Dinarides Protection Day 7th of October

Green Agenda is an important mechanism for Dinaric protected areas

Today (October 7th), for the fourth time since its establishment, the Dinarides Protection Day is marked. Through marking of Dinarides Protection Day the importance of natural and cultural heritage of the Dinaric Alps countries is brought to attention, as well as intertwining of natural resources and cultural and historical values of this very special place in Europe.

In that regard, this year we would like to point out the importance of the implementation of the European Green Deal, i.e. the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans for the future of the protected areas of the Dinaric Arc.

„One of the key priorities of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans is to stop the loss of biodiversity and integrate the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 30% of protected areas and 10% of strictly protected areas by 2030. In this sense, establishment of the new protected areas in all the countries of the Dinaric arc with a particularly significant increase in the number of new protected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro is encouraging fact. said Zoran Mrdak, president of Parks Dinarides

However, the dynamics of establishing new protected areas is generally not accompanied by the establishment of adequate management structures, the adoption of necessary planning documents, as well as financial sustainability.

The Green Agenda as well as related funding mechanisms provide great opportunities for raising the profile of protected areas and for achieving more efficient management of protected areas.Through this process, is expected a stronger commitment to create systemic solutions for financing protected areas.

„This is significant for protected areas – on the one hand it will ensure the efficiency of performing the basic role/functions of new protected areas – which is nature protection. On the other hand it will relax large numbers od existing protected areas from the need to ensure financial sustainability through the mass tourism and economic exploitation of forest, all with the aim of returning to their primary function – nature protection“ –  said Mr. Amarildo Mulić, president of the Steering Committee of Parks Dinarides and director of National Park Una Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans recognizes that key biodiversity areas often have cross-border significance and that an approach based on the coordination of cross-border areas and regions is necessary. Regional cooperation between competent authorities in the process of declaring and managing protected areas is a key factor for achieving better synergy and quality management of networks of protected areas and ecological networks.

Therefore, we would like to draw attention to the fact that the protected areas of the Dinaric Arch, which currently make up more than 10% of the territory of this region, in the joint activity of state institutions, civil society, the business sector and local communities, can make important contributions to the European Green Deal as a new strategy of the European Union in to the goal of a modern, climate-neutral and competitive economy that efficiently uses resources.

In this sense, the Parks Dinarides as a regional organization invite for the improvement of cooperation and the establishment of regional mechanisms for the coordination of joint activities, that will contribute to the efficient implementation of the Green Agenda with the main aim – improvement of protected areas. .