Danube River, Slovakia Photograph by WWF/ Paul Glandell   Eastern Europe: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests   118,500 square miles (306,900 square kilometers) -- about twice the size of Georgia Critical/Endangered

· Sheltered Valley
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Sheltered Valley

This ecoregion is a vast depression surrounded by three major mountain chains: the Carpathian Mountains, Alps, and Dinarid Mountains. These cause a major rain shadow that allows very little precipitation to reach the center of this ecoregion. The region has numerous rivers, streams, and lakes and hosts people of many cultures--including Austrians, Croatians, Hungarians, and Ukrainians. Even though the area is heavily populated, large fragments of habitat remain intact.

Special Features

Different types of plant communities form concentric circles from the center of the depression to the mountain slopes that form the outer rim of the ecoregion. In the very center, where rain is almost completely blocked by the surrounding mountains, steppe-like vegetation grows. Outward from the center grow forests of hornbeam, Tatarian maple, and turkey oak. On the slopes, forests of English elm, white poplar, and English oak slowly take over. The Danube River crosses the entire area with riverine forests and species such as common alder, ash, and willow.

	Montagu’s harriers come to the wetlands of this ecoregion for part of the year to breed. These large raptors have a wing span of just under 4 feet (1.2 m) and can catch moving prey--even other birds--while in mid-flight. The harriers build their nests on the ground in tall grass, a very vulnerable place, instead of in trees.

Wild Side

Because of the wide variety of habitats available in this ecoregion, many different species of animals live here. Birdlife International has designated 50 Important Bird Areas within the region. Wetlands provide resources for white spoonbills, great egrets, Montagu’s harriers, and great bustards. Endangered species are also found here, including the European mink, meadow viper, Orsini’s viper, long-nosed viper, snake-eyed skink, and Balkan wall lizard. Mammals include the Central European hare, European rabbit, and wolf. Honey buzzards and goshawks are large raptors that eat small mammals such as hares and rabbits. Ground-dwelling birds such as quail hide in long grasses and shrubs. The Ural owl, Tengmalm’s owl, and alpine swift can be found throughout the region.

Cause for Concern

Central Europe’s continued industrialization is increasing pollution and driving a demand for resources, which is leading to more logging and the loss of natural habitats. The expansion and intensification of agriculture, hunting, damming, irrigation, repeated fires, road construction, and overgrazing of grasslands and steppe habitats all threaten this ecoregion.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.