Data Zone
Country/territory: Bosnia and Herzegovina
IBA criteria met: B1a (2018)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 20,176 hectares (201.76 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2018 | not assessed | not assessed | not assessed |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2018 baseline)
Petrovačka poljes is an informal name for six separate karst poljes that are closely connected with each other in geographic and biogeographic way, yet they are separated by unique geomorphology features. The poljes of this complex are: Dugo polje, Petrovačko polje, Medeno polje, Vedro polje, Bjelajsko polje and Rudo polje.
This group of poljes are surrounded by relatively high mountain ridges of Grmeč, Srnetica, Klekovača and Osječenica.
Due to the geological structure of the basis (carbonat rocks – limestones and dolomites) all the poljes except Petrovačko polje are dry poljes and don’t flood. Petrovačko polje’s flood surface is 3,54 km2. Occasionally part of central Medeno polje and part of Bjelajsko polje flood as well. This complex of poljes is hydro geographically a part of the river Una basin.
Key biodiversity
Ornithological and other research in this area is scarce, yet the bird lists of the six poljes are close to 100 species.
As the rest of poljes also this group of poljes is a stop-over site on the migratory way from Africa to Europe and vice versa. Important migrants are Common Crane Grus grus, Lapwing Vanellus vanellus and Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis. Significant breeding birds are Montague’s Harrier Circus pygargus, Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor, Grey Partridge Perdix perdix, bee-eater Merops apiaster and others.
Other taxa have been investigated only partly and includes 8 dragonfly species on Bjelajsko polje, 13 on Petrovačko polje. 34 plant species have been recorded on Medeno polje, 59 on Petrovačko, 44 on Bjelajsko and 48 on Dugo polje. All this is a little section of much actually much richer flora of the area.
Medeno and Petrovačko poljes are mainly used for cereals production, to lesser extent for grazing, while on Bjelajsko, Rudno and Dugo poljes the situation is opposite.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Petrovac poljes (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/petrovac-poljes-iba-bosnia-and-herzegovina on 27/12/2024.