Small Water Bodies of the Western Balkans

Book excerpt: The small water bodies such as headwater streams, springs, ditches, small lakes, and ponds are critical to maintaining freshwater biodiversity. This is especially true for Dinaric karst, where they are often the only water bodies present. However, despite their importance, they remain widely overlooked and excluded from government policies like the EU Water Framework Directive. This book includes information on different aspects of these essential but still neglected habitats. This book intends to be of interest to a wide range of audiences, from researchers and conservationists to the public and decision-makers.