Biodiversity of Kosovo

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Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park
Sharr Mountains National Park

Balkan Peninsula bounded by Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the north and east, North Macedonia to the southeast, and Albania
to the southwest.

Most of the country is geographically defined by the plains of

Sharr Mountains in the southeast, which are simultaneously, in terms of plant and animal species, the most important and diverse areas of the country.[2][3]

The climate of the country is a combination of a

Southeastern Europe and strongly influenced by the Adriatic, Aegean and Black Sea within the Mediterranean Sea.[1]

In terms of phytogeography, the land area of Kosovo lies within the Boreal Kingdom, specifically within the Illyrian province of the Circumboreal Region. Its territory can be subdivided into two terrestrial ecoregions of the Palearctic realm, the Balkan and Dinaric mixed forests.

The forests are the most widespread terrestrial ecosystem in Kosovo and currently protected by particular laws of the Constitution of Kosovo.[4] Most of the forests are important because they provide shelter and protection to hundreds of plant and animal species of national and international importance.

Flora

The Kosovan forest flora is represented by 139 orders classified in 63 families, 35 genera and 20 species.[2] It has a significance for the Balkans as whole – although Kosovo represents only 2.3% of the region's area, in terms of vegetation it represents 25% of flora and about 18% of total European flora.[5] Due to the Mediterranean climate, several plants characteristic to sub-Mediterranean regions are found in forests, including terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus), wild asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius), fragrant virgin's bower (Clematis flammula) and the mallow bindweed (Convolvulus althaeoides).[6]

The Biodiversity of

endemic species.[8]
The flora is represented by 139 orders classified in 63 families, 35 genera and 20 species.[2] It has a significance for the entire region of Balkans, although Kosovo represents only 2.3% of the entire surface of Balkans, in terms of vegetation it represents 25% of the Balkans flora and about 18% of the European flora.[5]

Other common flowers for the forests of Kosovo that are not exclusive to the Mediterranean climate include:[6]

Endangered species

There are several flora species in the Kosovan forests that are considered to be endangered, as classified by the Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency:[5]

Fauna

The Balkan lynx subspecies is found in Kosovo.

The fauna is influenced by the geographical position and conditions of the country, which suit several rare animals.

Albanian Alps
.

The high mountains in Kosovo make it ideal for many animals to live in. In the rivers and lakes there are salmon, trout, scuba, eel, gudgeon, catfish, carp, torpedo and small herring. The southern part, especially the Dragashi municipality has its own dog breed called the Qeni i Sharrit which is kept by the majority of people living in the country, Western part of North Macedonia and Albania.

The

Mokna.[10] There are a total of eleven natural reserves throughout Kosovo[11] and they are home to species such as:[12][10][13]

Deers in Blinaja during the winter

Blinaja and Duboçak are two hunting areas of special significance in Kosovo, established with the primary objective of preserving the region's diverse and precious fauna. These designated zones play a crucial role in safeguarding the wildlife of Kosovo.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Kosovo Biodiversity Assessment" (PDF). ammk-rks.net. 2003. pp. 1–66. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  2. ^ a b c "Qenan Maxhuni: Biodiversiteti i Kosoves" (PDF) (in Albanian). AKMM/IKMN. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Annual Report State of the Environment in Kosovo" (PDF). ammk-rks.net. 2017. pp. 23–26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  4. ^ "Ligji Nr. 2003/3, Ligji per pyjet e Kosoves" (PDF) (in Albanian). Assembly of Kosovo. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  5. ^ a b c "Qenan Maxhuni: Biodiversiteti i Kosoves" (PDF) (in Albanian). AKMM/IKMN. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  6. ^
    ISBN 9789951413961.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  7. ISBN 9789951413961.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  8. ^ "Qenan Maxhuni: Biodiversiteti i Kosoves" (PDF) (in Albanian). AKMM/IKMN. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  9. ^ "BIODIVERSITETI I KOSOVËS" (PDF) (in Albanian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
  10. ^ a b "Qenan Maxhuni: Biodiversiteti i Kosoves" (PDF) (in Albanian). AKMM/IKMN. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  11. ^ "Qenan Maxhuni et al. Gjendja e natyres, Raport 2008-2009". 2010: 5. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ "Qenan Maxhuni et al. Gjendja e natyres, Raport 2008-2009". 2010: 70. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. ^ "Plani hapesinor, Parku nacional "Mali Sharr"" (PDF) (in Albanian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  14. ^ "Blinaja, një nga pjesët më të bukura dhe të mbrojtura të Kosovës". MINISTRIA E BUJQËSISË PYLLTARISË DHE ZHVILLIMIT RURAL. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
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