The basis for partnership actions in the Western Balkans

Tanja Petrović, Young Researchers of Serbia

The outcome from the project “Strengthening the capacity of governments and civil sector in Serbia and in Montenegro to adapt to EU nature protection aquis“ was the networking project. Tanja Petrović, general secretary of Young Researchers of Serbia, writes about her experiences

Fifteen years ago, when Young Researchers from Serbia began their „quest“ for the serious financial resources that could be invested in the protection and conservation of biodiversity, finding that different kinds of Foundations set different kind of terms, we often asked ourselves: ‘Why donors complicate? Why this partnership anyway? Why this networking? What is achieved with this, except co adaptation of administration?’

Today, “only“ 15 years later (without desire to be not motivational enough to those who are just starting), I think that we have most answers that we received, among other things, implementing the project "Partnership Actions for Biodiversity Protection in Western Balkans“.

The objective of that project was to contribute to the protection of biodiversity in Serbia and Montenegro through promotion and support of implementation of key EU nature protection legislation. During the project, networking trainings were organized, study visits to Bruxelles and Croatia, local actions were held...


But the “history" of good partnerships does not start with "Partnership actions to protect biodiversity in the Western Balkans." All this would not have existed in 2009. if WWF didn't convince the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, that the project “Strengthening the capacity of governments and civil sector in Serbia and in Montenegro to adapt to EU nature protection aquis“ is necessary. This made basis for us, which I believe, we improved very well.

As for the results of the project "Partnership actions...", since the enumeration of the results was not motivational enough even for those who have achieved them, for this opportunity, we have decided to quote excerpts from an evaluation report, which are, among other things, based on interviews with various people who were involved in the project .

Milka Gvozdenović, coordinator of projects in Young Researchers of Serbia: 

„Partnership is a strong word! It means a lot and we already had it. But during the project implementation we made it stronger. What partnership on the project brought to me and my organization: Positive spirit and stress! Good ideas and actions! A lot of brainstorming and then sudden happiness when we understood what our partners meant! New knowledge tips and tricks! New understanding of partner’s work and plans! Some clear ideas about “what and with whom I wouldn’t like to work with in the future” and many, many other things! Another strong word and more important, frequently pronounced and written during project period, is “networking“. After almost 4 years working within the network I can say that I have answers to all questions regarding nature, nature protection, EU acquis, Natura 2000 in Serbia etc. No, I am not so advanced - I have colleagues in the network, many of them, with different professional background, with different knowledge, experience ... Thanks to the trustful relation and information exchange methods I can get answers. To conclude, don’t ask what your network can do for you—ask what you can do for your network! “

Natasa Kovačević, Program coordinator for education and capacities development in Green Home: „After two years of working on this project and topics of biodiversity conservation, I can say the most significant change is that NGOs are gathered in small but effective number, with the good understanding of topic, capable to have argument based discussions on Natura 2000, to exchange information and help each other”.

Dejan Zagorac, president of Eko center: „To be honest, my motive to join the Network was not only to raise capacity of me personally and of my organization, and to get connected with the people who work on same field in Serbia, but also to connect with people from the Region and to visit some future Natura 2000 sites in the neighbourhood. Now, when this stage of programme is close to an end I can say that I got even more than I expected...“

Petra Boić Petrač, WWF Mediterranean communications officer: „It was great pleasure working on the project “Partnership Actions for biodiversity Protection in Western Balkans”. There are very few people who can say that, after the last workshop they did within the project, they got letters from participants saying they were: enjoying, having fun, learned a lot, would like to repeat it…This is confirmation of a success which I didn’t expect when we started component of local actions. Namely, local actions seemed to be the most difficult part of the project, but in the end, it was difficult for administration, but pleasure for implementation. “

Budimir Babić, president of Ecological Society Avalon: “This project, and everything connected to the network of environmental organizations 'Natura 2000 Resource centre of Serbia'”, has energy of understanding positive relations and cooperation”.


What to say after all these impressions? Except ... we need a new project.

Tanja Petrović, Young Researchers of Serbia

Minister Predrag Sekulić: Montenegro is preparing the project of establishing Natura 2000 network

Minister Predrag Sekulić

As part of the "Natura 2000 in Montenegro and Serbia" project, a small team has been trained to map the terrain according to the requirements of the EU as a major step forward compared to the previous period. Additionally, formed network of nongovernmental organizations will be a great ally for us in the future in order to establish Natura 2000 network, said minister Sekulić.

How much are you familiar with the Montenegro preparation for the ecological network Natura 2000? What these preparations mean for Montenegro?

Montenegro as a candidate country for EU membership is required to transpose and implement EU legislation in the field of nature protection, especially the Habitats Directive and Birds Directive. As a result of implementing these two directives, there will be established a functional Natura 2000 network of important areas in Montenegro.

Of course, a preparation for the establishment of the Natura 2000 network includes the engagement of all available technical and financial resources and excellent inter-agency coordination on which the Ministry is actively working. I think that Montenegro, having in mind the richness and diversity, but also a degree of conservation of biodiversity, can significantly contribute to European biodiversity, once the European Ecological Network of protected areas is established in our country.

The project “Strengthening the capacity of governments and civil sector in Serbia and in Montenegro to adapt to EU nature protection aquis“, in short - "Natura 2000 in Serbia and in Montenegro ", contributed to the technical preparation of Montenegro for Natura 2000. How will Montenegro use the results of this project?

That project gave significant contribution to the process of establishment of Natura 2000 network in Montenegro. In the past three and a half years, the ministry has implemented the project in collaboration with WWF, the Institute for Nature Protection, NGOs Green Home and Young Researchers of Serbia, with great support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, for which we are very grateful.

The third phase of this project, made significant progress in the preparation of Montenegro for fully membership in the EU. The results are good basis for further work on the implementation of the Habitats Directive. A small team is trained for mapping on the field, according to the requirements of EU, which is major step forward compared to the previous period. In addition, formed network of nongovernmental organizations will be a great ally in the future, in the way of establishment Natura 2000 network. As a reminder, it's important to say that the Ministry singed Memorandum of collaboration with Natura 2000 Info Centre NGO network in order to strengthen cooperation for the establishment of this ecological network.

What are the next steps for Montenegro in preparation for Natura 2000?

Important achievement of Natura 2000 team during this project is the fact that the catalogue of habitat is supplemented with 16 new habitat types, and work on that catalogue will be one of the challenges for us in the future. Catalogue of habitats is the first step that leads us towards full implementation of the Habitats Directive.

Regarding to this, Montenegro has taken actions to prepare project proposals whose objectives will be establishment of Natura 2000 network of important areas. Results of WWF's project are good foundation that we must continue to upgrade in order to achieve our obligations on the EU path.

Where do you see possible cooperation of Montenegro with the WWF?

As a part of the Ninth Conference of the Parties of Convention on Biological Diversity in the ministerial segment , WWF has organized an event called “Big Win'' initiative in which the Dinaric Arc countries have presented their priorities and have signed the initiative.

Therefore, I see further cooperation through support of: establishing a management structure and developing management plans for the National Park Prokletije, implementation of transboundary protected area which will link the National Park Durmitor and National Park Sutjeska, developing of sustainable indicators for the National Parks and foremost complementing the existing databases in a GIS system for Natura 2000.

Petra Boić Petrač, WWF Mediterranean Programme

 Director of WWF Norway Nina Jensen with minister Predrag Sekulić

Ministar Predrag Sekulić: Crna Gora priprema projekat uspostavljanja mreže Natura 2000

Predrag Sekulić

U sklopu projekta „Natura 2000 u Crnoj Gori i u Srbiji“ mali je tim obučen za mapiranje na terenu shodno zahtjevima EU što je veliki korak naprijed u odnosu na dotadašnji period. Takođe, formirana mreža nevladinih organizacija će nam ubuduće biti veliki saveznik na putu uspostavljanja Natura 2000 mreže, ističe ministar Sekulić

Ministar održivog razvoja i turizma Crne Gore mr. Predrag Sekulić krajem maja, kada je održana zadnja radionica projekta „Natura 2000 u Srbiji i u Crnoj Gori“, susreo se s direktorkom WWF Norveške Ninom Jensen, koja je uvelike zaslužna što se taj projekat sprovodio poslednje tri godine. To nam je bio povod za razgovor s ministrom, od kojega smo saznali koji su budući koraci Crne Gore za pripremu za Natura 2000.

Koliko ste upućeni u pripreme Crne Gore za ekološku mrežu Natura 2000? Što te pripreme znače za Crnu Goru?

Crna Gora kao država kandidat za ulazak u EU je u obavezi da transponuje i implementira EU propise u oblasti zaštite prirode, prije svega Direktivu o staništima i Direktivu o pticama. Kao rezultat implementacije ovih dviju direktiva uspostaviće se funkcionalna Natura 2000 mreža značajnih područja u Crnoj Gori. Naravno, pripreme na uspostavljanju Natura 2000 mreže podrazumijevaju angažovanje svih raspoloživih stručnih i finansijskih resursa i odličnu međusektorsku koordinaciju na čemu Ministarstvo aktivno radi. Cijenim da Crna Gora, imajući u vidu bogatstvo i raznolikost, ali i stepen očuvanosti svog biodiverziteta značajno može da doprinese evropskoj biološkoj raznolikosti, jednom kada evropska ekološka mreža zaštićenh područja bude uspostavljena u našoj državi.

Projekat „Jačanje kapaciteta vladinog i civilnog sektora u Srbiji i u Crnoj Gori za primjenu propisa za zaštitu prirode“, skraćeno „Natura 2000 u Crnoj Gori i u Srbiji“, pridonio je tehničkoj pripremi Crne Gore za Natura 2000. Kako će Crna Gora iskoristiti rezultate tog projekta?

Taj je projekat dao značajan doprinos u procesu uspostavljanja Natura 2000 mreže u Crnoj Gori. Ministarstvo ga je implementiralo posljednje tri godine u saradnji sa WWF-om, Zavodom za zaštitu prirode, NVO-ima Green Home i Mladi istraživači Srbije, uz veliku pomoć Ministarstva spoljnih poslova Norveške, na čemu smo im veoma zahvalni.

Treća faza realizacije ovog projekta donijela je poseban napredak u pripremi Crne Gore za punopravno članstvo u EU. Rezultati su dobra osnova za dalji rad na implementaciji Direktive o staništima. Jedan mali tim obučen je za mapiranje na terenu shodno zahtjevima EU što je veliki korak naprijed u odnosu na dotadašnji period. Takođe, formirana mreža nevladinih organizacija će nam ubuduće biti veliki saveznik na putu uspostavljanja NATURA 2000 mreže. Podsjećanja radi, Ministarstvo je u oktobru 2011. godine potpisalo Memorandum o saradnji sa NVO mrežom „Natura 2000 Info centar“ u cilju jačanja saradnje na uspostavljanju ove ekološke mreže.

Koji su sljedeći koraci Crne Gore u pripremi za Natura 2000?

Važno dostignuće Natura 2000 tima tokom ovog projekta jeste činjenica da je katalog staništa dopunjen sa 16 novih stanišnih tipova, tako da će rad na samom katalogu biti jedan od izazova koji nas očekuje ubuduće. Katalog staništa je prvi korak koji nas vodi ka potpunoj implementaciji Direktive o staništima. S tim u vezi, Crna Gora je preduzela aktivnosti na pripremi predloga projekta koji će za cilj imati uspostavljanje Natura 2000 mreže značajnih područja. Rezultati WWF-ovog projekta su dobra osnova koju je potrebno dalje nadograditi da bi postigli sve ono što nam je obaveza na EU putu.

Gdje vidite suradnju Crne Gore s WWF-om?

U okviru Devete konferencije strana ugovornica Konvencije o biodiverzitetu u okviru ministarskog segmenta WWF je organizovao događaj pod nazivom ''Big win'' inicijativa na kojoj su zemlje Dinarskog luka izložile svoje prioritete i potpisale inicijativu. Shodno tome, dalju saradnju vidim kroz podršku: uspostavljanja menadžment strukture i izradi Menadžment plana za Nacionalni park „Prokletije“, implementacije prekograničnog zaštićenog prirodnog dobra koje će povezati Nacionalni park Durmitor i Nacionalni park Sutjeska; razvoju održivih indikatora za Nacionalne parkove i kao najvažnije dopunjavanju postojeće baze podataka u GIS sistemu za Natura 2000.

Jeste li zadovoljni suradnjom s drugim sektorima (šumarstvo, vodno gospodarstvo…) sa zaštitom prirode? Jeste li zadovoljni s pripremama Crne Gore za EU integracije?

Podjela nadležnosti po pitanjima životne sredine u okviru Vlade postoji, ali ne predstavlja problem u implementaciji politika. Moram istaći da Ministarstvo održivog razvoja i turizma ima izuzetnu saradnju sa svim sektorima u Vladi. Politika životne sredine povezuje aktivnosti gotovo svih Vladinih resora i integrisana je u gotovo sve sektorske politike. Iz tog razloga, saradnja i dobra komunikacija je od imperativnog značaja za realizaciju važnih strateških aktivnosti koje nas čekaju u predstojećem periodu. Podjela nadležnosti nije problem sve dok su nadležnosti i odgovornosti jasno definisane i precizno podijeljene između ministarstva, agencija i ostalih organa uprave.

Kada su pripreme Crne Gore za EU integracije u pitanju, ukazao bih na činjenicu da je Vlada Crne Gore formirala Grupe za evropske integracije po poglavljima EU acquisa kao i Komisiju za evropske integracije. Značajno pitanje, posebno u trenucima ekonomske krize, su troškovi usklađivanja sa EU propisima u oblasti životne sredine koji su relativno veliki za zemlje koje imaju manji broj stanovnika, što se odnosi i na Crnu Goru. Iz tog razloga neophodno je pripremiti Nacionalnu strategiju investiranja u životnu sredinu i Nacionalnu strategiju aproksimacije propisa u ovoj oblasti, kojima bi se mogli procijeniti stvarni troškovi usklađivanja. Te strategije će biti u skladu s nacionalnom strategijom usklađivanja zakonodavstva (aproksimacije) i imaće jasan raspored konkretnih ulaganja, posebno za najvažnija područja – za kvalitet voda i vazduha i upravljanje otpadom. Sve navedeno nosi dugoročnu korist koja će se, prije svega, odnositi na poboljšanje kvaliteta života gradjana, smanjenje troškova koji se izdvajaju za zaštitu zdravlja, troškove uništavanja šuma, poljoprivrednog zemljišta i ribljeg fonda.

Prenošenje pravne tekovine u nacionalno zakonodavstvo je prvi korak u pretpristupnom procesu, u čemu je Crna Gora prilično poodmakla, dok je implementacija zakonskih odredbi ključno pitanje koje zahtijeva pažljivo finansijsko planiranje.

U Crnoj Gori u toku je realizacija Twinning projekta “Podrška upravljanju u životnoj sredini” čiji rezultat će biti implementacioni planovi za prioritetne direktive što će biti dobra osnova za izradu strategije finansiranja.

Petra Boić Petrač, WWF Mediteranski program

Direktorica WWF Norveška Nina Jensen s ministrom Predragom Sekulićem

Natura 2000 u Srbiji i u Crnoj Gori

Skadarsko jezero (c) Nataša Kovačević

Nakon tri i pol godine provedbe projekta „Jačanje kapaciteta javnog i civilnog sektora u Srbiji i u Crnoj Gori za primjenu EU propisa za zaštitu prirode“, WWF je s partnerskim organizacijama postavio temelje za ekološku mrežu Natura 2000 u Srbiji i u Crnoj Gori

Uvažavajući činjenicu da se velik dio europske biološke raznolikosti nalazi u regiji Dinarskog luka, proširenje Natura 2000 na središnju i istočnu Europu pokazalo se iznimno važno za ostvarivanje političkih ciljeva EU vezanih uz bioraznolikost. Kako bi se Srbija i Crna Gora bolje pripremile za ulazak u Europsku uniju te u tom pravcu prilagodile i pri tom očuvale svoja prirodna bogatstva, WWF, svjetska nevladina organizacija za prirodu, u partnerstvu s nevladinom organizacijom Green Home iz Crne Gore, Mladim istraživačima Srbije i Institutom za primijenjenu ekologiju iz Slovačke Daphne, proveo je projekt „Jačanje kapaciteta javnog i civilnog sektora u Srbiji i u Crnoj Gori za primjenu EU propisa za zaštitu prirode“.

Cilj projekta bio je pomoći tim zemljama u prilagodbi EU propisa vezanih uz zaštitu prirode. Nakon tri i pol godine trajanja projekta, kroz niz provedenih aktivnosti ostvarili su se mnogobrojni rezultati: 

- osnovane su dvije mreže nevladinih organizacija (Natura 2000 Resursni centar Srbije i Natura 2000 Info centar Crne Gore) koje se sastoje od čak 92 NVO-a, 

- više od 200 ljudi sudjelovalo je u stručnim razmjenama, održano je 7 treninga s temama vezanim uz osnove EU legislative i ekološke mreže Natura 2000, unutar kojih su sudionici treninga naučili mnogo o područjima buduće mreže Natura 2000, o upravljanju vodama u skladu s Okvirnom direktivom o vodama te o integriranju zahtjeva mreže Natura 2000 u druge sektore.

Ključni sektori vlade u Crnoj Gori i Srbiji bolje razumiju važnost i nužnost međusobne suradnje na temama Natura 2000.Nevladin sektor aktivno je uključen u izradu zakonodavstva koje integrira propise Europske unije u nacionalno zakonodavstvo, također u radne grupe za pripremu pregovora s Europskom komisijom uključeni su i predstavnici Natura 2000 mreže u Crnoj Gori. Ukratko, nevladin sektor mobiliziran je naočuvanju prirodnog kapitala koji je ugrožen neadekvatnim investicijama i loše planiranim razvojem infrastrukture..

Važno je također naglasiti kako je u Crnoj Gori uspostavljena funkcionalna Natura 2000 baza podataka o vrstama i staništima s kartografski ucrtanim i terenski verificiranim podacima. Pripremljen je i katalog europski značajnih staništa prisutnih u Crnoj Gori.

Srbija i Crna Gora uvećale su svoje napore da postanu dio europske ekološke mreže, a pokazalo se i da je dugoročna i efikasna suradnja u regiji zapadnog Balkana zaista moguća i da polučuje odlične rezultate. Projekt je financiralo Ministarstvo vanjskih poslova kraljevine Norveške, vjerujući kako zapadni Balkan obiluje čudesnim biodiverzitetom koji treba sačuvati za buduće generacije. Završetkom ovog projekta ne prestaje ulaganje Norveške Vlade u ovu regiju. Više o projektu i rezultatima projekta „Jačanje kapaciteta javnog i civilnog sektora u Srbiji i u Crnoj Gori za primjenu EU propisa za zaštitu prirode“ pročitajte na stranicama croatia.panda.org

Martina Šubašić, WWF Mediteranski program

NP Đerdap (c) Boris Erg

Natura 2000 in Serbia and in Montenegro

NP Djerdap (c) Boris Erg

After three and a half years of the project “Strengthening the capacity of governments and civil sector in Serbia and in Montenegro to adapt to EU nature protection aquis“, WWF, together with partner organizations, laid the foundation for the establishment of ecological network Natura 2000 in Serbia and Montenegro.

Considering the fact that an important part of European biodiversity is located in the Dinaric Arc region, expansion of Natura 2000 in Central and Eastern Europe is extremely important for achieving EU objectives on biodiversity.

WWF, the global non-governmental organization for nature protection, in partnership with the NGO Green Home from Montenegro, Young Researchers of Serbia and the Institute for Applied ecology in Slovakia-Daphne, carried out the project “Strengthening the capacity of governments and civil sector in Serbia and in Montenegro to adapt to EU nature protection aquis“.The objective was to prepare Serbia and Montenegro for entering into the European Union and in that direction help them to adapt and improve their management of current and future protected areas and preserve their natural resources.

The project goal was to assist these countries in adapting the application of EU regulations concerning the nature protection. Following results were achieved:

- two NGO networks are established (Natura 2000 Resource Center Serbia and Natura 2000 Information Centre of Montenegro) consisting of 92 NGOs;

- more than 200 people participated in professional exchanges; 7 training sessions were held on topics related to the fundamentals of EU legislation and the Natura 2000 network, in which participants learned about future Natura 2000 network areas, how to improve water management according to the Water Framework Directive, and about integration requirements of Natura 2000 in other sectors

Key governmental sectors in Montenegro and Serbia now understand the importance and necessity of mutual cooperation on issues of Natura 2000 much better.

The NGO sector has been actively involved in drafting legislation which are integrating EU regulations into national legislation. Representatives of the Natura 2000 network in Montenegro are included in working group for preparation of negotiations with the European Commission. In short, the NGO sector is mobilized to preserve the natural capital that is threatened by inadequate investment and poorly planned development of infrastructure.

It is also important to emphasize that the institutions in Montenegro established a functional Natura 2000 database about species and habitats with mapped, updated and field-verified data. Catalog of important European habitats present in Montenegro has been prepared.

Serbia and Montenegro are maximizing their efforts to become a part of the European ecological network. Long-term and effective cooperation in the Western Balkans proved to be possible with excellent results.

The project was financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway in order to protect the amazing biodiversity of the Western Balkans, which wants to preserve for future generations. The investments of the Norwegian Government in protecting the biodiversity of this region will continue also after the completion of this project.

More about the project “Strengthening the capacity of governments and civil sector in Serbia and in Montenegro to adapt to EU nature protection aquis“ read on the pages croatia.panda.org where a report with all results can be downloaded.

Martina Šubašić, WWF Mediterranean Programme

Skadar lake (c) Nataša Kovačević