Mostarsko Blato (31884)
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Mostarsko Blato
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.3341, Longitude: 17.6887
Elevation (m): 223 to 245
Area of KBA (km2): 36.72194
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Mostarsko blato is located between Čabulja and Polog (1.138 m a.s.l.) mountains to the North and lower limestone massif of Trtla (690 m) in the South. As many other poljes in Hercegovina its main orientation is NW-SE. It is a flood polje of 32,79 km2 flood area and belongs to the Neretva river basin. Main water source of Mostarsko blato is Lištica river that springs in polje, floods it, accumulating debris and sinks on the SE part of the polje. Main karst phenomena are Lištica sink and meanders of the same stream. Among cultural and historical remains the most prominent are Ottoman-period bridge, old stone road and a medieval fort.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Mediterranean Hotspot (2017). Taxonomy, nomenclature and global threat category follow the 2016 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: Mostarsko blato is one of better researched poljes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Until now 13 species of fish, 185 species of birds, 21 species of dragonflies and 147 species of plants have been recorded in polje. Main habitat type are flood and marshy grasslands and pastures (Deschampsietalia). Mostarsko blato is one of the most important stop-over sites of the Adriatic Flyway. Large numbers of migratory birds flock in polje especially during spring migration: Pochard Aythya ferina, Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus, Common Crane Grus grus, Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, and Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis among most prominent ones. A significant population of Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus regularly winters in this polje. Among important breeders are Montague’s Circus pygargus and Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus, Turtle Dove Streptopelia turturand few of the largest colonies of Bee-eaters Merops apiaster and Sand Martins Riparia riparia in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Important concentrations of other threatened species occur in Mostarsko blato as well, for example Spoonbils Platalea leucorodia and Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa.
Other site values: Mostarsko polje or Mostarsko blato is located in Western Herzegovina, SW of Mostar on a regional road to Široki Brijeg.
Delineation rationale: 2014-02-27 (BL Secretariat): site area of 1000 ha calculated from KBA polygon, rounded to nearest 10%.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (60%) | fisheries/aquaculture | hunting (20%) | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport | water management (30%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 65 | |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 10 | |
| Grassland | 10 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 3 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 5 |
Additional information
References: 1. Kotrošan, D., Drocić, N., Trbojević, S., Šimić, E., Dervović, I., 2012: Program IBA, Međunarosdno značajna područja za ptice, u Bosni i Hercegovini. Ornitološko društvo “Naše ptice”, interno izdanje za projekat “Evaluacija IBA područja u FBiH”, Sarajevo. 2. Topić, G., Vujović, A., Ilić, B., Medenica, I., & Sarajlić, N., 2014: Spring Migration 2013 of Eurasian Crane Grus grus of the Adriatic Flyway population in the Western Balkans and in the Eastern Adriatic region In: Sackl P., Durst R., Kotrošan D. & Stumberger B. (eds.): Dinaric Karst Poljes - Floods for Life. EuroNatur, Radolfzell, 83-88. 3. Kotrošan, D., Dervović, I., Šarac, M., Sjeničić, J., Topić, G., Sarajlić, N. (2015): The status of Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In: Sackl, P. & Ferger, S.W. (eds.), Adriatic Flyway – Bird Conservation on the Balkans. Euronatur, Radolfzell, pp. 150-160. 4. Bohm, D., 2013: Druga dopuna poznavanju ptica Blagaja i njegove okoline. Bilten Mreže posmatrača ptica u Bosni i Hercegovini, 9(9): 110-111. 5. Stumberger, B., Durst, R., Kotrošan D., Mulaomerović, J. (ed.). List of karst poljes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dostupno online: http://kraskapolja.ptice.ba/bs/2017/05/12/glamocko-polje/ 6. BA data entry spreadsheet finalno_18_09_2017 7. Mostarsko blato – krug oko polja (Dostupno na: http://www.herzegovinabike.ba/?staze=mostarsko-blato-krug-oko-polja) 8. https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mostarsko_blato