The Neretva River delta serves as a key resting point, as well as wintering and nesting grounds on the Adriatic flyway. At the same time, a large number of bird species in the area are endangered by illegal activities. That area is in fact one of the most critically affected ones in Southeastern Europe due to frequent illegal bird killing.
Association Biom has been continuously implementing the Adriatic Flyway Project, financed by EuroNatur and MAVA foundations, since 2013. The project’s main goal is to protect the Neretva delta as the key resting point, wintering and nesting grounds on the Adriatic flyway. Under the framework of this project, Biom monitors the status of bird population on the Neretva River, organises educational lectures and workshops for the local community, participates in the preparation of the plan for managing the area in cooperation with the “Dubrovnik-Neretva Nature” Public Institution, but also monitors the impact of illegal killing of birds. The cooperation of key stakeholders and local population aims at preserving the diverse bird world and countering threats posed to them. The Neretva delta is one of Croatia’s most important bird habitats and one of the last wetland areas with preserved reed beds on the eastern coast of the Adriatic. The bearded reedling, spoonbill, Eurasian oystercatcher, various herons, curlews and ducks are just some of the species one may encounter in the Neretva delta. Project name: Adriatic Flyway 4: Safe Flyways – stop illegal bird killing in the Mediterranean In the region, the project is being implemented, covering their national project areas, by the following organisations: Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia, Ornithological Society “Naše ptice”(BiH), Center for Protection and Research of Birds (Montenegro), Croatian Society for Bird and Nature Protection, Albanian Ornithological Society, Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania i Društvo za opazovanje in proučevanje ptic Slovenije (DOPPS) Project duration: 1 March 2018 – 30 June 2022 Source of funding: EuroNatur i MAVA Foundations
