SUBJECT: RE: Biodiversity conservation and eco-regions.
AUTHOR: Christian Kleps
DATE: 7th April 2003

KEYWORDS: Eco-region, Balkans, natural elements, environmental agreements.

SUMMARY: The author agrees with the concept of eco-regions as basic units for biodiversity conservation by discussing the issue of transboundary pollution in the Balkans. However he also points out that eco-regions should encompass other natural elements and the role of existing environmental agreements in establishing eco-regions.

I totally agree with the concept of eco-regions proposed by Kajetan Perzanowski as a possible solution for a sustainable conservation of biodiversity, including all biological resources at regional level.As an active member of the Balkan Environmental Association I have noticed in these last years the many common problems we have in the Balkan countries regarding transboundary pollution, many of them being related not only to our geographic neighborhood, but also with our similar economic systems, traditions, culture, etc.

However, here I feel the difficulty to identify and delineate the network of eco-regions at the planet scale only "as units being functionally homogenous in ecological sense". There are other natural elements like a big river, a sea or a mountain chain, which also deserve to be taken into consideration, because they connect countries through common economical, and ecological interests, such examples are the countries included in the International Convention to Protect the Danube River, the conventions and agreements for the Black Sea countries, for the Mediterranean countries and so on.

In this respect I want to emphasize the importance of taking into consideration the existing environmental agreements between countries from a particular area, for establishing an eco-region. It is also very important to consider and take advantage of the achievements obtained from applying all international conventions related to environment and biodiversity, for all the future project proposals in relation to biodiversity (the synergy).

A contribution by:

Christian Kleps
Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences
Bucharest, Romania