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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
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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)
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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
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Livanjsko polje, 6 January 2008 (Photo: Kenan Pai)
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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.
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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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.
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i gustoe ponikava Grabovike zaravni. Meunarodni znanstveno-struni
skup ovjek i kr, Knjiga saetaka.
Rado D. (2013): Paleontologija, Prirodoslovno-povijesna batina
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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.
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polje (polje von Duvno) in Bosnien. Mitteilungen der Geographischen
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