General Assembly of Dinarides Parks and a session of Board of Directors was held in Nature Park Lonjsko Polje

KUTINA – National Agency of Protected Areas NAPA from Albania, National Park Kopaonik from Serbia, Park Skocjanske Jame from Slovenia and JP Forests of Serbia are the new members of the network of protected areas of Dinarides. The decision on accepting new members in the network that now gathers 74 protected areas of Dinarides was made on Friday during a session of Board of Directors and General Assembly of Dinarides Parks in Nature Park Lonjsko Polje in Croatia.

“We are pleased that an organization whose foundation was supported by WWF is growing. Accession of new members will ensure better organization of work and we are certain that we will accomplish our goals. WWF remains close to Dinarides Parks, and our cooperation is one of the priorities of the program “Protected Areas for Nature and People”.” – said Vice President of General Assembly of Dinarides Parks and Director of WWF Adria Martin Solar.
In the following period, through program “Protected Areas for Nature and People”, Dinarides Parks will especially focus on estimation and improvement of cooperation of local communities and protected areas of Dinarides as well as promotion of good examples.
Dinarides Parks will also take part in implementing a transnational Interrerg project EKO KARST that aims to contribute to protection and sustainable development of karst bio-region in the area of Danube basin, through promotion of values of ecosystem services.

There were more than 30 members of the General Assembly gathered in Kutina, who adopted a new Work Program as well as a financial plan for the current year. New president of the Board of Directors was elected – Amarildo Mulic, director of NP Una.
„The most important thing in the following period is a more concrete networking of protected areas and better visibility of Dinarides Parks members in the region of Southeastern Europe.” – Mulic stated.
Vice President of the Board of Directors became director of Nature Park Medvednica, Snjezana Malic Limari, and new member of the Board became president of Association of Parks of Albania, Genc Kacori.
The Decision on amendments to the Statute of Dinarides Parks was adopted as well, and it stipulates a new body in area of management of network of protected areas of Dinarides – Executive Director.