Biodiversity Task Force WB

11/06/2026

🐾 Did you know that fewer than 50 Balkan lynx are estimated to remain in the wild?

On , we celebrate one of Europe’s rarest large carnivores, and the people working to safeguard its future.

The Balkan lynx is Critically Endangered (CR), surviving mainly in parts of North Macedonia and Albania, with occasional records from neighbouring areas. With its tufted ears, short black-tipped tail and silent movement through forest landscapes, it is one of the most elusive inhabitants of the .

But its rarity is also a warning signal. The Balkan lynx depends on large, connected forest landscapes, healthy prey populations and long-term conservation action across borders. Its presence, decline or recovery tells us something important about the health of the ecosystems that sustain clean water, livelihoods and climate resilience.

Protecting the Balkan lynx is not only about saving this rare species. It is about keeping the Western Balkans’ forest landscapes connected, resilient and alive.
Explore the first story in our series on endemic species in the Western Balkans, on the Balkan lynx 👉 https://bit.ly/4ftky1g

👏 Special recognition to the Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme, marking 20 years of dedicated efforts to conserve this species! A special shout-out to IUCN Members Македонско еколошко друштво and Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania, whose teams have been leading field activities in North Macedonia and Albania to study, monitor and protect the Balkan lynx and its habitat.

EuroNatur | Stiftung KORA | ERA group | | | | Biodiversity Task Force WB | | |

05/06/2026

Today, we open a series of local biodiversity stories, starting with the Balkan lynx and Fiala’s milk-vetch, with more species to follow 👉 https://bit.ly/4ftky1g

Stay tuned! 👇

Local species, global signals 🐾

This , we are looking at what biodiversity in the Western Balkans can tell us about climate resilience.

In mountain meadows, rivers, wetlands, forests, grasslands and karst landscapes, nature is already sending signals. Some can be seen in iconic species like the Balkan lynx. Others are hidden in rare plants, freshwater insects and reptiles found only in some parts of the region.

Their presence, decline or recovery tells us something important about the health of the ecosystems that sustain clean water, food, livelihoods and climate resilience.

Today, we open a series of local biodiversity stories, starting with the Balkan lynx and Fiala’s milk-vetch, with more species to follow 👉 https://bit.ly/4ftky1g

Stay tuned!


| Austrian Development Agency | Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme | Македонско еколошко друштво | Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania

25/05/2026

08/04/2026

Pre desetak godina, u Srbiji je postojao samo jedan jedini gnezdeći par – Bora i Eržika. U međuvremenu, pobedonosno su stizale nove generacije: Nada, Duško, Lilika, Joca, Duda, pustolovni Feliks koji je proteklih meseci prava medijska zvezda…

Iako naravno nije moguće imenovati ih sve, u Srbiji danas imamo čak 30 gnezdećih parova orlova krstaša, pokazuju novi podaci Društva za zaštitu i proučavanje ptica (DZPPS).

Uspeh nije došao preko noći, ali jeste uključivao danonoćnu brigu o poslednjim krstašima koji su se naselili blizu Srpskog Krstura.

Volonteri su iz kampa na bezbednoj udaljenosti neprekidno bdeli nad Borom i Eržikom u kritičnom periodu, od marta do jula, tačnije za vreme gnezdeće sezone, dok mladi ne polete.

I tako tokom tri godine dok populacija nije počela da se uvećava!

Ova požrtvovanost urodila je plodom: Bora i Eržika nastavili su lozu i krstaši su se postepeno vraćali na nebo iznad Srbije – godine 2022, njihova populacija se uvećala na pet gnezdećih parova, da bi prošle godine dostigla brojku od 20, a ove otišla i na preko 30.

Krstaše smo počeli da gubimo još 90-ih godina 20. veka, pre svega zbog gubitka staništa u njihovoj domovini Vojvodini. Pad je kulminirao 2017. kada je knjiga ovih orlova pala na dva slova – B i E.

„Sa jednog na preko 30 gnezdećih parova je veliki uspeh”, potcrtava naša sagovornica Mirjana Rankov, ornitološkinja iz DZPPS-a. „Verujem da će se nakon toga populacija stabilizovati i da nećemo morati da brinemo za opstanak ove vrste.”

Aktivnosti DZPPS-a koje su doprinele veličanstvenom povratku krstaša u Srbiju nisu stale na brizi o svojevremeno jedinom gnezdećem paru.

Oni im prave veštačka gnezda, prate ptice GPS uređajima, podižu svest o njihovom ekosistemskom značaju, na terenu rade na smanjenju slučajeva trovanja, kose zarasle pašnjake kako bi se obezbedio opstanak tekunica – omiljenih na jelovniku orlova krstaša…

Ceo tekst o trijumfalnom povratku krstaša u Srbiju pročitajte na našem sajtu ⬇️

https://klima101.rs/povratak-orlova-krstasa-u-srbiju/

Foto: DZPPS (Szilard Morvai)

24/03/2026

The future of the Balkan lynx depends on what range economies do together, not separately 🐾

That was one of the key messages from a side event held yesterday at convened by the Министерство за животна средина и ПП / Ministria e Mjedisit Jetësor dhe PH, and key international, regional and national partners. Focused on one of Europe’s most Critically Endangered large carnivores, the discussion highlighted the need for a stronger and more coordinated regional response to conserve the Balkan lynx and its habitats. The event also provided an opportunity to present the Regional Strategy for the Conservation of the Balkan Lynx and its Action Plan, proposed for endorsement under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) COP15.

The message was clear: protecting the Balkan lynx requires stronger policy alignment, more effective institutions and enforcement, better monitoring, sustainable habitat governance, and long-term transboundary cooperation among range economies. The discussion also highlighted ongoing efforts under the Biodiversity Task Force WB.

18/03/2026

Excited to share the new video on the development of the Forest Landscape Restoration Plan, a regional effort under the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans 🙌