparison between the countries)
The assessment at regional level in the West Balkans is not possible at the
moment, due to different national categorisations of threatened and protected
species. In addition, the countries share many of the threatened species and
because of that further analysis would be required for each of them. For the
time being, an indication of the existing gaps between the countries and an
analysis at national level will give an overview on the status of the indicator.
Information provided for Albania is rather limited and should be further
collected. For the time being, Albania reported biodiversity monitoring activities
in 2007 and 2008.
Bosnia and Herzegovina does not collect data for this indicator.
Information provided by Croatia includes only the total number of species and
the amount of threatened species per group. These groups are different from
those used by IUCN, in particular they are more detailed, but do not seem to
cover all species of each of IUCN’s (IUCN's 'Insects', for example, are only
represented by 'Butterflies' and 'Dragonflies' in the national assessment). In
order to be able to aggregate it with data from other countries, information
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
1
concerning the amount of threatened species and the amount of protected
species (per IUCN group) would be needed.
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia provided information that is
not sufficient for aggregations and comparison at regional level, because it does
not include a list of protected species. The closest information is a list of
'Emerald' species ("species of particular significance"), but it can not be used at
regional level because (for example) the amount of Emerald bird species is
higher than the amount of threatened bird species.
The information provided for Serbia includes IUCN threatened species occurring
in Serbia in protected species lists of EU directives and the Bern Convention, as
well as percentage of inclusion of globally threatened species occurring in
Serbia protected at national level, following the EEA methodology for indicator
calculation.
Due to the discrepancies in methodologies used by the different countries, a
country specific assessment would better describe current situation in regards
to this indicator.
Country specific assessments
Albania
Current activities in Albania related to the activities on biodiversity monitoring
in 2007 and 2008 are:
1. Monitoring of threatened and protected species. According to the data from
the National Red List (1995), there are 14 species that are monitored. The
monitoring includes their natural habitat, population assessment, evaluation of
the risks of the species and recommends measures of their conversation.
2. The habitat monitoring of the endemic species and their conservation “ex
situ” in the botanic gardens. Three main sub-groups are closely monitored:
salted wetlands vegetation; wetland vegetation in the riverbed; and vegetation
in the maritime pine stands.
3. Monitoring of fauna. The monitoring of these group is divided in five
components:
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
2

Mayo fauna (10 taxas are monitored).

Insects (only aquatic insects, mostly in wetlands).

Loggerhead.

Mammal fauna (for this taxa 2 species are monitored).
4. Monitoring of designated areas, forests, pastures, among others.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Currently, Bosnia and Herzegovina does not collect data for this indicator.
Croatia
The number of known species in Croatia is around 37,000, though some
estimates suggest that the number could be much higher (over 100,000
species). Such number is very high considering that Croatia is a small country
that comprises only 56,594 km2. Moreover, there are significant populations of
many species in the country that are threatened at European level.
Due to its specific geographical position on the dividing line between several
biogeographic regions and its characteristic ecological, climatic and
geomorphologic conditions, Croatia is one of the richest European countries in
terms of biodiversity. The great diversity of land, marine and underground
habitats has resulted in a wealth of species and subspecies, including a
significant number of endemics. One of the reasons for the large number of
endemics in Croatia, and especially tertiary relics, is the fact that this area was
not greatly affected by glaciation. The main centers for endemism of flora are
the Velebit and Biokovo mountains while endemic fauna is most represented in
underground habitats (cave invertebrates, the olm), the islands (lizards, snails)
and the karst rivers of the Adriatic drainage basin. The most significant threat
to wild species is habitat loss and degradation, such as converting natural
habitats into urban or agricultural areas. In addition, habitat fragmentation
occurs with the frequency due to the enhancement of existing infrastructure
(new roads, highways and other traffic corridors), as a result of increase of
tourism.
The country has put in place a Red List of Threatened Species that includes
2254 threatened species within the observed groups (e.g. vascular plants,
fungi, lichen, breeding birds, reptiles, amphibians, fresh water fish, marine fish,
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
3
butterflies, dragonflies, anthozoa/sea anemones, ground beetles, stoneflies). All
species are strictly protected by the “Regulation on Protection of Wild Species”
enacted in January 2006. The freshwater fish is considered to be the most and
the vascular plants the least endangered taxonomic groups.
Table 1 Data on total number or taxa and threatened taxa in Croatia* in 2008
5347
4500
946
101
239/401
41
20
152
437
187
71
Threatened
taxa
(RE,CR,EN,VU
,DD)
760
349
48
41
147/147
18
9
91
124
38
36
Threatened
taxa %
(RE,CR,EN,VU,
DD)
14,21
7,75
5,07
40,59
61,5/36,7
43,9
45
59,86
28,37
20,32
54,54
116
116
100
6000
90
18,247/18,409
395
82
2254
6,58
91,11
Total number
of taxa
Vascular plants
Fungi
Lichen
Mammals
Birds breeding/total
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fresh water fish
Marine fish
Butterflies
Dragonflies
Anthozoa/sea
anemones
Ground beetles
Stoneflies
Total
*Threatened taxa numbers for five main IUCN categories (out of seven) are given. IUCN categories - EX-extinct; REregionally extinct; CR-critically endangered; EN-endangered; VU-vulnerable; NT-near threatened; LC-least concern, DDdata deficient.
Source:

State Institute for Nature Protection, 2008
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
The number of species in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia reaches
18,000, out of which more than 900 represent endemic species. The presented
analysis covers 2003 and 2004.
The country does not have yet the equivalent national Red Lists of plants, fungi
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
4
and animals, therefore the presented analysis is based on international criteria
(e.g. Global and European Red Lists, EU Directives) using available studies at
national level. The IUCN World Red List contains 72 taxa of higher plans from
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and 19 of them are national
endemic taxa. The Annexes of the Bern Convention include 12 species of higher
plants. The total number of higher plants flora in the country is around 3,700
species.
The European List of vertebrate animals includes 113 species, of which 30 fish
species, 66 birds, 16 mammals and 1 reptile species. Out of the total of 20
endemic fish species from the Republic of Macedonia, 17 have been enrolled in
the category of globally threatened species. The total number of identified
“Emerald” species (under Resolution No.6 to the Bern Convention) on the
territory of the Republic of Macedonia is 165 species.
Fungi compose exceptionally heterogeneous group of organisms; however,
studies so far have focused on the orders of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota,
while other orders are poorly studies. Out of the total number of recorded
growing wild fungi on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia (around 1250
species), most belong to the orders Myxomicota (10), Oomycota (20),
Zygomicota (35), Ascomycota (130) and Basidiomycota (1050). The Preliminary
National Red List of threatened fungi species includes 67 species belonging to
the order of Basidiomycota.
The main feature of the fauna is its high extent of taxonomic diversity,
represented by as many as 9339 species and 228 subspecies or 9567 taxa in
total.
Among vertebrate fauna, the highest endemism has been tracked within the
fish class (its share accounting for 34.5%); among the other four classes, only
four mammals have been recorded as endemic taxa. Out of the total of 20
endemic fish species, 17 have been included in the category of globally
threatened species.
Within the species diversity, particular significance is attributed to the identified
“Emerald” species. Namely, a total of 165 species has been identified, as
follows: 6 species of invertebrate animals, 12 species of fish, 3 species of
amphibians, 7 species of reptiles, 115 species of birds, 17 species of mammals
and 5 species of plants.
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
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Table 2 Number of endemic and threatened wild species of flora in the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 2004
Taxonomic group
Mosses (Bryopsida)
Peat mosses (Lycopsida)
Horsetails (Sphenopsida)
Ferns (Filicinae)
Gymnosperms (Gymnospermae)
Total Angiosperms (Angiospermae)
Dicotyledonae
Monocotyledonae
Total
Number
of species
349
6
7
42
15
3200
2600
600
3700
Endemic
species
2
Threatened
species
20
6
2
16
8
1
109
5
117
283
57
392
Table 3 Number of threatened fungi species in the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, 2004
Orders of Fungi
Myxomicota
Oomycota
Zygomicota
Ascomycota
Basidiomycota
Total
Total
number of
species
10
20
35
130
1050
1245
Threatened
species
67
67
Table 4 Number of endemic and threatened vertebrate fauna species in the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 2004
Species type
Fish (Pisces)
Reptiles (Reptilia)
Birds (Aves)
Mammals (Mammalia)
Total
Total
number
of species
58
32
319
82
391
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
Endemic
species
Threatened
species
20
30
1
66
16
113
4
24
6
Table 5 Number of Emerald species identified in the Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia
Emerald species
identified in the Former
Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia
Emerald species
according to Res. 6
invertebrates
fish
amphibians reptiles mammals birds flora
6
12
3
7
17
115
5
80
60
27
30
55
195
480
Source:

Study on the Status of Biological Diversity in the Republic of Macedonia.

Strategy and Action Plan for Bilogical Diversity Protection in the Republic
of Macedonia.
Serbia
Most of the globally threatened species registered in Serbia are included in the
European instruments of protection. The majority of these species are also
included in the instruments of protection at the national level.
Figure 1 IUCN threatened species occurring in Serbia in protected species lists
of EU directives and the Bern Convention
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
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Figure 2 Percentage of inclusion of globally threatened species occurring in
Serbia protected at national level
The assessment of the wealth of biodiversity on a specific territory is the most
important step in its conservation, protection and enhancement. The value of
biodiversity primarily depends on the number of autochthonous species, the
number of endemics and the number of globally or regionally threatened
species. Biodiversity protection at the global level is based on the generally
accepted international standards and criteria. The implementation of a number
of key Conventions (CBD, Bern, Bonn, Ramsar, CITES, etc.) has brought about
the establishment of a network of norms which ensure the biodiversity
conservation by legal instruments. In addition to the global Conventions, it is
very important to establish the protection at the regional (Habitats, Bird
Directives, IPA…) and national levels.
Thanks to its exceptional wealth of flora and fauna and a great number of
endemic taxa, the Balkan Peninsula is one of the significant centres of
biodiversity in Europe. Based on the assessment of threatened species at the
national and international levels, the protection of rare and threatened species
in Serbia is regulated by national regulations adopted in the aim of biodiversity
conservation and enhancement. Although most of the threatened species from
IUCN list occurring in Serbia are included in the European instruments of
protection (especially birds), it is necessary to continue the process of including
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
8
the globally threatened species in the instruments of national protection
(primarily fish and mammals). Taking into account that the areas of Balkan and
Serbia are characterised by an exceptionally great wealth of invertebrates, due
to the insufficient research of this group, the scale of protection at the national
level is not adequate.
The lists of threatened animal species differ at the global and national levels. A
great number of species which, according to the assessment of national
experts, are treated as threatened species (SRBIUCN) are not included in the
list of globally threatened fauna. Bearing in mind the significance and the
specificity of flora and fauna of the Balkans and Serbia, the IUCN list should, by
all means, be extended by the species which are, according to expert
assessments, threatened in these areas.
Table 6 Number of protected fauna species in Serbia, 2005
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
Insects*
Number of species
100
345
24
23
100
230
IUCN
11
11
3
0
12
8
SRBIUCN
8
117
13
14
12
79
* Data on insects are not representative, due to the insufficient research of this class.
Aiming at the biodiversity conservation and enhancement, the Regulation on
Protection of Natural Rarities protects a great number of animal species. In
addition, a number of species covered by the Regulation is protected only in the
parts of the territory of Serbia or they are covered by the regime of permanent
or periodic hunting closed season. These instruments of protection are not
included in the analysis, but they contribute significantly to the conservation of
fauna. The greatest number of species on this list (mammals, birds, reptiles and
amphibians), are included also in the European protection status. The
specificities in the status of threatened fauna in Serbia and EU countries are
mostly reflected on the instruments of protection of individual species at the
national and international levels. Thanks to the relatively good state of
conservation of natural sites in Serbia, a number of species from the EU 25 lists
of protected species are not threatened in these areas and they are not
specially protected.
Sources:
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
9

2006 IUCN list.

Annexes of EU birds and habitats directives and Bern Convention.

Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, Belgrade.

Institute for Biological Research, Belgrade.

Red Data Book of Serbian Butterflies, Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea and
Papillionoidea, Jaksic. P. (2003).

Biodiversity in Yugoslavia – with view of international significance species
(1995), ed. Stevanovic V., Vasic V., ECOLIBRI Beograd.

Ribe Srbije, Simonovic, P. (2001).
Methodology and references
Rationale
Justification for indicator selection
There are a number of ways of assessing progress towards the target of halting
the loss of biodiversity in Europe by 2010. This indicator, which tracks changes
in the status of European species that are threatened at global level, can
contribute to assessing progress towards the target by acting as a proxy
indicator for the impacts of European and national policies on European
biodiversity.
For many years, IUCN has monitored the extent and rate of biodiversity
degradation by assigning species to red list categories through detailed
assessment of information against a set of objective, standard, quantitative
criteria. This assessment is made at global level. For species only present in
European territories and evaluated as globally threatened, this indicator
therefore shows the impacts of European and national policies on European
biodiversity.
For globally threatened species present in and also outside Europe, some of the
species may not be classified as threatened at European or national levels.
Nevertheless Europe has a strong responsibility for the care of these species
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
10
even though they are not yet threatened in Europe. How far European policies
on nature and biodiversity take this responsibility into consideration is shown by
the information that the indicator provides on the number of globally threatened
species that are protected at the European level.
Specific references:

Measuring global trends in the status of biodiversity (Butchard et al.). Red
List Indices for Birds. PloS Biol 2(12): e383.
Reference to other indicator initiatives:

CBD Draft reports on 2010 target indicators prepared by the CDB task
forces on Indicators (July 2004).

EEA Europe’s Environment: the third assessment. The indicator linking
threatened species and species protected at European level is published
in: EEA Europe’s environmen: the third assessment, 2003, figure 11.2, p.
233.
Indicator definition
The indicator shows how many species present in Europe and assessed as
globally threatened are protected by European instruments such as EC
Directives and the Bern Convention.
Units
Number of species.
Policy context
EU context description
Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 is one target expressed by the 6EAP and
the European Council at Gothenburg and re-expressed by the Environment
Council in Brussels by June 2004.
This Council also emphasizes "the importance of monitoring, evaluating and
reporting on progress towards the 2010 targets, and that it is absolutely vital to
communicate biodiversity issues effectively to the general public and to
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
11
decision-makers in order to provoke appropriate policy responses".
EU targets
There are no quantitative targets for this indicator.
The target "Halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010" implies not only that species
extinction must be stopped but that threatened species must be shifted to a
better status.
Related EU policy documents references

COM (1998) 42: Communication of the European Commission to the
Council and to the European Parliament on a European Community
Biodiversity Strategy.

Council Directive 79/49/EEC Birds Directive: European Council Directive
79/49/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the Conservation of Wild Birds.

Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992: Council Directive 92/43/EEC
of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna
and flora.

EU Council Conclusion 10997/04 Halting the loss of biodiversity: EU
council conclusion of 28 June 2004 on Halting the loss of biodiversity by
2010 (10997/04).

COM (2001) 31 final. Environment 2010: Environment 2010: Our future,
our choice, 6th Environmental Action Programme, Communication from
the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic
and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

Message from Malahide: Outcome of the EU Presidency stakeholder
conference 'Biodiversity and the EU - Sustaining life, sustaining
livelihoods', 25-27 May 2004, Malahide, Ireland.
WB context description
The most relevant regional framework for this indicator is the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD). Only Croatia and Serbia ratified the convention,
while other countries from the region have accession status.
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
12
Table 7 Status in the West Balkan countries of the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) in 2008
Rtf – ratification
Acs – Accession
Country
Signed
Albania
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Croatia
11/6/1992
The Former
Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia
Serbia
Party
Status
5/1/1994
acs
26/8/2002
acs
7/10/1996
rtf
2/12/1997
8/6/1992
Source: Convention on Biological
(accessed on 29/12/2008).
1/3/2002
Diversity
acs
rtf
(CBD):
http://www.cbd.int/
WB targets
Regional target does not exist.
National policy context
Croatia

Nature Protection Act (OG 70/05). According to the Act strictly
protected species comprise 809 plant taxa (including 37 species listed on
Annex II of the Habitats Directive), while protected species include 331
taxa.

Regulation on Protection of Wild Taxa. All threatened species are
strictly protected by the above Regulation enacted in January 2006. The
Regulation divides species of conservation interest into strictly protected
and protected, in accordance with relevant international legislation (the
Bern Convention, Birds and Habitats directives).

Biodiversity and Landscape Strategy (OG 81/99). This is an activity
with high priority, but unfortunately, there is still no comprehensive
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
13
inventory of Croatian
invertebrate taxa.
biodiversity
available,
particularly
of
the

Strategy and Action Plan for the Protection of Biological and
Landscape Diversity (Official Gazette No. 143/2008). The document
represents strategic guidelines and action plans for protection of Croatia

Action plans for endangered species. In 2000 the former Ministry of
Environmental Protection and Physical Planning launched the project
entitled The Red Data Book of the Republic of Croatia, which was resumed
by the State Institute for Nature Protection. Since 2004 the governmental
body responsible for nature protection is the Ministry of Culture. Between
2000 and 2005, the Red Lists were drafted of vascular flora, underground
flora, diurnal, butterflies, freshwater fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, sea
fish ,fungi, plecoptera, carabidae, lichenes, anthozoa. The red list for
trichoptera is currently under development. An important roll of the
Biodiversity and landscape strategy is the recommendation of protecting
carnivorous mammals such are bear, wolf and lynx. Until now, the Plan
for wolf management and the Plan for Lynx management are finished. The
Brown bear management plan is still in process.
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
The Second National Environmental Action Plan, in its Chapter on Nature,
emphasizes the goal of establishing an integrated system for nature and
biological diversity protection, in line with EU standards and multilateral
agreements, through measures aimed at the application of mechanisms for
further implementation of the National Strategy for Biological Diversity
Protection: an Action Plan, the National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA), the
Law on Nature Protection and the creation of appropriate conditions towards the
establishment of the Natura 2000 network. It envisages action towards
development of National Red Lists and Red Book.
The National Strategy for Biological Diversity Protection with its Action Plan
defines an integrated approach to the protection and sustainable use of
components of biological diversity. The Action Plan outlines the specific actions
to be taken to achieve the goals. One of the measures is the document
Protection of Species, which establishes several actions concerning elaboration
of National Red Lists and Red Book, vultures protection, protection of endemic
and relict species Thymus oehmianus, etc.
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
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The Law on Nature Protection sets ground for the elaboration of Red Lists and a
Red Book, as well as for the proclamation of strictly protected wild species and
protected wild species, by which they shall acquire the status of natural
heritage.
Serbia
In Serbia, the Regulation on Protection of Natural Rarities, which was declared
in 1993, regulates the level of plant and animal protection for biodiversity and
the natural gene pool throughout the territory or on the parts of the territory.
Also, there is a series of regulations which limit the trade of wild plant and
animal species, as well as hunting and fishing.
Methodology
Methodology for indicator calculation
Protection of globally threatened species by European instruments:
1. Extract from EUNIS the list of globally threatened fauna species
categorized as Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN) and Critically Endangered
(CR) present in EU 25 in which both EC Directives and Bern Convention
apply.
2. Based on this list, count the number of species by species group
(Invertebrates, Fishes, Reptiles, Amphibians, Birds and Mammals).
3. Count the number of globally threatened fauna species by species group
strictly protected by at least one of the categories of instruments:

Bern Convention, Annex II only.

Bern Convention (Annex II) + EC Birds Directive (Annex II
and III) + EC Habitats Directive (Annex IV).

Bern Convention (Annex II) + revised EC Birds Directive
(Annex II and III) + revised EC Habitats Directive (Annex IV).
4. Calculate the percentage.
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
15
The described methodology has been used in the countries of the West Balkans
where it was applicable.
Specific Notes:
For each group, the list of globally threatened species is extracted following the
countries in which the regulations apply. Therefore the species distribution from
IUCN database is used.
Subspecies globally threatened are considered as strictly protected if their
nominate species was so. It is to be noted also that there is one genus of
invertebrate considered by IUCN as globally threatened (Hauffenia sp.,
Hydrobiidae, Mesogastropoda, Mollusca). This group is mentioned as occurring
in Bern signatory countries and Accessing Countries. Then, as the number of
species concerned by this genus remains unknown and as no Hauffenia species
is strictly protected neither by the Bern Convention nor by the EC Habitats
Directive, the proportion estimated in the graph is probably higher than the
reality.
Regarding the EC Bird Directive, as all the species are considered as strictly
protected with special derogations for hunting and trade for a short list of
species (ANNEX II & III), it is checked that no globally threatened taxa is in that
short list.
Methodology for gap filling
No gap filling is applied.
Methodology references
No methodology references available.
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
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Data specifications
The table below gives an overview on the available data for Albania, Croatia,
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia. The countries do not
have ROD for this indicator.
Table 8 Data specifications
Available
data/time
coverage
Country
Source
Albania
Threatened and
protected species
Ministry of Environment, Forests and
Water Administration.
Croatia
Threatened and
protected species by
2006
Ministry of Culture, State Institute for
Nation protection.

The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia
Threatened and
protected species,
2003-2004

Serbia
Threatened and
protected species,
1980-2005


Study on the Status of Biological
Diversity in the Republic of
Macedonia.
 Strategy and Action Plan for
Bilogical Diversity Protection in the
Republic of Macedonia.
Regulation on protection of natural
rarities (1990).
Biodiversity in Yugoslavia – with view
of international significance species,
1995, ed. Stevanovic V., Vasic V.
Institute for Nature Protection of
Serbia, among others.
Uncertainties
Methodology uncertainty
None.
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
17
Data sets uncertainty
Unfortunately, the data provided cannot be aggregated at regional level
because of the differences among the ways countries deal with their threatened
and protected species.
Rationale uncertainty
No uncertainty has been specified
Further work
The quality of indicator could be improved in the future by:

Continue to up-date data and information for the indicator by country.

Verify national data and sources for this indicator in all the countries.

Include all available data and information for Montenegro.

Verify policy progress and specific measures implemented in all the
countries.
Countries specific assessments prepared by national authorities
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