Jasmin Pasic
Other projects
- Provide an update to the existing database with the list of species, the size of the population and roosting and nursery sites of the bats in the area;
- Promotion of scientific research and its feasibility among students and younger population;
- Demonstration that with proper education and minimum funding, civil society-locals, and employees of National Park, can be actively involved in the promotion and management of protected areas and they could provide an invaluable contribution for field monitoring of bat population.
- Better use of the habitat and creation of management plans for different bat species;
- Through administration of National Park and local government, promoting and advocating for signing of the “Agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe” (EUROBATS);
- Raise awareness of local population, youth, government and including scientific community on the ecological importance of bats and need for their protection.
The project is planned to last five years, supported by other funding, or potentially through all Rufford levels of Grants. In the first year, we focused on defining the „zero state“of bat fauna within the area/territory of National Park Kozara. We provided a first assessing database, list of species, roosting and nursery sites and the rough estimation of the population sizes.
During the 2nd RSG, and hopefully further 2 Booster Grants, plan is to establish planned and systematic monitoring of bat species within National Park. In the last year, plan is to make final analysis of the work and to create management plan for each species which will be found during the research. Management plan will be presented to the employees of National Park Kozara, for proper, sustainable management of bat species within the park. During the whole process, young researchers and students will be taught about the importance of research, research methodologies and will be included in further activities.
In the first year, we focused mainly on the 1st zone of National park Kozara and the suitable areas for bats (mainly caves and watercourses surroundings). Since National park Kozara is very rich in water potentials, during the 2nd RSG, plan is to focus mainly on watercourses surroundings. According to our experience from the first year of research, these were the sites where we found biggest diversity between species. Research of bats on these sites can be done during warmer period of the year. In total, at least 30 days will be spent on the field.