Improving the transboundary monitoring of Natura 2000 sites

The project, 'Cross-border management of protected areas in the Western Balkans', aims to develop the capacity to implement Natura 2000 monitoring once Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia have joined the EU.

Partner meeting of the 'Cross-border management of protected areas in the Western Balkans' project in Prokletije National Park. © Erisa Sulo (PPNEA)
Partner meeting of the 'Cross-border management of protected areas in the Western Balkans' project in Prokletije National Park. © Erisa Sulo (PPNEA)

 

Project partners EuroNatur, CZIP (Montenegro), PPNEA (Albania) and MES (North Macedonia) explored Prokletije National Park together. The project, 'Cross-border management of protected areas in the Western Balkans', operates in two pilot regions, promoting transboundary monitoring in accordance with Natura 2000 standards. The four partner organisations met at the European Green Belt in Montenegro (in the Prokletije-Albanian Alps transboundary region) to discuss how the project will proceed, building the capacity of national authorities and collaborating with local communities to implement Natura 2000 management in protected areas, that the three project countries must adhere to, once they joined the EU.

The stunning mountain landscape of Prokletije provided the backdrop for the intense and inspiring discussions.

 

Funding information: This project is funded by the German Federal Environment Ministry's Advisory Assistance Programme (AAP) for environmental protection in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia and other countries neighbouring the European Union. It is supervised by the German Environment Agency (UBA).