Gërmia – from a regional park to the protected landscape

Abstract

This study took place in the Gërmia massif (Republic of Kosovo) and presents an overview of the current status of this protected area. The Gërmia Regional Park is one of the 173 protected areas in Kosovo. It received this status in 1987 (GZK, no. 43/87) from the Prishtina municipal assembly and covers an area of 1064 hectares. Its natural values have changed dramatically during the last decades, especially in terms of biodiversity. With the aim of evaluating the current situation of the Park's biodiversity, its flora, fauna and plant communities were investigated. The biodiversity of Gërmia comprises 610 vascular plant species (excluding weed species), 83 fungi, 14 mosses, 51 lichens, as well as 5 amphibian, 7 reptile, 32 bird, 19 mammal and 110 butterfly species. As a consequence of human activities, many plant and animal species in Gërmia are endangered. Taking into consideration its natural value and the threat factors around the area, it was proposed to extend the protected area to another 1167 hectares, and to harmonize its protection status with the Law of Nature Protection (i.e. to change the category from Regional Park to Protected Landscape (category V according to the IUCN). Ključne

Endemic plants in the flora of Shutman (Sharri Mountain), Kosovo – an analysis of phytogeographical elements and life forms

“…In terms of nature values, i.e. geodiversity (geomorphological, hydrological, pedological and climatic conditions), Kosovo is unique and also very rich in terms of biodiversity (Mustafa et al, 2016). It is estimated that there are in all between 2800 and 3000 vascular plants (Millaku et al, 2017(Millaku et al, , 2018, comprising diverse floristic elements, but in particular Balkan endemics and paleo-endemics (Millaku et al, 2018).…”