|
|
About Ecological Network
In spite of high degradation of European nature, in our parts high variety of natural and semi-natural habitats still exist in their preserved state. Some of them are unique for Europe, some of them endemic-limited to certain region, and huge number of them is threatened and in danger of extinction.
During last few decades, human influence has become so strong that it has turned into a serious threat to survival to majority of European natural heritage. Diversity of natural and semi-natural habitats is declining every day. Numerous plant and animal populations that depend on such habitats are declining in number as well as in area of distribution.
Habitats are exposed to fragmentation which has as a result small islands that are not capable of surviving in a long-term, especially considering more and more intensive human influence. Plants and animals can't communicate between these fragmented habitats.
Protected areas, that approximately occupy 10% of state territory of European countries, do not fulfil the need of complete biodiversity conservation.
By realizing this threat, nature conservation in Europe has oriented in developing systems of functionally connected areas valuable for threatened species and habitats.
This system is called ecological network. It is based on the network of protected areas, but with some additional parts that give the network ability to maximize protection on relatively small residual natural areas.
The core of the ecological network is constituted of most valuable natural and semi-natural areas (core zones). Usually, they are protected with buffer zones.
Core areas are connected into functional system by corridors that enable communication between threatened species.
On the sites where one of the important parts of the ecological network is missing, restoration areas are established. These areas are important because they restore ecologic connectivity of the system.
Ecological Network
|
|
|
|
