03 March 2016 03.03.2016 - The Kosovo Institute for Nature Protection, in cooperation with the Department of Biology of FSHMN and the Municipality of Rahovec, during the years 2014-2015, as part of its activities, has also carried out the identification of natural values and has prepared studies, namely professional justifications for the protection of natural values in the territory of the Municipality of Rahovec. The identified natural values belong to the category of Nature Monuments, specifically the third category (III) according to IUCN.
Within the list of natural monuments that have been protected by the Rahovec Municipal Assembly are: the Ash tree trunk (Fraxinus excelsior) in the village of Kaznik, the Turkey oak trunk (Quercus frainetto) in the village of Kaznik, the Oak trunks (Quercus sp.) in the village of Dobidol, the Turkey oak trunk (Quercus frainetto) in the village of Drenoc I, the Turkey oak trunk (Quercus frainetto) in the village of Drenoc II, the Sessile oak trunk (Quercus petraea) in the village of Nagavc, the Turkey oak trunk (Q. cerris) and the Elm trunk (Ulmus minor) in the village of Bratotin, the Turkey oak trunk (Quercus frainetto) in the village of Bratotin, the Bali Aga Cave in the village of Zatriq, and the Peshter Cave in the village of Zatriq.
The proposal for placing these natural monuments under legal protection, besides their rare natural values such as: the size, trunk thickness, age, crown dimensions, etc., is also based on other scientific, educational - academic, aesthetic, and touristic values, etc., which make these monuments quite attractive to visitors.
Based on the Law on Nature Protection, the declaration of natural monuments is made by the Municipal Assembly in the territory where the monument is located, after obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. Based on this, the Rahovec Municipal Assembly, in the meeting held on 29.02.2016, reviewed the report of the studies on natural values in the territory of its municipality and made a decision for the protection of these proposed objects. On this occasion, the representatives of IKMN participated in this meeting, during which the legal and professional justifications for the importance of taking these natural values under protection were presented.
This professional reasoning prepared by the Kosovo Institute for Nature Protection represents only a part of the professional work of this institution in the field of nature protection. KINP will continue to engage further in recognizing, documenting, and taking under protection the values of special natural features, continuously monitoring the condition of protected areas, and providing professional opinions in the field of nature protection.