Adriatic Flyway Closing the gap in bird Conservation preface
Dinaric Karst Poljes Floods for Life Edited by: Peter Sackl, Romy Durst, Draen Kotroan and Borut Stumberger Dinaric Karst Poljes Floods for Life Edited by: Peter Sackl, Romy Durst, Draen Kotroan and Borut Stumberger Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Livno, 30 September - 1 October 2014 2 In cooperation with Nae ptice, Sarajevo (BiH); Naa bastina Tomislavgrad (BiH) and Zagreb (HR); Universalmuseum Joanneum, Graz (AT) The project Identication and Promotion of Karst Poljes in Bosnia-Herzegovina as Wetlands of National and International Importance was nancial supported by MAVA Foundation EuroNatur, 2014 Konstanzer Str. 22, D-78315 Radolfzell, Germany http://www.euronatur.org/ All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the publisher. Permissions may be sought directly from Euronatur Geschftsstelle Radolfzell Konstanzerstr. 22, D-78315 Radolfzell, Germany phone +49(0)7732-9272-0or +49(0)7732-9272-0 fax: +49(0)7732 - 92 72 -22 email: info@euronatur.org ISBN 978-3-00-045287-1 Recommended citations: Sackl P., Durst R., Kotroan D. & Stumberger B. (eds.): Dinaric Karst Poljes - Floods for Life. EuroNatur, Radolfzell. Bonacci O. (2014): Ecohydrology of karst poljes and their vulnerability. In: Sackl P., Durst R., Kotroan D. & Stumberger B. (eds.). Dinaric Karst Poljes - Floods for Life. EuroNatur, Radolfzell; p. 25-37. Cover design & design: Jasna Andric
Language editor: Peter Sackl
Typesetting by Camera d.o.o. (Slovenia) Printed and bound by Tiskarna Pove d.o.o. (Slovenia) Number of copies: 400 Cover photo: Flooded Livanjsko polje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 4 May 2010 (Photo: Martin Schneider-Jacoby) 3 Dinaric Karst Poljes Floods for Life Contents Contents I. Preface Prof. dr. sc. Jaroslav Vego, NFP Ramsar Convention for Bosnia and Herzegovina 5 Karst polje conservation the legacy of Dr Martin Schneider-Jacoby 7 Borut Stumberger, Romy Durst and Peter Sackl
II. Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance, Workshop Proceedings and Project Results Wetlands in drylands: the global importance of Karst poljes 11 Tobias Salath General aspects of the Karst Poljes of the Dinaric Karst 17 Ivo Lui Ecohydrology of karst poljes and their vulnerability 25 Ognjen Bonacci Flooding analysis of the karst poljes in Bosnia and Herzegovina 39 Ulrich Schwarz Floristic values of the Karst Poljes of Bosnia and Herzegovina 45 Sabaheta Abadi & Nermina Sarajli A preliminary survey of the wet- and grassland vegetation of the karst poljes of Bosnia-Herzegovina 59 Gerhard Bronner Endangered Proteus: combining DNA and GIS analyses for its conservation 71 Gregor Aljani, pela Goriki, Magdalena Npru, David Stankovi & Matja Kuntner The wintering population of Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus in Glamoko, Duvanjsko and Kupreko polje (Bosnia- Herzegovina) 77 Ena imi-Hatibovi Spring Migration 2013 of Eurasian Crane Grus grus of the Adriatic Flyway population in the Western Balkans and in the Eastern Adriatic 83 Goran Topi, Ana Vujovi, Baria Ili, Ivan Medenica & Nermina Sarajli The distribution and population numbers of Corncrakes Crex crex in the karst poljes of Bosnia-Herzegovina results of a large-scale survey in 2012 and 2013 91 Peter Sackl, Ilhan Dervovi, Draen Kotroan, Goran Topi, Sumeja Droci, Mirko arac, Nermina Sarajli, Romy Durst & Borut Stumberger The ecological value of free-ranging livestock 105 Waltraud Kugler & Elli Broxham An ecological approach to the management of the Dinaric Karsts renewable natural resources 115 Jozo Rogoi & Branka Perini Grabovica trail rediscovering the natural heritage at the border of Duvanjsko polje 121 Denis Rado, Mirko arac-Mio & Maja Peri
III. Dossiers of the Karst Poljes of Bosnia and Herzegovina List of Karst poljes in Bosnia and Herzegovina 129 Borut Stumberger, Romy Durst, Draen Kotroan & Jasminko Mulaomerovi Index 197 4 Livanjsko polje, 6 January 2008 (Photo: Kenan Pai) 5 Preface Dinaric Karst Poljes Floods for Life Preface Prof. dr. sc. Jaroslav Vego NFP Ramsar Convention for Bosnia and Herzegovina I am pleased to address a few words to the participants of the First International Workshop on Dinaric Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance. It is gratifying that the agenda of the Workshop covered a wide range of very interesting topics related to the various important aspects of Dinaric karst poljes. The Workshop aimed at the development of adequate approaches for mastering the challenges of karst polje conservation; I did hope that one of the results of the workshop could be the demonstration of the national and international importance of the Dinarics karst poljes, as well. It is my great pleasure that such workshop, the rst one of its kind, has been realised in the area of Livanjsko polje, the largest karst polje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, recently identied as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Bosnia and Herzegovinas karst areas are probably among the best preserved in the region, but until the present day, they are still unprotected. Unfortunately, some of them are directly threatened by water extraction, drainage and unsustainable use of their natural resources. Their protection is not only vital for maintaining the unique natural and cultural assets of the karst environment and its inhabitants but will also make all the diference between short term - and perpetual sustainable use of the areas resources for the benet of local societies. This is why I am sure that the conducted workshop will contribute to the evolution and implementation of the Ramsar Convention in Bosnia and Herzegovina. My gratitude goes to all those who show interest in the conservation of the Dinaric karst poljes, and to the participants of the First International Workshop on Karst Poljes as Wetlands of National and International Importance who came to Livno from near and far to take part in our discussions and exchange. Not only was the Workshop an enjoyable stay in the unique Livanjsko polje, one of the best preserved karst poljes in the Dinaric region, more importantly, it has opened up an interesting and urgently needed debate on the ecology, protection and future use of the karst environment. 6 Duvanjsko polje, 27 June 2010 (Photo: Mirko arac) Dinaric Karst Poljes Floods for Life 121 Workshop and project results Summary Grabovica, i. e. in local language Grabovica Mountain, is a karst plateau which is situated between Buko blato (nowadays also known as Buko Lake), Duvanjsko polje and Roko polje in the Outer Dinarides of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Except the Midena anticline, the area shows low hypsometric energy. Surely, the most signicant features of the relief are sinkholes or dolines. In the area more then 8,500 of it exist. The most interesting of the areas sinkholes are the collapsed dolines in the northern part of Grabovica. Gradual changes of the socio-economic situation of the area during the last 50 years resulted in the nal abandonment of traditional cattle grazing which was practized in Grabovica since pre-Roman times. With cattle grazing the stockmans houses in the mountains locally called stanovi have been abandoned, too, and human life retreated from the mountainsback to lower areas at the bottom of the surrounding karst poljes. After the disappearance of people from Grabovica plateau former infrastructure, like houses, trails and puddles, which have been used until recently were overgrown by vegetation. For the Project Grabovica trail which was implemented by the local NGO Naa batina, some of the old trails on Grabovica plateau, in particular those of the northern part, wil be reused. By the renovation of old trails the project intends to make the karst phenomena of Grabovica plateau, like the collapsed dolines Veliki Samograd, Mali Samograd and Surdup, accesssible for the public. There are also plans for information tables and trail marks which will transform the old trails into a new recreation and education trail which will be suitable for people of all ages. Saetak Grabovica (lokalno Grabovika planina) krka je zaravan smjetena izmeu Bukog blata (danas jezera), Grabovica trail rediscovering the natural heritage at the border of Duvanjsko polje Denis Rado 1 , Mirko arac-Mio 2 & Maja Peri 3 1 University of Zadar, Department of Geography, Center for Karst and Coastal Research & Naa Batina, Tomislavgrad; Domovinskog rata 8, HR-23000, Zadar, Croatia; E-mail: denisrados@gmail.com 2 Naa Batina, Donji Brinik, bb, BA-80240, Tomislavgrad, Bosnia and Hrzegovina; E-mail: sarac.mirko@tel.net.ba 3 University of Zadar, Department of Ecology, Agriculture and Aquaculture & Naa Batina, Tomislavgrad; Matije Vlaia 16, HR-23000, Zadar, Croatia; E-mail: majapericc@gmail.com Duvanjskog polja i Rokog polja u Vanjskim Dinaridima Bosne i Hercegovine. Karakterizira je blaga hipsometrijska energija, od kojih najvie odstupa antiklinala Midene planine. Najznaajnija pojava na Grabovici svakako su ponikve, kojih ima preko 8,500, no najzanimljivije meu njima su urune ponikve na sjevernom dijelu Grabovice. Postupne promjene socijalno-gospodarske situacije u ovom kraju u posljednjih 50-ak godina dovele su do konanog naputanja tradicionalnog toarstva prisutnog na ovim prostorima od predrimskih vremena. Samim time, nestale su i stoarske nastambe na planinama, zvane stanovi, te se ivot premjestio u nie predjele, na razine okolnih krkih polja. Nestankom ljudi na Grabovici dolazi do sukcesije vegetacije i zarastanja infrastrukture koritene do nedavno stanova, putova, lokava i sl. Projekt Staza Grabovica kojeg provodi udruga Naa batina, predvia ponovno vraanje u uporabu pojedinih staza na Grabovici, osobito na njezinom sjevernom dijelu. Obnovom starih putova planira se javnosti predstaviti krke fenomene ovog dijela Grabovice, urune ponikve Veliki i Mali Samograd, te Surdup. Postavljanjem info ploa i putokaza staza e istovremeno biti rekreativnog, ali i edukativnog karaktera za ljude svih narataja. Keywords: Grabovica plateau, karst, nature management, educational trail, Grabovica Trail Introduction Grabovica Trail is situated near Tomislavgrad in the northern part of the Grabovica karst plateau between Buko blato and Duvanjsko polje in the High Dinarides of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Grabovica karst plateau is mostly made up of Cretaceous limestone. Structurally, it is highly distorted and features many pit caves and dolines. Cattle grazing and animal husbandry are thought to have 122 been present in the area since the beginning of human settlement. Until World War II there were little changes in the way the land was used. Human life was characterized by seasonal migrations between the polje and nearby mountains. Many of the secondary habitations in the mountains gradually became real settlements and turned into human oasis in the karst landscape. After World War II the number of livestock decreased and people abandoned traditional agricultural practices. As a result people were leaving the mountains and abandoning ancient infrastructure houses, wells, pathways, etc. and what used to be pastures became areas covered with high plants and forests. Today, agriculture plays no important role in the life of local people and regularly used paths and tracks do not go beyond Grabovica. Because of that, human presence has been reduced to a minimum on Grabovica karst plateau. The idea to build an educational trail on Grabovica is based on the concept of interesting people for nature, although in a diferent way as in former days. Establishing a recreational trail should promote education about natural and historical values and help to preserve the original landscape all of it by walking and trekking as a healthy lifestyle. The northern part of Grabovica, from Kovai to Drmia staja, was chosen as the main part of the route due to its many natural and historical resources. Later, more parts will be added, most notably towards the eco-village of Grabovica. Most of the main route has been already built and marked. Information tables will be set up along the way with maps, information on wild animals, educational panels and similar contents. Heritage sites Grabovica trail connects local sites of interest in Duvanjsko polje, on Grabovica plateau and at Buko blato. One of its paths goes along the western edge of Duvanjsko polje, connecting the site where the prehistoric elephant Gomphotherium was found with Dahna cave and Kovai swallow hole. The second path is running from Kovai village to Drmia staje village with collapsed dolines on its way. A third path is separating from the second path and goes towards Grabovica village. Prehistoric elephant discovery site In August 2011 local archaeologist Vinko Ljubas found the teeth of an unknown animal in the quarry of Cebara. Later scientic analyses showed that they belong to the prehistoric species of elephant Anancus arvernensis, which lived in the Miocene some 8 million years ago Establishing a recreational trail should promote education about natural and historical values and help to preserve the original landscape Fig. 1 Map of Grabovica trail Fig. 2 (a) Reconstruction of the ancient elephant Gomphotherium (Source: http://i1608.photobucket. com/albums/u454/linnaeus1758) and (b) fossilized teeth found in Cebara quarry (Photo: M. umanovi) Dinaric Karst Poljes Floods for Life 123 Workshop and project results (Mandi et al. 2013). The exact site is located in the quarry which was partly destroyed by digging machines. Sediments found in the pit date from the Miocene, while the surrounding limestone is from the Cretaceous period. So far, only preliminary results of the excavation , mainly based on tusks and teeth are available, but the material was sent to the Natural History Museum in Vienna (Austria) for further analyses. A Board on Research on the Historical Elephant Gomphotherium was formed in Tomislavgrad which coordinates all relevant activities concerning the research and protection of the locality. A detailed research project and the conservation of the locality is expected soon, in order to establish a museum with various information for tourists. Dahna cave A few hundred meters away from the site where the elephant teeth were found, in the village of Omerovii, at the slope of Grabovica plateu, the 750 meter long Dahna Cave is situated. The cave is important as an attractive display of underground geomorphology in the karst terrain, but also as an archaeological and palaeontological site. A tooth of the cave bear Ursus spelaeus was found in the cave a few years ago as well as some valuable archaeological artifacts. Due to such ndings, the cave is disturbed by thieves who misuse and may steal many artifacts. Because of that the cave should be immediately physically and legal protected. Dahna Cave was rst mentioned in the magazine Hrvatski planinar, in an article written by Ljubomir Stipi in 1938. In this paper L. Stipi presents information on the ritual importance of the cave for local Muslim people which is especially interesting from an ethnological point of view. Kovai ponor Kovai Ponor is one of the largest of its kind in the Dinarides. It drains the water from Duvanjsko polje and the surrounding mountains as well as waters from ujiko polje and a part of Kupreko polje. It is impressive in its appearance, featuring a dome formed in Cretaceous limestone. Although the ponor is large in size, it is not possible to enter the hole without proper diving equipment, because of the water that stays in its siphons. Investigations by using the colouring method have proved a direct or indirect connection between the waters that drain into Kovai ponor and the numerous springs in the Cetina river catchment area, all the way to the Adriatic Sea. Initial researches of Kovai Ponor were performed in 1961 (Ozimec et al. 2013). In the last few years the ponor was extensively investigated, especially during speleological camps in 2012 and 2013. For the rst time during these researches the swallow hole was explored in its depths as well as from its other side near the Riina spring at the level of Buko blato. Roman pathway Klanac and Gradina Kovai In the same village not far from Kovai Ponor a path is running which steeply climbs up the slope of Grabovica Mountain. Until recently, the pathway connected people from Duvanjsko and Roko polje, and was used for the transport of livestock. The path is wide and bordered by dry stone walls. Near the path the hill of Gradina Kovai can be found which was rst inhabited by domicile Illyrians, and later by their Roman conquerors (Benac 1985). Gradina hill dominates over the north-western part of Duvanjsko polje and was probably used by local people to control the entry to the polje. According to Radimsky (1894) two Roman buildings exist at the bottom of the hill, but they are not visible today, although it is proofed that the hill was even later, after the Roman conquest of the Illyrians, used for the surveillance of the area. From Gradina hill, through the Grabovica karst, the path continues in several directions to Vrilo, Grabovica and to Gornji Brinik. Some of these paths follow the ancient Roman network which led through Dalmatia, across Duvanjsko polje, and further into Bosnia. This is proven by numerous visible marks of carriage wheels etched into the karsts bedrock which resemble railway tracks. These Fig. 3 View out of Kovai Ponor (Photo: M. umanovi) 124 Roman tracks are particularly interesting; although they show a small number of turns, they mostly stretch linearly across the limestone bedrock regardless of any obstacles. Collapse dolines Due to tectonic cracks in the terrain as well as ancient and recent hydrological activity in the underground, in the northern part of Grabovica numerous collapsed dolines with impressive dimensions exist. The most important are Mali and Veliki Samograd, and Surdup. They are, approximately, located above the underground section of the ujica river which is running towards Buko blato. Most probably the underground river afected the corrosion of the ceilings of caverns which caused their collapse. The collapsed dolines are characterized by special micro-climates which difer from the climate features of its surroundings. This, and the fact that they are largely isolated, resulted in specic biogeographical features. A very interesting example is Mali Samograd, which harbours a cave with unique life forms. The remains of a forest lodge can be seen near Surdup sinkhole, which was used for a house some 40 years ago, and which has been restored for touristic purposes. Vrilo On the western side of Grabovica plateau, on the level of Buko blato, the spring-caves of the Riina river are found, which are in fact continuations of the ujica river. Three spring-caves, which are generating water for Duvanjsko polje, have been tectonically shaped and are mutually connected by a strong underground waterow (Ozimec, 2012). These springs as well as the canal that is leading inside Grabovica plateau were investigated during speleological camps in 2012 and 2013. Of this canal 1.5 km are already mapped. Further investigations of the system of the swallow holes Kovai Ponor and Vrilo are expected in the next years, which may eventually result in the discovery of a connection between both underground canals. Conclusions The area of the Grabovica karst plateau, especially its northern part, harbors a number of natural and cultural values which are very characteristic for the Dinaric Karst. Consequently, the local non-governmental organization Naa batina (Our Heritage) started a project for the preservation and evaluation of all natural and cultural objects in the area, in order to keep them intact in their original surroundings. Their preservation will enable the development of cultural and nature tourism which, so far, has not been established in the area. Further steps in the implementation of the project in the local community should be the education of local people through activity groups and seminars, and the inclusion of young people into the promotion and management of the areas natural values. References Benac A. (1985): Utvrena ilirska naselja I utvrenegradine na Duvanjskom polju, Bukom blatu, Livanjskom i Glamokom polju. ANUBIH, Sarajevo. Fig. 4 Collapsed dolines: Veliki Samograd (a), Mali Samograd (b) and Surdup (c) (Photos: M. umanovi) (b) (a) (c) Dinaric Karst Poljes Floods for Life 125 Workshop and project results Mandi O., Ghlich U., Hrvatovi H., Mauch Lenardi J., vorovi B., Glamuzina G., Rado, D., (2013): New Proboscidean Site from the High Karst Dinarides in Southern Bosnia and Hercegovina. In: Cagatay N., Zabci C. (eds.)., Book of Abstracts 14th RCMNS Congress: Neogene to Quaternary Geological Evolution of Mediterranean, Paratethys and Black sea. Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, pp. 189-189. Ozimec R. (2012): Senzacionalno otkrie u podzemlju izmeu Duvanjskog i Livanjskog polja. Hrvatska vodoprivreda, No. 201. Ozimec R., Kovaevi A., Kovaevi T. (2013): Moemo li podzemno povezati Duvanjsko i Livanjsko polje. Hrvatska vodoprivreda, No. 203. Radimsky V. (1894): Starine kotara upanjakog u Bosni. Glasnik Zemaljskog muzeja Sarajevo, 283-319. Rado D., Maga D. (2012): Morfometrijska analiza prostornog rasporeda i gustoe ponikava Grabovike zaravni. Meunarodni znanstveno-struni skup ovjek i kr, Knjiga saetaka. Rado D. (2013): Paleontologija, Prirodoslovno-povijesna batina opine Tomislavgrad. In: Ozimec R., Rado M. M. (eds.), Prirodoslovno- povijesna batina opine Tomislavgrad. Udruga Naa batina, Zagreb &Tomislavgrad, pp. 155 174. Rado, D., Perica, D., Krklec, K. (2013): Geologija, geomorfologija i pedologija podruja Tomislavgrada. . In: Ozimec R., Rado M. M. (eds.), Prirodoslovno-povijesna batina opine Tomislavgrad. Udruga Naa batina, Zagreb &Tomislavgrad, pp. 127 - 154 Rado, Denis, Rado, Jozo (2013): Geograja. In: Ozimec R., Rado M. M. (eds.), Prirodoslovno-povijesna batina opine Tomislavgrad. Udruga Naa batina, Zagreb &Tomislavgrad, pp. 73 126. Rogli J. (1940): Geomorphologische Studie ber das Duvanjsko polje (polje von Duvno) in Bosnien. Mitteilungen der Geographischen Gesellschaft, Wien Stipi L. (1938): Dahna. Hrvatski planinar, Hrvatski planinarski savez.