Enhancing the IUCN World Heritage Programme : proceedings of the expert workshop
The southwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula is a global hot spot of biodiversity. High mountain areas show an outstanding diversity of plant species, while the region is one of the last remaining retreats of large European carnivores, such as bear, wolf and lynx. The border areas in the project region, as in many countries adjoining the European Green Belt, represent some of the last intact nature sites.