Integrating Scientific Research with Community Education for Cetacean Conservation and Population Statues in Montenegro
Adriatic Sea is home to seven cetacean species; all are either in decline or data deficient in regional levels. Previous studies underlined that there are possible resident groups of bottlenose and striped dolphins in Montenegro, while once widely distributed common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) regarded as regionally extinct. Bottlenose (Annex II and IV Habitat Directive) and striped dolphins (Annex IV Habitat Directive) are on the List of Protected Plants and Animals of Montenegro and are of community interest in need of strict protection. However, no further studies have been carried. Annual surveys provide in depth information and conclusions on population statues, abundance, distribution, residency patterns and human impacts which form the base on the management policies. Species’ regional status and future conservation efforts can be determined with dedicated systematic surveys. The origin of the project is to form the steps for conservation plications by integrating science and community engagement. For this purpose, ‘Natural History Association of Montenegro’ and ‘Marine Mammals Research Association’ became alliance. In hand with scientific activities, cetacean sighting/stranding network and stakeholders involvement will be encouraged to inspire the community to take a greater interest in marine conservation.
The project contributes to:
• Assessment of species population statues for bottlenose and striped dolphins in regional level
• Accurate estimation of seasonal and annual abundance, distribution and encounter rates of the two species
• Assessment on residency patterns and site fidelities of the two species
• Contributing the photo-ID catalogue of Adriatic Sea to identify the home range and movement patterns.
• Investigating the effect of fishing pressure and marine vessel traffic on two species.
• Capacity building of stakeholders and decision makers via active involvement to the project activities, workshops, conservation educations in schools and academic lectures. Informal talks with local inhabitants about the problems that marine life is facing and how we each can help to conserve it will also be carried. National televisions, festivals, city halls and media promotions will be delivered to reach a wider range of public on our project activities. Additionally, project news and updates, including field research and school lectures, will be published on the Montenegro Dolphin Project website (http://www.montenegrodolphinproject.org/) for our capacity building activities.
PROJECT COORDINATOR: NATAŠA NIKPALJEVIĆ
The project contributes to:
• Assessment of species population statues for bottlenose and striped dolphins in regional level
• Accurate estimation of seasonal and annual abundance, distribution and encounter rates of the two species
• Assessment on residency patterns and site fidelities of the two species
• Contributing the photo-ID catalogue of Adriatic Sea to identify the home range and movement patterns.
• Investigating the effect of fishing pressure and marine vessel traffic on two species.
• Capacity building of stakeholders and decision makers via active involvement to the project activities, workshops, conservation educations in schools and academic lectures. Informal talks with local inhabitants about the problems that marine life is facing and how we each can help to conserve it will also be carried. National televisions, festivals, city halls and media promotions will be delivered to reach a wider range of public on our project activities. Additionally, project news and updates, including field research and school lectures, will be published on the Montenegro Dolphin Project website (http://www.montenegrodolphinproject.org/) for our capacity building activities.
PROJECT COORDINATOR: NATAŠA NIKPALJEVIĆ
Zaštita barske kornjače (Emys orbicularis) i šumske kornjače (Testudo hermanni) u Crnoj Gori
DPCG je krenuo sa realizacijom projekta ,,Zaštita barske kornjače (Emys orbicularis) i šumske kornjače (testudo hermanni) u Crnoj Gori" sa ciljem kako poboljšanja stanja populacija kornjača tako i boljeg poznavanja njihove distribucije. Projekat je finansiran od strane Raford fondacije ,,The Rufford Foundation".
Svi koji su zainteresovani da daju doprinost zaštiti ove dvije vrste neka nam se jave!
O PROJEKTU
Conservation of the European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) and Hermann's Tortoise (Testudo hermanni) in Montenegro
Hermann’s tortoise occurs throughout southern Europe, from north-eastern Spain, southern France, through western and southern Italy, to Romania and Turkey, as well as various Mediterranean islands. Eastern populations present in Montenegro show significant declines, where chief threats include habitat destruction, road traffic mortalities, fires, illegal collecting and trade, and intentional destruction. It is vital to promote community education regarding the effect of fires, and other anthropogenic activities, on Hermann’s tortoise populations and wildlife in general.
The European Pond turtle has a wide distribution throughout continental Europe and North Africa, but in some countries has long been extinct due to climatic change. Its populations are threatened due to various factors including electrofishing, land and habitat fragmentation, water pollution, intensive agricultural methods, and the drainage of wetland habitats. The information collected during this research will be the basis for developing an action plan and management plan.
The European pond turtle is threatened throughout its range by the rapidly-spreading and highly invasive Red-eared slider. Populations of Red-eared sliders in Europe represent a threat to local turtle species, via direct competition and to the ecosystem in general through competition and predation.
The end product of this research will include:
• Valuable data sets regarding the major threats to the health and status of turtle populations and distribution at key sites in Montenegro.
• The development and augmentation of turtles DNA database by the Natural History Association of Montenegro via tissue samples, which will be taken from all captured turtles throughout the research period.
• Collecting information on the Red-slider turtle presence.
• Outreach and conservation education.
• Local community education and the promotion of conservation, via school events and workshops in the municipalities of Niksic, Bar, Budva, Kotor,Tivat and Ulcinj.
• Academic lectures at the Department for Biology and Faculty of Mathematics & Natural Sciences at the University of Montenegro, Podgorica.
• National television and media promotion.
• International trade control: Distribution of promotional material to, and collaboration with, the customs administration of Montenegro in order to address the problem of illegal international trade in Montenegrin turtles and tortoises.
• Project news and updates, including field research and school lectures, will be published on the Natural History Association of Montenegro website. (http://drustvoprirodnjakacg.weebly.com)
Svi koji su zainteresovani da daju doprinost zaštiti ove dvije vrste neka nam se jave!
O PROJEKTU
Conservation of the European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) and Hermann's Tortoise (Testudo hermanni) in Montenegro
Hermann’s tortoise occurs throughout southern Europe, from north-eastern Spain, southern France, through western and southern Italy, to Romania and Turkey, as well as various Mediterranean islands. Eastern populations present in Montenegro show significant declines, where chief threats include habitat destruction, road traffic mortalities, fires, illegal collecting and trade, and intentional destruction. It is vital to promote community education regarding the effect of fires, and other anthropogenic activities, on Hermann’s tortoise populations and wildlife in general.
The European Pond turtle has a wide distribution throughout continental Europe and North Africa, but in some countries has long been extinct due to climatic change. Its populations are threatened due to various factors including electrofishing, land and habitat fragmentation, water pollution, intensive agricultural methods, and the drainage of wetland habitats. The information collected during this research will be the basis for developing an action plan and management plan.
The European pond turtle is threatened throughout its range by the rapidly-spreading and highly invasive Red-eared slider. Populations of Red-eared sliders in Europe represent a threat to local turtle species, via direct competition and to the ecosystem in general through competition and predation.
The end product of this research will include:
• Valuable data sets regarding the major threats to the health and status of turtle populations and distribution at key sites in Montenegro.
• The development and augmentation of turtles DNA database by the Natural History Association of Montenegro via tissue samples, which will be taken from all captured turtles throughout the research period.
• Collecting information on the Red-slider turtle presence.
• Outreach and conservation education.
• Local community education and the promotion of conservation, via school events and workshops in the municipalities of Niksic, Bar, Budva, Kotor,Tivat and Ulcinj.
• Academic lectures at the Department for Biology and Faculty of Mathematics & Natural Sciences at the University of Montenegro, Podgorica.
• National television and media promotion.
• International trade control: Distribution of promotional material to, and collaboration with, the customs administration of Montenegro in order to address the problem of illegal international trade in Montenegrin turtles and tortoises.
• Project news and updates, including field research and school lectures, will be published on the Natural History Association of Montenegro website. (http://drustvoprirodnjakacg.weebly.com)
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Početkom avgusta mjeseca započele su aktivnosti na realizaciji projekta ,,Distribucija i ugroženost barske kornjače (Emys orbicularis) u Zetskoj i Bjelopavlićkoj ravnici u Crnoj Gori” finansiranog od strane The Rufford Foundation. Ona je jedna od samo dvije slatkovodne vrste kornjača u Evropi, a rasprostranjena je širom kontinentalne Evrope, zapadne Azije i sjeverne Afrike.
S obzirom da je barska korjača ugrožena i kao takva stavljena na Listu zaštićenih vrsta biljaka i životinja Crne Gore ( ,,Službeni list RCG", broj 76/06) cilj projekta je utvrđivanje ugrožavajućih faktora. Pored toga utvrdiće se njena distribucija na navedenim dijelovima teritorije države, kao i veličina i status populacije. Tokom istraživanja prikupiće se od svake jedinke i tkivo za DNK analizu. Radi povećanja svijesti građana o ugroženosti i značaju ove vrste, podijeliće se i edukativni lifleti i postaviti promotivni posteri. Na kraju terenskih istraživanja, pošto se prikupe podaci i izvrši analiza, organizovaće se sastanak za zainteresovane grupe, kao što su nadležni državni organi za oblast zaštite šivotne sredine i predstavnici lokalnih samouprava u kojima se realizuje projekat. Nakon toga održaće se predavanja u osnovnim školama, kao i na PMF-u, odsjeku za biologiju u Podgorici. |
SPONZOR PROJEKTA 
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© Društvo prirodnjaka Crne Gore
