Project: Protected areas for nature and people II
Donor: SIDA
Duration: 2019. – 2022.
Total budget: 255.000 EUR
The countries of the Western Balkans are well known for their exceptional biodiversity, as well as for their large and still preserved ecosystems, many of which are of European or global importance for conservation.
Protected areas are one of the best ways to preserve these natural values, both for humans and for nature. Unfortunately, these values are often not recognized by the public, nor is the role of protected areas. Their natural resources are being unsustainably exploited and are often seen as obstacles to economic development. Local communities are often excluded from the benefits provided by protected areas and from decisions related to their management.
Recognizing the values of protected areas, but also threats to their preservation, Parks Dinarides in cooperation with WWF Adria and other partners are implementing the project “Protected Areas for Nature and People II” (PA4NP II), with a vision of biodiversity conservation in the Western Balkans and ensuring well-being for all present and future generations.
“Protected areas for nature and people II” is a regional project implemented from 2019 to 2022 in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia and Kosovo, and is a continuation of the project of the same name (2016-2019). PA4NP II is guided by a vision to preserve biodiversity in the Western Balkans and ensure prosperity for all present and future generations.
Working at the regional, national and local levels, PA4NP II aims to:
The main activities include:
Protected areas in the Western Balkans
Although they share a similar framework in terms of biodiversity, nature conservation challenges and EU integration orientation, the percentage of protected areas varies among the Western Balkan countries, and in some cases protected areas are protected only on paper.
PA4NP II promotes the need to increase the number of protected areas and improve the management of existing ones.
The project “Protected areas for nature and people” is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).