Mission Impossible

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

The IPA project “Partnership actions for biodiversity protection in Western Balkans” is ending in December 2011. I had the pleasure to be involved in this project as manager of the various capacity building activities: face to face training in Montenegro and Serbia as well as exchange visits to Spain and Croatia. The project concluded with a final workshop and exhibition in Belgrade where the participants showed what they had achieved with the small actions from the project in year two. Looking at the pictures of the exhibition and reading the short text, the motivation of the participating organizations became tangible. In addition I had come to know most of them during the capacity building activities: their faces, the way they expressed themselves in the different workshops and I knew listening to them how difficult it is for small NGOs in Serbia or Montenegro to make their voices heard.

This project is only a small step in the long road that most of the organizations must follow. Hopefully some things may remain once the project is closed: better contact with other NGOs from their country or region, an understanding of the importance of working together and a sense of urgency or a sense of “Mission Impossible”. The environment, biodiversity, nature, earth – however you will call it – is threatened by us: by you, by me, by us. We know that our way of living destroys what we want to protect. We feel that we are part of the problem. But nevertheless we try to stop the process. We work for NGOs, smaller or bigger ones, we recycle, we eat organic food – but we are still part of the problem. Exactly here starts our mission impossible: to break the cycle, to show alternatives, to be different, to make the world a different, better place. This means that we as individuals and as an NGO have to find new ways of acting and thinking. In our training courses we use examples of what has worked so far, best practices, or we describe the project management cycle. But in a way this is the old way of thinking, the way of thinking which created the problems which we now try to solve with the sameold logic. Most of you know well this famous sentence of Albert Einstein that we can’t solve the problems with the same thinking which created them. Here again is the mission impossible for NGOs: find these new ways, new ways of doing and new ways of thinking. After two years working with many different NGOs as part of this project I have learned that NGOs have enough motivation and creativity to look for these new ways. Good luck and please keep me updated on your progress!

Christoph Stein, WWF

Power of the network

“Ask not what your network can do for you—ask what you can do for your network J”

Small boat represents NGO network trying to save nature (c) drawing Bjanka Prakljačić

2008 brought new energy to my organisation (Young Researchers of Serbia), and many other, organizations in Serbia. It was a key year for the establishment of collaboration with WWF and a very important year for stronger cooperation with other NGOs in Serbia. At that time we, Serbian NGOs, knew each other; we also knew organizations from Montenegro but we were missing “something” to be more organized. The “something” came with a project supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we created a network for working on EU nature related acquis. Then, in 2009 we were supported by the EC – DG Environment for capacity building and it was perfectly matched.

We all had a positive experience on national, regional and international levels and naturally and spontaneously the project “Partnership actions for biodiversity protection in Western Balkans” was the next step. 

Partnership is a strong word! During the implementation of the project we made it stronger. What partnership on the project brought to me and my organization was positive spirit and stress; good ideas and actions; a lot of question marks and then sudden happiness when we understood what our partners meant; new knowledge, tips and tricks; a new understanding of our partners’ work and plans; some clear ideas about “what and with whom I wouldn’t like to work in the future” and many, many other things!

Another strong word and more important, frequently pronounced and written during the project period, is “networking”. Our network of NGOs has 56 member organizations, 4 working groups and Young Researchers of Serbia is the network secretariat. It is not easy at all! So many things to be considered. Sometimes too demanding but.....it is great! What is the value of the network? Well, after almost 4 years working within the network I can say that I can answer all questions regarding nature, nature protection, EU acquis, Natura 2000 in Serbia etc. 

No, no, no....I am not so advanced J  I have colleagues in the network, many of them, with the different professional background, with different knowledge, experience....and thanks to the reliable information exchange methods I can get  answers. We can all ask each other any question and rely on each other. Of course, we have a number of sleeping members and sometimes we face a lot of difficulties to involve them in activities....but slowly, slowly we will motivate them to be more active.

To conclude, NETWORK is the most significant change that happened to me in the last 730 days (during this project)! Working with others on different project activities made me understand the importance of being networked and has motivated me to do what is necessary to make the network function. 

Milka Gvozdenovic, Young Researchers of Serbia

Tanja Petrovic: Institutions work with us. However, more effort would be appreciated…

Tanja Petrović (c) MIS

The knowledge among NGOs in Serbia on Natura 2000 is respectable. A good part of the credit for that belongs to Young Researchers of Serbia, who were the first one in Serbia to organize workshops and trainings about the importance of Natura 2000. One of the projects that secured funds for such an education was “Partnership Actionsfor Biodiversity Protection in Western Balkans”. We spoke about it to Tanja Petrovic, executive director of Young Researchers of Serbia (YRS).

Young Researchers of Serbia have been working on the preparation of NGOs for Natura 2000 for more than 3 years already. How did you decide to take the initiative to support the creation of that ecological network in Serbia?

I must admit that dealing with Natura 2000 was one of the easiest decisions we have made in the last few years J. Dealing with Natura 2000 for us was entirely natural. Since our establishment (this year we celebrate our 35^th anniversary), we have dealt with nature conservation and biodiversity.  Membership in international networks, such as CEEweb, has enabled us to understand the  importance of Natura 2000 considerably before it became a topic in Serbia. We understood the importance of establishing the network in Serbia, the benefits, the importance of implementation and, more important, the need for preparation and training for organizations dealing with nature protection in order to become an equal and respectable partner of state institutions for the establishment of Natura 2000 in Serbia.

The project “Partnership Actions for Biodiversity Protection in Western Balkans” is at the very end. Are you satisfied with its implementation? What could have been done better? What are the lessons learned? 

In general, we are satisfied. With our partners we have succeeded in gathering NGOs in two countries dealing with nature conservation, forming two informal but functional national networks. This is what I consider to be the biggest value of this project. Those organizations are now better trained, better prepared… With our study visits to Brussels and Croatia we gained significant experiences. Some prejudices about what is and what is not possible in Natura 2000 are outdated now and nothing is “mission impossible” anymore.

What could have been done better? There was a lack of concrete field work. Some things were done through local actions, but not enough. But two years are, in fact, not enough… So, this still remains for some future projects!

Future

Will YRS work on Natura 2000 in the future? Do you have some new projects?

The fact that our project is at the end doesn’t mean we have finished our work. This project gave us an opportunity to learn. Now we need to implement the knowledge we have obtained. So yes, we will definitely continue working on Natura 2000. After the establishment of Natura 2000, which is a very complicated and complex process, a lot of work is still ahead for the civil sector. The establishment of the network is just the beginning.

Regarding our projects, we have just begun implementation of the project “Promoting socio-economic Benefits of Natura 2000”. We are still waiting to hear from our donors regarding a few more projects dealing with Natura 2000.

What is the future plan for the Natura 2000 Resource Center of Serbia, a network for which your organization is secretariat?

Our intention is, of course, to continue working with the network. There are 4 working groups within the network: communications, research, lobbying and education. Many activities have already started: promotion of Natura 2000, workshops, participation in biogeographical seminars for the Emerald network. This year we have secured funding for regular meetings. The projects we have developed in the meantime are to provide funds for such activities in the future.

What is the opinion of NGOs in Serbia regarding the political will for the implementation of EU acquis for nature protection? Is there such a will in Serbia?

Partly. As politicians would say, I doubt there is any consensus about it. There are institutions in Serbia that are, together with their leaders, ready and willing to implement EU acquis, but there are also the others that see the implementation of Natura 2000 only as an imposed obligation. This means that we, as civil society and as a sector, are facing a lot of work, education and capacity building for the establishment of an ecological network. Many people see only in-kind commitments in Natura 2000, they don’t see benefits… So far! 

Are you invited to the council or working group for the Natura 2000 network formed by the Government of the Republic of Serbia?

At this moment we have only informal information that the representative of the civil sector will be appointed to the working group on Natura 2000. Nothing official has happened yet, there is no decision on the appointment. However, I think that’s not enough – the civil sector should have a representative on the Council as well. This, of course, wouldn’t be a precedent. Three representatives of civil society are permanent members of the Council for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Serbia and it works just fine ... I suppose this is not the only example.         

In my opinion the cause of frequent misunderstandings and disputes among civil society and institutions involved in nature protection is the lack of information, lack of recognition of the potential that lies in the civil sector, misunderstanding of the nature of civil society on the one hand, and the way in which the state administration works on the other side... Membership on the Council and in the Working Group would probably contribute to resolving these problems. It would also contribute to the more efficient and safe establishment of Natura 2000 in Serbia.

Cooperation

In your opinion, is the Government of Republic of Serbia cooperating with NGOs?

This year we made important progress… the Government office for cooperation with the civil sector was formed and we already see the benefits of this institution. As for our relevant ministry (Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning), they are just designing some institutional mechanisms that should improve this cooperation.

Not to leave this question without a proper answer – yes, the RS government cooperates with the civil sector. However, it is necessary that they insert more effort and good will to make this cooperation more efficient.

Do you have a message for institutions working with nature conservation in Serbia?

“Together we can be stronger!”

Petra Boic Petrac, WWF

We are satisfied! Hopefully biodiversity is too…

If the voice of NGOs was heard, biodiversity wouldn’t have to worry J! Joking aside, with the project “PartnershipActions for Biodiversity Protection in Western Balkans” we achieved a lot.

Participants of the final workshop in Belgrade, October 2011 (c) Petra Boic Petrac

Organizations, already part of a network before the project “Partnership Actions…”, agreed on further steps regarding taking care of nature, especially when it comes to Natura 2000. They  achieved very good results through local actions which helped the broader public understand what Natura 2000 is and why biodiversity is important to us. The result of those actions was the exhibition “15 Ways How to Conserve Nature”. It was shown at the end of October in Student Cultural Center in Belgrade. That was the last time when all representatives that worked on local actions met: they presented their projects and results, exchanged some ideas, agreed on further cooperation; they praised each other and occasionally asked “Why didn’t I think of that?!”

Workshop (c) Petra Boic Petrac

Before the exhibition there was a one-day workshop during which participants, representatives of civil sector from Serbia and from Montenegro described and illustrated how they saw their networks: “Natura 2000 Resource Center” of Serbia and Montenegrin “Natura 2000 Info Center”. Upon hearing results of all 17 projects, participants voted for their favourite project: the some number of votes got NGO Avalon (organization of Natura Day), DMEN – Association of young ecologists from Niksic (photo wallpaper on buses depicting natural values of the future Natura 2000 sites) and Breznica (initiative to declare forest Savina in Herceg Novi as protected area). After that, NGO representatives were trained how to  best present results of their project to the public. That was just what they had a chance to the very next day on the opening of the exhibition. 

     

Exhibition "15 Ways How to Conserve Nature" (c) YRS

Accompanied by the project team (Young Researchers of Serbia, WWF and Green Home), representatives of civil sector in Serbia (Avalon, Mladen Karaman, Akademsko društvo za proučavanje i zaštitu prirode, Eko-centar, Stara planina, Protego, Prostor, UNEKOOP) and Montenegro (Breznica, OZON, Centar za zaštitu i proučavanje ptica Crne Gore, Green.me, Društvo mladih ekologa Nikšić), PhD Ivica Radovic, State Secretary of Ministry of environment, Mining and Spatial Planning in Serbia delivered a speech at the opening of the exhibition. He promised good cooperation with NGOs and listening to their voice while creating Natura 2000 proposal in Serbia. With inspirational speech, State Secretary pointed out the importance of Natura 2000; he thanked the NGOs for everything they do and promised to ensure the leaders of state institutions to watch  the movie "Natura 2000 in Serbia", result of local action given to NGO CINA. The documentary speaks about the importance of Natura 2000.

If someone had said to the project team of “Partnership Actions…” in January 2010, when the implementation of the project started, that their last meeting with NGO representatives would end with praise, smiles and common hope for a new partnership, many would immediately sign the very idea of overtime, sometimes even night work, stress and occasional disagreements. Indeed, the meeting in Belgrade in late October was a helpful and nice gathering of people who did something useful and good for nature conservation. Despite the project completion, the guiding principle of biodiversity conservation in the Western Balkans will undoubtedly continue. So let this blog, which was created as part of the IPA project, continue despite the fact that the project is successfully completed. Therefore we invite all who have anything to share on Natura 2000: examples of good practice, lessons learned, some knowledge, governmental false steps ... contact us, write a post. Together we are stronger! Isn’t that the entire point of the partnership after all? Not to say that biodiversity will be grateful to us.   

                 

Petra Boic Petrac, WWF

Protected Areas and Natura 2000 workshops in Serbia and in Montenegro

Natura 2000 workshop in Serbia

80 representatives from the nature conservation sector in Serbia and in Montenegro took part in workshops on the NATURA 2000 concept for protected areas as well as explaining stakeholder involvement in the process of designation of NATURA 2000 sites. Among the participants were protected area managers, representatives of nature protection authorities and civil society organizations from the two countries.

During the two-day workshops, participants improved their knowledge of how to go about establishing the NATURA 2000 network in their respective countries. Speakers from Romania and Bulgaria presented examples of good practice from the region and how the NATURA 2000 network took shape in the newest EU member states.

Participants in the workshop in Serbia were greeted by Biljana Panjković, Director of the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province. She highlighted the importance of the NATURA 2000 network as a good opportunity to conserve nature and natural resources. She also emphasised the role of civil society organizations as important partners in nature conservation.

Natura 2000 workshop in Montenegro

Experts from the WWF, IUCN, the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province and Young Researchers of Serbia also shared their expertise. Representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning and the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management introduced the latest legislation on nature conservation and water protection.

At the workshop in Montenegro, Vasilije Bušković from Institute for Nature Conservation of Montenegro talked about the previous steps made in establishing the ecological network in the country. Experts from WWF and Wildlife Society Balkani from Bulgaria shared their experience and stressed the challenges they faced. Experts from Daphne Institute for Applied Ecology from Slovakia, together with the NATURA 2000 team of the Ministry for Sustainable Development and Tourism, presented the methodology and highlighted the challenges of field work.  Natura 2000 team presented achievements in development of Natura 2000 database and Catalogue of biotopes (habitats), etc.
The workshops are part of the project “Strengthening the Capacity of Governments and Civil Sector in Serbia and in Montenegro to adapt to EU Nature Protection Acquis”. The project lasts for three and a half years (2009 – 2012) and is implemented by WWF in cooperation with the NGO Young Researches of Serbia and the NGO Green Home from Montenegro. The project is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sonja Bađura, WWF

NGOs are working on small actions

11 NGOs in Serbia and 6 NGOs in Montenegro are developing projects on biodiversity and Natura 2000

In the framework of the IPA project „Partnership Actions for Biodiversity Protection in Western Balkans“, which is carried out by Young Researchers of Serbia, WWF Mediterranean Programme, Green Home and Sunce, there are actions in the form of small projects for other non-governmental organizations, members of the network "Natura 2000 resource center Serbia” and "Natura2000 infocenter" from Montenegro.

The project team received 29 project proposals in Serbia, and 8 in Montenegro. In Serbia 11 projects were chosen while in Montenegro six. The results of all projects will be presented at the final workshop of the project "Partnership Actions", scheduled for November this year. The project team intends to present them through a small exhibition. We will also display the first documentary on Natura 2000 in Serbia, which will be prepared within the small grant given to NGO “Centar za inovativne aktivnosti (CINA)”.

The advantage of using resources of other NGOs were recognized by NGOs from Vojvodina: : “Akademsko drustvo za proucavanje i zastitu prirode”, “Drustvо zа zаstitu i prоucаvаnjе ptica Vojvodine“, “Drustvо zа zаstitu i prоucаvаnjе ribа“ and “Protego“. They have created a joint project "Natura 2000 in Serbia: Challenges and Opportunities ". As a result, members of the network will be richer for two very valuable publications: "Steps towards Natura 2000 in Serbia", which will describe the natural resources of Serbia as well as everything about Natura 2000, and "Ideas for the NGO's for specific actions to improve biodiversity " written by Dr. Gabor Mesaros. They will present their publications, as well as a poster "Natura 2000 in Serbia", at several workshops. They will present Natura 2000 to decision makers - from the city authorities to land owners on potential Natura 2000 sites.

Two valuable publications will be prepared by NGO “Eko-Centar”. These are CEEweb publications "Why Does Biodiversity Loss Matter? Answers for Ministers and Children" and "Services of nature - How Natura 2000 contributes to the provision of ecosystem services for human wellbeing. "

The project of NGO “Avalon” is focused on IBA areas. It will try to actualize the importance of IBA and Natura 2000 sites, as well as energy efficiency in public and among professionals. The project team will organize the eco-team that will carry out preparatory activities for the initiation of NATURA 2000 in South-eastern Banat, on the basis of visits to habitats twice a month. They will make a video that will be included in the already mentioned film about Natura 2000. Within this project there will be a central event "Natura 2000 ", scheduled for 5th June in Vrsac.

NGO “Stara Planina” devoted its project to environmental education for children. Under the name "Stara Planina - biodiversity or tourism, that is the question" the project aims to broaden awareness on the need for environmental protection and the introduction of sustainable development program in accordance with the provisions of the Natura 2000 network and the EU directives. The main goal is that young people from the Municipality of Pirot get acquainted with the value ​​of protected natural areas. NGO “UNECO” is preparing a project "Sustainable management of private forests" with the aim of reducing the devastation of forest ecosystems and to increase energy efficiency in rural areas. With a variety of studies, workshops and round tables, they will also prepare and set the "Energy calculator”. NGO “Mladen Karaman” from Kragujevac is preparing a project on the promotion of ex situ protection as a method in the process of preserving and improving biodiversity.

The only project that has already been done in Serbia was prepared by the NGO “Prostor”, with activities related to Earth Hour. Earth Hour was held on 26 March, and they have already completed their project. Other NGOs are just beginning with activities and will develop them in the next five months.

As far as Montenegro is concerned consultation was completed 7 weeks ago, so some NGOs have already finished a good part of the job. NGO “Priroda”, while intending to make a project related to Earth Hour, has decided to concentrate on related activities, as the motto of this year's Earth Hour was to go "Beyond the Hour." The main goal is that energy efficiency, climate change and negative impacts on nature are always considered, not just for that one hour of the year.

“Ekolosko drustvo Breznica” from Pljevlje is preparing a project "Initiative for protection of biodiversity of forest park Savina in Herceg Novi”. As Savina Forest Park is currently devastated, but due to being exceptionally rich in biodiversity, it deserves to become a Natura2000 area. The NGO Breznica will try to make a case for a Natura site at future round tables. “Centar za zastitu i proucavanje ptica Crne Gore” is working on the project "Wings over Montenegro - birds as indicators of the quality of nature protection", which includes various activities such as making and placing hummingbird feeders, organized bird watching, various lectures, all with the aim of acquainting the public with the EU Bird Directive and its main provisions - the need to protect birds in all places and at all times, and the popularization of Montenegro as a bird watching destination.

NGO “Green.Me” is preparing a project "SOS-Save Our Sea" whose main goal is to educate the public along the whole Montenegrin coast on the importance of biodiversity and negative impacts of its imbalance (using the example of the spread of algae Caulerpa racemosa). They will produce a brochure involving different associations and institutions dealing with the sea and its protection, which would also strengthen cooperation between associations and institutions. NGO “OZON” from Niksic is preparing a project that would highlight the importance of Golija as the important area that should be nominated for Natura 2000, while the “Drustvo mladih ekologa Niksic” is working on the project “Promotion of protected areas and NATURA 2000 network in Montenegro", mostly through photos of inaccessible areas, which could one day be the Natura 2000 sites.

All the NGOs in both countries will complete their projects by the end of October 2011 in order to present them at the exhibition in Belgrade in November.

Petra Boic Petrac, WWF

NGOs begin to work on Water Framework Directive

July 2010 saw the start of implementation of the project ‘’Preparation of Serbian Public for Participation in Water Protection”, which runs until July 2011. The project team, led by Young Researchers of Serbia, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme and Environmental Engineering Group, will work on strengthening the capacity of environmental NGOs for the monitoring of EU laws on the water framework in Serbia, with particular attention on the Water Framework Directive.There will be many training courses and meetings, as well as educational materials for NGOs published during the project. How to use the Water Framework Directive, and its connection with the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive are everyday questions in the EU. NGO network “Natura 2000 Resource Center of Serbia” will form a working group that will work only on water issues. The importance of Water Framework Directive in the biodiversity protection is huge and we hope that this project will run many activities in the sector.
Milka Gvozdenovic