Balkans Peace Park Project

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= CONTENT UPDATED SINCE 22/7/08
VISITORS SINCE 27/6/07 -

THE BPP COALITION

In June, 2006, UNEP, after discussions, invited BPPP/UK to help, along with other local and international organizations (REC, UNDP and others) to assist in, and attend a meeting in Podgorica on transboundary biodiversity protection in 7 Balkan cross-border regions. It was hoped, by BPPP to facilitate more peace park representation at the event. At BPPPs strong urging, UNEP agreed to sponsor and co-fund a local stakeholders’ workshop from the three BPPP regions. This informal discussion followed the main meetings and was attended by UNEP; brokered by BPPP, who invited all the local groups to attend, it was intended as a forum for local NGOs to meet each other.

This was one of the first times local NGO from all our three regions were able to meet together, and especially to meet more Montenegrin NGO’s. It achieved the goal to make wider regional networks possible and greater co-operation across borders, thanks to BPPP’s initiative. Following this meeting six NGOs decided to establish the BPP Coalition.

Two months later, in August 2006, ERA-Environmentally Responsible Action Group NGO from Kosovo hosted a meeting funded by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (Kosovo/a), together with SOROS, the BPP Coalition was formally inaugurated with an MoU signed at Rugova Camp in Kosovo/a by 2 NGOs from each of the BPP regions.

A recent success of the BPP Coalition was to draft and get ratified the Letter of Good Intent. This open and public commitment made by all the heads of the six BPP municipalities to the development of the Balkans Peace Park is a huge step forward in the journey towards the reality of a Balkans Peace Park.

The following organisations comprise the BPP Coalition, a grass roots network working in concert with the BPPP:

• AQUILA - aquilaorg@yahoo.com
  Aquila is an envionmental NGO founded in April 2000, based in Peje and working primarily in Kosovo/a. They aim to protect nature and help create a safe, clean environment. Their work includes public participation, advocacy work, biodiversity protection, environmental awareness and education projects and sustainable development programmes.

• ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE ACTION GROUP - fatoslajci@yahoo.com
  ERA/Environmentally Responsible Action group exists to support and strengthen the local rural and urban communities in dealing with their natural and cultural heritage, emphasizing trust building, environmental education programs and interethnic diversity. ERA is the key for the rapidly growing cross-border network of non-governmental organizations, government agencies and community based groups from Kosova, Montenegro and Albania Its regional network collaborates on many projects reinforcing regional cooperation and support for shared interests of environmental stewardship and economic vitality for the rural areas. ERA set up the 2005 Long Walk For Peace. For information about ERA's activities between March & October 2007 please see their update.

• HRID MOUNTAINEERING SPORTS CLUB - spdpl@cg.yu
  HRID is a mountaineering sports club based in Plav, Montenegro, with a strong focus on promoting environmental issues and sustainable use of the mountian environment.

• PRESERVATION OF FORESTS AND GREEN ENVIRONMENT NGO - pimeraj@yahoo.com
  The PFGE NGO was founded in northern Albania in l997 and authorized by the Department of Justice, Albania. It is associated with the Balkans Peace Park Project Committee (UK) and it opened its office and BPP Information Centre in Shkodër on lst October, 2005.

• TRITON - cehovicd@cg.yu
  Triton is an environmental NGO based in Plav, Montenegro.

• ENVIRONMENTAL CENTRE VALBONA - aprroni@yahoo.com
  ECV is an ecological, non-governmental, non-partisan, and non-profit organization aiming at environmental protection and addressing ecological issues in Albania, with a special focus on remote areas, such as the Tropoja district. ECV hopes to protect bio-diversity and encourage local communities to get actively involved in the protection of their own natural and cultural heritage.