The present distribution of the Balkan lynx – described as an own subspecies Lynx lynx martinoii – is restricted to the southwest Balkans, mainly the border areas between Macedonia and Albania, spreading north into Montenegro and the Kosovo. The population is estimated to be less than 100 individuals.

Biology, ecology and history of the Balkan lynx are not well understood or documented, but obvious threats have been direct persecution in the past (the lynx has been legally protected in Yugoslavia since 1973 and in Albania since 1994), decline of prey populations, and loss and fragmentation of habitat.

The critical status of this most threatened autochthonous lynx population of Europe has been known for a long time, but the war-like commotions and insecurity of the region have hindered conservation action over the past years. In 2000, scientists and wildlife conservationists have joined to produce a report on the status of the lynx in the southwest Balkans, and since then, national and international awareness has increased. Today, the governments of Macedonia and Albania are about to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the conservation of the lynx under the auspices of the Bern Convention.

The Balkan lynx has only survived because the border region between former Yugoslavia, Albania, and Greece were areas with limited access and partly protected. Today, important remnant nuclei of the lynx occurrence are in protected areas, and the Green Belt Initiative offers the opportunity to expand and improve the protected sites. The lynx is today well known in the public and considered something unique to the region. The charismatic lynx is a flagship species for nature conservation in the Green Belt of the southwest Balkan and can in turn directly profit from an improved protection of these areas.

Euronatur has been focussing on protected area work in the southwest Balkan since the early 1990s, and KORA has initiated Balkan lynx conservation activities several years ago. The two institutions have joined in a common effort to advance both, species conservation and wildlife management, and protected area management and sustainable land use. The aim of the Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme is to secure the survival of the population through a series of protected areas and improved wildlife management within and outside the PAs. To do so, we need to generate a set of baseline information and to establish a reliable monitoring programme. This implies a strong partnership between governmental and non-governmental institutions on national and international level, increased public awareness and public involvement, and – above all – capacity building in nature conservation, wildlife research, and management.

Progress has already been made in the domains of protected areas, partnership and public awareness and in capacity building. Ten graduate students from Albania and Macedonia were selected to be trained in protected area management and GIS work, and in wildlife conservation and research. We have conducted courses in the respective fields in Switzerland, Germany, and Macedonia in fall/winter 2005/06.

Furthermore, we aim to start certain limited projects – e.g. in ecological fieldwork or in sustainable land use – which can then serve as models for other projects.