Environment Programme’s Post

🎬Interview with the Director of #EnvPro Ana Katnić and Head of protection and development department of #NationalParksofMontenegro Hajdana Ilić Božović on #Ekovizija, #RTCG 🗣️Gave insight into elements and important drivers of advancement with concept of the Skadar Lake Watershed - future Transboundary Biosphere Reserve! The process envisages for development and acceptance of the new regional mandate for learning, sustainable development and nature conservation to be endorsed with 3️⃣ nomination dossiers palnned for submission in September 2025! What has been so far achieved? What are the elaments of success? What form new management entity could have? … #IPACBCMneAl #UNESCO #MAB #BR https://lnkd.in/dgDF9Mp6

Each year, the European Green Belt Days are celebrated from 18 – 24 September. Over 50 participants from Montenegro and Albania came together to celebrate the #EGBDays2024, organized by Program za životnu sredinu - #EnvPro and local partners. At amazing Ostros, Kraja region, at the shore of the Lake Skadar. EuroNatur Foundation

☀️Weekend excitement in our small team!!! 🌎💧Just approved for a new project on Water balance!!! More information to come! #LakeSkadarWatershed 🧗♀️When you can’t wait to start! Kelsey Aho

💫Something very special for the end of an eventful week ☄️!!! #EnvPro youth club, local coordinators and partners! 🌿 A Weekend to Remember: Nature, Culture, and Community at the European Green Belt Days! 🌿✨ This year’s EGBDays brought us together to honor the rich biodiversity and cultural heritage in Kraja region in Montenegro, on the shoreside of #Skadar/ShkoderLake. From ‘inspiring presentations’ to ‘nature-based activities’ , ‘sunset gatherings’, ‘sunrise birdwatching’ and ‘cultural walks’ and ‘exhibition’, each moment was filled with purpose and connection. 💚 A massive thank you to all participants, partners, and speakers who made this event unforgettable! 🙏 Together, we are building a stronger, more sustainable future for this incredible region. Swipe to relive the highlights and feel the magic 🫧🌟🌈 #EGBDays2024 EuroNatur Foundation

#SkadarLakeWatershed - A Transboundary Biosphere Reserve project has managed to ensure both, topdown and the bottom up approach, generate partnerships, sharing rights and responsibilities for an effective #collaborative new regional development mandate. 🤝 We have concluded an inspiring three-day event in Podgorica on sustainable business practices and innovative governance models for biosphere reserves. ▶️ Here’s a recap of some key moments: 🌏 #BiosphereReserves extend beyond protected areas. They do not provide for additional protection, bans or restrictions. 🏕️They can provide for #greeneconomy and #sustainabletourism, facilitating local community involvement. 🔬BRs support research, monitoring, education, and training. 🗺️They belong to a world network that helps knowledge exchange, and provide examples for overcome challenges. 🫶We were inspired by experience of Austria, Germany, Czech and Italy BRs and learned from the success and constrains of the newest transboundary nomination process #JulianAlps, and the first five country TBR Mura - Drava - Danube #MDD! On the State Ecological Day we were privileged to have a high level impactful discussion on the Skadar Lake Watershed TBR and the Tara River Basin BR! 🗣️State Secretary in the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development announced we can expect #nomination Dossier to be sent for designation next year in September! 📑 #UNDP and #EUDofMontenegro and #UNESCO Venice esteemed officials underliend the critical importance of transboundary process, involvement of stakeholders, thus cooperation and sustainable development for the case of Lake Skadar Watershed. #EnvPro Director stated that transformation of the way resources are used toward more effective, fair and inclusive is the end goal of the project! From thought-provoking speeches to interactive discussions, participants contributed to a meaningful dialogue within the context of MNE and #ALB nomination concluding #BR is a platform for cooperation. SLW - TBR community based focus was particularly discussed as a positive moment! A heartfelt thank to all the 150 participants, esteemed speakers and online attendees. #ipacbcmontenegroalbania UNESCO Venice Tamara Brajovic Fachhochschule Eberswalde #biospherereserve Danijel Garic Milica Nikolic Ermelinda Mahmutaj Jana Baumgartner Francesca Bampa, PhD #EUDtoMontenegro Lisa MJ Wolf …

🎉This week we celebrate many storyies! 🌿 Two-Day Journey at Lake Skadar/ Shkodra! Date: 21-22 September Location: Murici Beach, Kraja region We are excited to invite you to an experience focused on cross-border ecosystem conservation, cultural heritage, and community connection. “Every year, the European Green Belt Initiative celebrates the biological diversity and cultural heritage in the impressive landscapes along the former Iron Curtain during the European Green Belt Days from 18th to 24th of September. This year, many European Green Belt Days celebrations will take place in the Baltic, Central European and the Balkan regions of the European Green Belt. This provides a great opportunity to launch a strong social media outreach to showcase how different organizations in different countries along the European Green Belt celebrate our shared natural and cultural heritage! The goal is to showcase the diversity of celebrations along the European Green Belt, and at the same time, their “connectedness” by celebrating our joint natural and cultural heritage.” Come connect with nature, local culture, and fellow eco-enthusiasts for a weekend of exploration and learning! ✨ Reserve now and be part of this unique event! 🌍 #EGBDays2024 #LakeShkodra #EcoConservation #CrossBorderInitiatives #CulturalHeritage #NatureConnection #SkadarWatershed #CommunityEngagement #PetllaTasting #RebornByAdventure Proud of our local coordinators, stakeholders and community!!!

🌏 It’s always a pleasure and great learning event! 🌿 Regional Summer School on Transboundary Ecosystem Management and Conflict Prevention - organised by Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development. From September 7th to 17th, students and experts from Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Germany joined forces to address cross-border conservation challenges in the beautiful Lake Skadar Watershed region! With a topic of #UNESCO #BiosphereReserve using #OpenStadards in #Conservation this immersive experience featured field excursions, stakeholder meetings, and hands-on learning sessions. #EnvPro, led key activities to present sustainable regional development needed for paving the way for future UNESCO biosphere reserve. #Sustainability #BunaBojana #UNESCO #TogetherForBuna #Nature #SkadarLake #EcosystemManagement Fachhochschule Eberswalde Ermelinda Mahmutaj Ferdinand Bego Avni Hajdari Stella Vareltzidou Judith Kloiber

Do we care for any #nature? It is very important when the ecosystem has the potential to recover and #restore after logging, forest fires… building complex interactions necessary to preserve its and ours (are we nature?) vital elements (soil, water, climate...) in this way building #resilience for further disasters. Such ecosystems are not recognized by current environmental protection policies in a significant way, but are of inestimable importance for the preserving existing, functional ecological structures and the increase of the (self) regulatory capacity of forest, wetland and grasslands. Field visit to #LBBUEC - #Ulcinj and natural ecosystems: together with the representative of Eberswalde University - Fachhochschule Eberswalde, #HNEE, project consultants and experts Mensura Nuhodzic, Slavisa Lucic, Mihailo Jovicevic, Bogic Gligorovic, Local Tourism Organization Ulcinj, Mountaineering Society Rumija, local NGO @MogUl, @Reborn by adventure and local enthusiasts, 22.08. visited: the hinterland, the area of Anamajsko polje, and Bijela Gora. Supported by EuroNatur Foundation #BESTbelt, #EU