The NGO "Župa u srcu" from Nikšić published the manual "Biodiversity of the Nikšić field basin (manual for identifying rare plants and birds)".
In the introduction to the authors of the manual, biologists Nada Bubanja, Milica Stanišić Vujačić and Bojan Zeković, they pointed out that the manual aims to promote rare plant species, as well as some rare bird species in the karst fields, which includes the Nikšić field, which is one of their the most important habitats in Montenegro.
"Wet and water habitats in the Nikšić polje basin are floristically very important areas. Although in terms of the number of plant species we cannot speak of a great wealth, the specificity of this area is reflected in the presence of endemic species that are linked exclusively to the periodically flooded karst fields: Dalmatian bellflower, meadow gap and Peter's leap", the authors stated.
As they pointed out, the special floristic significance of this field is given by the meadow gap and swamp gladiolus, species with international and national protection status. They remind that the Nikšić field has been proposed as a SPA habitat, and therefore as part of the Natura 2000 habitat, which speaks of its importance for birds.
"Contributing to this is the fact that this field is located on the famous Adriatic Corridor for bird migration and is an important resting place and feeding ground for exhaustive migrations, especially during spring. When talking about the species that can be found in the Nikšić field, it is important to mention two species of nesting birds that are on Annex I of the Bird Directive, namely the ruffed grouse, for which the Nikšić field is the second most important location in Montenegro, and the gray sparrow, which this is the most important nesting location", says the introduction of the manual.
The goal of the "ENDEMNIK" project, which was financed by the "Partnership Fund for Critically Endangered Ecosystems (CEPF)", is to create a database of plants of aquatic and wet habitats of the Nikšić field, to assess their vulnerability, as well as to increase knowledge about endemic plant species in the basin around Nikšić. .
The project, whose value is 26 thousand euros, lasted 18 months and was aimed at inventorying the flora of water and wetland areas of Nikšić, mapping and determining potential NATURA 2000 habitats with the need to preserve biodiversity where protected plant species are recorded.
Bonus video:
