Transboundary ecological connectivity of Alps and Dinaric Mountains

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Ecological connectivity (EC) enables processes like gene flow, migration and dispersal of living organisms thus counteracting negative effects of habitat fragmentation and climate change. Substantial part of Balkan Peninsula is affected by difficult political and economic circumstances leading to transboundary barriers which pose challenges for EC. The project intervention objective is to strengthen transnational and sectoral cooperation to improve EC throughout Dinaric Mountains, connecting them with the Alps enabling long term protection of biodiversity in view of current and future climatic changes. Both mountain ranges are exceptionally rich in biodiversity which is threatened by fragmentation and habitat loss. To improve EC, eleven DINALPCONNECT partners from seven countries will establish a network of Pilot regions to strengthen transboundary linkages between Natura2000 sites and protected areas where EC will be explored and consolidated. Joint action plans for improved EC of transboundary habitats in Pilot Regions will be based on guidelines for agricultural and forestry practices protecting biodiversity. To support this, existing EU and national agriculture and forestry policies will be examined, giving suggestions for harmonisation with EU legislation. A socio-economic perspective will be included by exploring current pro-biodiversity businesses in the Pilot Regions, preparing guidelines for their development and a feasibility study of setting up learning and trading platform in the project area. At the macro-regional level, project partners will collect spatial data to analyse current EC and identify EC hot-spots (corridors or stepping stones) and barriers. Combining analytical results with expert knowledge exchanged during an international scientific conference and other events, the project will deliver a Strategy for ecological connectivity throughout Dinaric Mountains connecting them with the Alps, which will be adopted by policy makers.

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