peer reviewed | This study analyzed the potential use of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) as a strategy for improving water supply management. This study focused on the Siminehroud Sub-basin due to its high importance to the Basin of Urmia Lake (UL). Siminehroud is the second provider of water (by volume) to Urmia Lake. To evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of a PES scheme, the current land use map was extracted using satellite imagery. In addition, the two algorithms of Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) are used for Landsat images classification, rather than analyzing the relationship between land use and ecosystem services. Then, the most relevant ecosystem services provided in the region were evaluated using the Benefit Transfer Method. In the last step, by designing and implementing a survey, on the one hand, the local farmers' Willingness to Accept (WTA) cash payments for reducing the area they cultivate, and on the other hand, the farmers' Willingness to Pay (WTP) for managing the water consumption were determined. The results illustrated that the WTA program is more acceptable among the beneficiaries. It is also notable that this program needs very high governmental funding. Furthermore, the results of the program indicate that the land area out of the cultivation cycle will gradually increase while the price of agricultural water will also increase.

During the 1981-1996 period, qualitative and quantitative structure of oligachaeta communities as indicator of the eutrophication process was investigated in the lake Palic (the 2nd oxidation lake), Serbia (Yugoslavia). The mean annual number of oligochaetes was related to nutrient concentration (total nitrogen and total phosphorus). The analysed data for both oligochaete community and nutrients, leads to the conclusion that the second oxidation lake Palic can be classified as an highly eutrophic environment, with tendency towards dystrophic, particularly in past two years.

The analysis of the phytoplakton and phytoperiphyton communities in the Palic lake (Serbia, Yugoslavia), has been performed with aim the water quality evalution. The determining and following proportional presence of phytoplankton were in the fourth sector of lake during 1998, 1999, and 2000. During the period of investigation, the phytoplankton community was characterized by forms of Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta, Euglenophyta and Bacillariophyta. During the investigation it was perceived the change in proportional participation in the presence of the four alga group mentioned above. The most representative percent was the Chlorophyta group, with values from 44.4%, to 54.7%. The other phytoplakton group has less values of percentage in the values.

The lake Provala near Vajska (Serbia, Yugoslavia) was created by the embankment performation during high Danube river levels in 1924. It is a very important water ecosystem of natural origin, which is a fact of great importance for exact biological and ecological research. Miljanovic (1996) and Pujin (1997) present the first lake Provala water state data. They emphasise the reinforced eutrophication process in the shore region. This paper presents the review of the macrophytes vegetation of the lake Provala recent state for the first time, with special attention to dominant plant species. Based on the present taxons analysis, as well as water chemical parameters analysed (NH4(+), NO3(-), NO2(-), PO4(3-), HPK, BPK, pH), it can be concluded that the eutrophication process is present in this water micro-reservoir. It is especially true for the shore region and shallow waters, where the process is already well under way and very fast. These research results can be used to efficiently protect this natural water ecosystem.

In this paper are presented autochthonous and all other alochthonous famous fishes in Lake Ohrid and its catchement area (The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). Introduction of new species in lakes and rivers in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is prohibited, especially in Lake Ohrid and catchement area. The most probable period and possible way of introduction are presented and the reason of that introduction, as well. It is necessary, in the future, more attention to be paid on Lake Ohrid protection from introduction of new species, which may cause big changes in Lake Ohrid dynamics.