Key message: The amount of collected medicinal herbs is larger than the exported

Assessment: The quantity of collected herbs according to the data of the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia for the period 2004-2016, is 66,565,575 kg, which is 48,758,293 kg more than it was exported. Exported amount is 3.73 times less than the collected. According to Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia data, issued permits include 30-40% of actually collected quantities from nature, which means that the quantities actually collected are 2.5-3.3 times higher than shown, or on average 2.9 times is more accumulated than the recorded quantities. According to data of the Customs Administration, the average export price of medicinal herbs is 3.05 Euro/kg.

In order to compare the data, it was calculated how much mushroom from nature was collected for the period 2004-2016, according to the Institute’s data, this amount is 54,944,939 kg, which is 1.86 times less than it was exported. The average export price according to the data of the Customs Administration for the period 2004-2016, for all types of mushrooms is 1.86 Euro/kg. Data above show that quantity of exported mushrooms was almost two times higher than the collected amount, which confirms that the collection and export of mushrooms from Serbia is largely in the grey zone. Large amount of truffles are collected and exported without permission, as are all three types of the true morels. The average recorded collected quantities of mushrooms in the last four years amount to about 4.5 million kg, while the average quantity of exported mushrooms according to the data of the Customs Administration for the same period is  about  13.6  million  kg,  which  is  3  times  more,  some  is  exported  illegally,  so  the  amount  collected  is  at  least  4  times  higher  than  recorded. In order to compare the data, the number of snails collected from nature for the period 2004-2016 was calculated, and this amount is 12,763,354 kg, which is 3.2 times more than it was exported. According to data of the Customs Administration, the average export price for snails was 2.20 Euro/kg, which is actually less than the real export price of semi-processed snails, which is around 4 Euro/kg, the problem are so-called “fictitious contracts” that do not show the real price. According to the data from the Annual Reports of the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, about 5-7 thousand tons snails are illegally collected and exported annually. The snails are illegally exported, as well as other wild species through:  Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Croatia, etc. According to the data from the annual reports of the Institute for Nature Protection of Serbia, about 600 tons of snails have been collected for the last four years, and taking into account that at least 5 times more is collected from nature illegally, an average annual quantity of about 3.6 million kg of snails is obtained.

Indicator Name: Export of wild flora and fauna

Institution/Author: University Futura/dr Radomir Mandić

Use and interpretation:

The Indicator shows the level and quantities of exported wild flora and fauna

Key question(s) which indicator helps to answer

The indicator helps to answer the question: What is the quantity of exported wild flora and fauna?

Use of indicator

The indicator shows trend in the amounts of collected and exported wild flora and fauna. This might be used in defining quantities for yearly collection of wild flora and fauna.

 Scale of appropriate use

The quantity of collected herbs according to the data of the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia for the period 2004-2016, is 66,565,575 kg, which is 48,758,293 kg more than it was exported. Exported amount is 3.73 times less than the collected. According to Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia data, issued permits include 30-40 % of actually collected quantities from nature, which means that the quantities actually collected are 2.5-3.3 times higher than shown, or on average 2.9 times is more accumulated than the recorded quantities. According to data of the Customs Administration, the average export price of medicinal herbs is 3.05 Euro/kg.

Potential for aggregation:

Meaning of upward or downward trends (“good or bad”)

In order to compare data, it was calculated how much mushroom from nature was collected for the period 2004-2016, according to the Institute’s data, this amount is 54,944,939 kg, which is 1.86 times less than it was exported. The average export price according to the data of the Customs Administration for the period 2004-2016, for all types of mushrooms is 1.86 Euro/kg. Data above show that the quantity of exported mushrooms was almost two times higher than the collected amount, which confirms that the collection and export of mushrooms from Serbia is largely in the grey zone. A large quantity of truffles are collected and exported without permission, as are all three types of the true morels. The average recorded collected quantities of mushrooms in the last four years amount to about 4.5 million kg, while the average quantity of exported mushrooms according to the data of the Customs Administration for the same period is  about  13.6  million  kg,  which  is  3  times  more,  some  is  exported  illegally,  so  the  amount  collected  is  at  least  4  times  higher  than  recorded. In order to compare data, the number of snails collected from nature for the period 2004-2016 was calculated, and this amount is 12,763,354 kg, which is 3.2 times more than it was exported. According to the data of the Customs Administration, the average export price for snails was 2.20 Euro/kg, which is actually less than the real export price of semi-processed snails, which is around 4 Euro/kg, the problem are so-called “fictitious contracts” that do not show the real price.

Possible reasons for upward or downward trends:

According to the data from the Annual Reports of the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, about 5-7 thousand tons of snails are illegally collected and exported annually. The snails are illegally  exported,  as  well  as  other  wild  species  through  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Croatia, etc. According to data from the annual reports of the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, about 600 tons of snails have been collected for the last four years, and taking into account that at least 5 times more is collected from nature illegally, an average annual quantity of about 3.6 million kg of snails is obtained.

Implications for biodiversity management of change in the indicator:

Units in which it is expressed:

In tons of collected / exported wild plants and animals; in euro per kg collected / exported samples

Description of source data:

Institute for nature conservation of Serbia

Calculation procedure:

Ratio between exported and collected animals and plants

Most effective forms of presentation:

(graph types, maps, narratives, etc.-give examples where possible):

The best ways to present this indicator are graphs and tables.

Limits to usefulness and accuracy:

The accuracy of the data can be assessed as satisfactory. Precision depends exclusively if all users deliver their data.

Updating the indicator:

Annually

Closely related indicators

Collection of wild flora and fauna

Additional information and comments

Table 1: Export of wild flora and fauna

Table 2: Purchase and export potential of wild flora and fauna

Serbia