The UNEP BTF Team assessing environmental impact of the Balkans conflict concludes work and downplays ecological catastrophe. according to Balkans Task Force (BTF) Situation Report No. 21

Reports of the teams final mission and conclusions of their investigation can be found in the following four news and press releases.

FYI , Janet Eaton

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1] UN WIRE http://www.unfoundation.org/unwire/unwire.cfm?ID=48127#13 Tuesday, 14 September, 1999 BALKANS: UN Finds Toxic Hot Spots, Downplays Overall Risk

2] UNEP Press Release for information only http://www.grid.unep.ch:80/btf/pressreleases/unep1309.html Belgrade September 13, 1999 UNEP-led Assessment of the Environmental Impact of the Balkans Conflict Concludes Work in Yugoslavia

3] UNEP press release for information only http://www.grid.unep.ch:80/btf/pressreleases/unep0609.html UNEP-led Balkans Task Force Biodiversity Mission leaves for Serbia and Montenegro GENEVA, 6 September 1999

4] Hot Spots in Balkans But No Eco-Catastrophe http://ens.lycos.com/ens/sep99/1999L-09-14-01.htmlBELGRADE, Yugoslavia, September 14, 1999 (ENS)

1] UN WIRE An Independent News Briefing about the United Nations http://www.unfoundation.org/unwire/unwire.cfm?ID=48127#13 Tuesday, 14 September, 1999

BALKANS: UN Finds Toxic Hot Spots, Downplays Overall Risk

The head of a UN environmental team said two areas in Yugoslavia were pollution "hot spots" in need of immediate decontamination (Reuters/Central Europe Online, 14 Sep), but he "played down concerns of an ecological catastrophe" caused by the recent war over Kosovo (UN Environment Program/Habitat release, 13 Sep). Pekka Haavisto, head of the UN Environment Program/UN Center for Human Settlements Balkans Task Force (BTF), told reporters there was an "urgent" need to clean up a bombed petrochemical factory and a heavily polluted canal that feeds the Danube River in Pancevo. The environmental team found evidence of both old and new polluted sediments in the canal, he said. At the Zastava automobile factory in Kragujevac, Haavisto said his team had already urged Yugoslav authorities to remove toxic wastes which pose a "serious threat to the health of the people working there."

Regarding possible contamination of the Danube, which many communities use for drinking water, Haavisto said, "We didn't find any alarming things." And asked to comment on the possible contamination of agricultural areas, he said, "If you don't wash your salad or things like that, there might be some risks, but in the soil itself we didn't find any heavy pollution" (Reuters/Central Europe Online).

Localized Impact On National Parks

The BTF's most recent field work focused on the war's impacts on the region's biological diversity. The experts gathered "extensive" data on conditions in several national parks and protected areas, but Haavisto said the team's conclusions in these areas were consistent with its broader findings. "There has clearly been some localized impact" on vegetation and endangered species, he said, but the long-term impact on the region "will likely be minimal." A more immediate concern, he said, was the amount of unexploded ordnance in the parks, which could hinder their use for recreation and tourism. A final report on the BTF's work will be submitted to the UN secretary-general by early October. Click here for the BTF's latest reports and maps on the Web (UNEP/Habitat release). (Back to Contents)

2] http://www.grid.unep.ch:80/btf/pressreleases/unep1309.html UNEP Press Release

For Information only
Not an official record
Jointly issued by UNEP and Habitat

UNEP-led Assessment of the Environmental Impact of the Balkans Conflict Concludes Work in Yugoslavia

BELGRADE, 13 September 1999 - As the last team of environmental experts from the joint UN Environment Programme (UNEP)/UN Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) Balkans Task Force (BTF) finished their field-work here today, BTF Chairman, Pekka Haavisto, played down concerns of an ecological catastrophe, but said action was needed to deal with the environment "hot-spots" identified by the BTF's scientific assessment of the environmental and human settlement impact of the Balkans conflict.

"Pancevo and Kragujevac (towns in Serbia) are two hot-spots of particular concern," said Haavisto. In Pancevo, there is an urgent need to clean-up the 2 km stretch of heavily polluted canal which feeds into the Danube river and to remove the mercury on the ground at the petrochemical factory. As for the Zastava car factory in Kragujevac, we have recommended to the Yugoslav authorities the immediate removal of toxic waste which is a serious threat to the human health of people working there," he said.

In July, BTF scientists visited Yugoslavia to assess the environmental damage caused by the conflict at selected industrial sites, and last month a group looked at the possible impact on the river Danube. An inter-agency "Desk Assessment Group", involving UNEP, WHO, IAEA and the Swedish Radiation Institute has also been looking into the issue of the use of depleted uranium in the conflict.

The BTF team leaving Yugoslavia today has been assessing the possible consequences of the conflict for the biodiversity in protected areas in the region. The experts have gathered extensive data and witnessed first hand the current situation during visits to Fruska Gora and Kopaonik national parks, Zlatibor, and Lake Skadar in Montenegro. Approximately 4% of Yugoslavia is classified as a nature protected area and there were concerns that the conflict may have had a direct impact on the plant and animal populations in these areas with possible negative consequences for the region's biodiversity.

"The initial reports from the biodiversity experts support our broader conclusions on the environmental impact of the Balkans conflict," said Haavisto. "There has clearly been some localised impact with vegetation damaged as a result of direct impact from the bombs. Also, some endangered species in the vulnerable highland areas may have been affected which is a cause for concern. However, the long-term impact on the region's biodiversity will likely be minimal," he said.

"An issue of more immediate concern," continued Haavisto, "is the amount of unexploded ordanance in the national parks - it is unclear exactly how much is there but its presence is hindering management and maintenance of these areas which are key areas for recreation and tourism."

Mr. Haavisto also announced today that the BTF has completed its preliminary activities in Kosovo. Based in Pristina, the Habitat-led team has been working as an integral part of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) on issues of urban management and rehabilitation, housing law, property registration and environmental management. Key issues like the establishment of a Housing and Property Directorate to deal with property disputes, as well as the need for developing guidelines and procedures for municipal operation have been included among UNMIK's priority action as a result of this work.

A final report on the work of all the BTF assessment missions and other activities will be submitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations in late September/early October.

The BTF was established by the head of UNEP and Habitat, UN Under-Secretary-General, Klaus Toepfer, in May 1999 to assess the environmental and human settlements impacts of the Balkans conflict. The latest information on the work of the BTF can be accessed from the World-Wide-Web at http://www.grid.unep.ch/btf - the site contains detailed situation reports, maps and other materials.

Note to journalists: Pekka Haavisto, BTF Chairman, will hold a press conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Belgrade, at 11.00 on Monday, 13 September.

For more information contact: Robert Bisset, Office of the UNEP Spokesman and BTF Press Officer (in Belgrade, until 13 September c/o the Hyatt Regency Hotel on tel: (381-11) 311 1234, fax: 311-2234), mobile: 41-79-206-3720, email: robert.bisset@unep.org.

In Nairobi, contact: Tore J. Brevik, UNEP Spokesman on tel: (254-2) 623292, fax: 623692, email: brevikt@unep.org, or Sharad Shankardass, Ag. Head, Media and Press Relations, Habitat, tel: (254-2) 623153, fax: 624060, email: habitat.press@unchs.org UNEP News Release 1999/BTF8

3] http://www.grid.unep.ch:80/btf/pressreleases/unep0609.html UNEP Press Release For Information only Not an official record Jointly issued by UNEP and Habitat UNEP-led Balkans Task Force Biodiversity Mission leaves for Serbia and Montenegro Final field assessment of the environmental consequences of the Balkans conflict begins tomorrow

GENEVA, 6 September 1999 - The last team of international scientists from the joint UN Environment Programme (UNEP)/UN Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) Balkans Task Force (BTF) leaves for Serbia and Montenegro tomorrow. This, the final BTF expert field mission to the region, is one part of on an independent scientific and technical assessment of the environmental and human settlements impact of the Balkans conflict.

The team of five BTF scientists - from Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Norway, and Slovakia - will assess the damage to biological diversity in protected areas in the region. Planned locations to be visited include: Fruska Gora national park near Novi Sad, Kopaonik national park, Zlatibor, and Lake Skadar in Montenegro.

Approximately 4% of Yugoslavia is classified as a nature protected area, in the form of national parks, Ramsar (the Wetlands Convention) or World Heritage sites. It has been reported that the conflict may have had a direct impact on the plant and animal populations in these areas with possible negative consequences for the region's biological diversity. The BTF scientists will gather relevant information on the pre-conflict status of these areas and also visit selected sites in order to collect data and assess first-hand the current situation.

The report on impact on biological diversity will complement earlier BTF missions to the region. In July, a BTF team of international experts visited Yugoslavia to assess the environmental damage caused by the conflict at selected industrial sites, and last month, another team visited Serbia to look at the possible impact on the river Danube.

In addition, a BTF team, based in Pristina, is currently working in close cooperation with the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) on issues of urban management and rehabilitation, housing law, property registration and environmental management. And, an inter-agency "Desk Assessment Group", involving UNEP, WHO, IAEA and the Swedish Radiation Institute is looking into the issue of the use of depleted uranium in the conflict. Members of this group will forward their reports to the BTF later this month.

A final report on the work of the BTF - which will contain both the scientific findings and some practical proposals - will be submitted to the UN Secretary-General.

The BTF was established by the head of UNEP and Habitat, UN Under-Secretary-General, Klaus Toepfer, in May 1999 to assess the environmental and human settlements impacts of the Balkans conflict. The latest information on the work of the BTF can be accessed from the World-Wide-Web at http://www.grid.unep.ch/btf - the site contains detailed situation reports, maps and other materials.

4] Hot Spots in Balkans But No Eco-Catastrophe http://ens.lycos.com/ens/sep99/1999L-09-14-01.html

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia, September 14, 1999 (ENS) - The last team of environmental experts from the joint United Nations Environment Programme/United Nations Centre for Human Settlements Balkans Task Force finished their field work here Monday. Task Force Chairman, Pekka Haavisto, said urgent action is needed to deal with the environmental "hot-spots" identified by the teams' scientific assessment of the environmental and human settlement impact of the Balkans conflict.

Haavisto tried to play down fears of an ecological catastrophe, still, he said, "Pancevo and Kragujevac (towns in Serbia) are two hot-spots of particular concern."

"In Pancevo, there is an urgent need to clean-up the two kilometre stretch of heavily polluted canal which feeds into the Danube river and to remove the mercury on the ground at the petrochemical factory. As for the Zastava car factory in Kragujevac, we have recommended to the Yugoslav authorities the immediate removal of toxic waste which is a serious threat to the human health of people working there," he said. "An issue of more immediate concern," Haavisto said, "is the amount of unexploded ordnance in the national parks - it is unclear exactly how much is there but its presence is hindering management and maintenance of these areas which are key areas for recreation and tourism."

In July, the Balkans Task Force scientists visited Yugoslavia to assess the environmental damage caused by the conflict at selected industrial sites, and last month a group looked at the possible impact on the river Danube. An inter-agency "Desk Assessment Group" involving United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Swedish Radiation Institute has also been looking into the issue of the use of depleted uranium in the conflict.

The Balkans Task Force team leaving Yugoslavia today has been assessing the possible consequences of the conflict for the biodiversity in protected areas in the region. The experts have gathered extensive data and witnessed first hand the current situation during visits to Fruska Gora and Kopaonik national parks, Zlatibor, and Lake Skadar in Montenegro.

About four percent of Yugoslavia is classified as a nature protected area and there were concerns that the conflict may have had a direct impact on the plant and animal populations in these areas with possible negative consequences for the region's biodiversity.

"There has clearly been some localized impact with vegetation damaged as a result of direct impact from the bombs. Also, some endangered species in the vulnerable highland areas may have been affected which is a cause for concern. However, the long-term impact on the region's biodiversity will likely be minimal," Haavisto said.

The Balkans Task Force has completed its preliminary activities in Kosovo. Based in Pristina, the Habitat-led team has been working as an integral part of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) on issues of urban management and rehabilitation, housing law, property registration and environmental management. Key issues like the establishment of a Housing and Property Directorate to deal with property disputes, as well as the need for developing guidelines and procedures for municipal operation have been included among UNMIK's priority action as a result of this work. A final report on the work of all the Balkans Task Force assessment missions and other activities will be submitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations in late September or early October.

The Balkans Task Force was established by the head of UNEP and Habitat, UN Under-Secretary-General, Klaus Toepfer, in May 1999 to assess the environmental and human settlements impacts of the Balkans conflict.

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