West Stara Planina Activities Local Environmental Action Programmes (LEAP) LEAP Training (Serbia and Montenegro) Training on local environmental action plans (LEAP) was held from June 30 to July 5 in the Vrnjachka spa. Local authorities in project municipalities selected 38 participants for the event. Zajechar, Knjazevac, Pirot and Dimitrovgrad participants were chosen from institutions and groups related to local government, environmental protection, and rural development. The “LEAP mission” was presented by Jovan Pavlovic (REC Country Office Serbia and Montenegro), facilitators and LEAP practitioners from Nis, Kraljevo and Bor Municipality. Belogradchik Mayor Emil Tzankov presented Bulgaria’s experience with the LEAP process. The training helped raise the awareness of local government representatives, and two of the four municipalities (Zajechar and Knjazevac) had established a LEAP team a week after the training. Study tour of Serbian LEAP teams in Bulgaria (Serbia and Montenegro) A study tour was organised to present the experience of the Bulgarian municipalities in the LEAP process to Serbian LEAP-team representatives. The municipalities of Pirot, Dimitrovgrad, Knjazevac and Zajechar were officially informed about the study tour on September 26 during a meeting in Dimitrovgrad. Every team included five representatives, including two journalists from TV Zajechar selected by the municipalities. Participants of the study tour visited Belogreadchik, Chiprovci, Teteven, and Vraca, where they had an opportunity to introduce not only Bulgarian LEAP results, but also locally protected natural sites, ethno museums and rural tourism facilities. Developing local environmental action programmes Local environmental action programmes (LEAPs) are effective tools for local stakeholders to participate in decision-making processes and to learn how common agreements can be reached. They also provide a good starting point for local communities to solicit support in solving their environmental problems. During 2005 local environmental action programmes were prepared for four Serbian municipalities: Zajecar, Pirot, Knjazevac and Dimitrovgrad. Public consultations have been started and, in the case of Knjezevac, the local assembly has already approved the programme.

Introduction Activities: Studies Capacity Building People to People West Stara Planina Forum Education Ecotourism Agriculture LEAP Local Initiatives Programme Photo gallery   Other sites: Neretva Delta Skadar Lake