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Skadar/Shkodra Lake Activities Capacity BuildingIn order to strengthen the capacities of local stakeholders in both countries, different capacity-building activities (tailored to local needs) were carried out. Through these activities, project organisers tried to enable stakeholders to participate in the decision-making processes, bring the two sides onto common ground, and enable an exchange of knowledge and experience. In order to achieve these goals the following activities were organised. Training on how to prepare project proposals for the REC This regional workshop was organised prior to the local small grant call for tender in 2001 for environmental NGOs from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Republic of Montenegro. Six NGOs from Montenegro were trained in writing project proposals, five of which submitted projects for the local call for tender. These projects were subsequently approved, which showed that capacity building of local stakeholders in writing project proposals is important and necessary in Montenegro. Objective Oriented Planning training 1.
Drafting a management plan for Shkoder Lake; Training in writing cooperative grants Training was organised for non-profit organisations which responded to the cooperative call for grants. Eleven organisations from Montenegro and 10 from Albania took place. The purpose of the training was to instruct participants on how to write cooperative project proposals so that good project proposals could be submitted to the call for cooperative grants. Subsequently, five projects were approved in each country. Technical support to field agents (2001-2003) In order to improve surveillance in the national park, basic field equipment and an all-terrain vehicle were provided to the National Park Guard Service. Additionally, on the Albanian side, the Regional Environmental Agency was equipped with basic office equipment and the University of Shkodra with a chemical laboratory. The activities directly supported local organisations in charge of protection and management of the lake. This trend (i.e. institutional strengthening and capacity building) will eventually lead to the development of good local partners to play the main role in management, protection and use of lake resources. Media Training Workshop - May, 2004 The Media Training Workshop was held from May 13th to 15th, 2004, in Shkodra, Albania. The purpose of the training was to contribute to the successful implementation of the project by building local journalists’ capacity and strengthening the links of the project with media representatives. The workshop also improved the cross-border elements of journalists’ stories regarding Skadar Lake, and prepared the foundation for a network of journalist who will cover environmental issues and developments in the Skadar Lake region. 25 journalists participated from national and local media (TV, radio, newspapers, and electronic media). Journalist were introduced to the main environmental problems in the region, as well as the institutions and organizations dealing with Skadar Lake on both sides of the border. As part of the training, journalist chose a topic they would like to cover, made necessary interviews and worked on creating environmental stories. They also visited the Albanian part of the Lake, and the Velipoja nature reserve. After the workshop, several issues were raised in local media, such as: Illegal fishing, hunting, and problems with pelicans and the efforts being made for their repatriation. Project Cycle Management Training - July, 2004 Training in Project Cycle Management (PCM) was held from the18th to the 20th of July, 2004, in Budva, Montenegro. Participants were representatives from republic and local institutions dealing with Skadar Lake region in Montenegro, including: National Park Skadar Lake; Ministry for Environmental Protection and Spatial Planning; Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Waters; University of Montenegro – Biology Department; Republic Hydro-Meteorology Institute; Republic Institute for Nature Protection; Natural History Museum; Municipality of Podgorica; and several educational institutions. The training had three main goals: Strengthen the abilities of participants to prepare projects in their own organizations by: Providing information on the basic components of PCM; sharing experiences; and facilitating small group assignments, through which participants practice the application of PCM methodologies. Increase individual and group skills that will enable participants to work as team members, organizing and playing leadership roles. Foster coordination and communication among the diverse sectors by: Bringing together a diverse group of individuals, including government officials, NGO representatives and state institutions; and explaining the need for a multi-stakeholder approach when designing solutions for problems using PCM methodologies. LEAP Training Training in Local Environmental Action Programmes (LEAP) was organized from October 14th to 15th, 2004, in Shkodra, Albania, and from October 20th to 23rd, 2004, in Montenegro, for the representatives of local authorities related to the Skadar Lake region (Podgorica, Bar and Cetinje in Montenegro and Shkodra and Malesi e Male in Albania). Representatives of different public enterprises and local institutions dealing with environmental protection, and from civil society, were also present. The goals and objectives of the training were: Strengthen the abilities of participants to undertake LEAPs, as tools for public participation in their own communities, by: Providing information on the basic components of a LEAP; sharing experiences from previous LEAPs; and facilitating a process through which participants practice the application of the LEAP methodology in their communities. Increase individual and group skills that will enable participants to work as team members, and in community organizing and leadership roles. Foster coordination and communication among the diverse sectors within each participating community by: Bringing together a diverse group of individuals, including municipal officials, NGO representatives and business and academic leaders; and explaining specific techniques that local organizers can use to identify the various stakeholders, increase public involvement and input and encourage cooperation among different organizations and interest groups. After the successful completion of the trainings, the first steps towards the development of LEAPs have been taken in the municipalities of Cetinje and Shkodra. Activities with education institutions (2001-2003) Several activities involving educational institutions were organised in both Montenegro and Albania: field trips, art and literary competitions, exhibitions, slide presentations, clean-ups, concerts and more. Most of the activities had a cross-border character and were organised with the participation of children from Montenegro and Albania. Schools are recognised as good local partners who can work on raising public awareness of the lake’s value and the need for its protection. Field trip A field trip was organised to Skadar Lake on the 12th of September, 2004, for the environmental section of the Secondary School in Cetinje, which prepares materials for the local newsletter, Zooza. The purpose of the trip was to present a part of the Lake to the pupils that was previously completely unknown to them, raising awareness of the necessity of protecting the Lake. Around 30 children, together with their biology teacher, Ms. Sanja Kaludjerovic, had a chance to visit several naturally and culturally important sites, such as: Grmozur Island (ornithological reserve); the Beska islands (with famous monasteries); Starcevo island (a small island with only one inhabitant); Radus, or 'eye' (the deepest sublacustric spring); and Murici Beach. These visits were accompanied with interesting stories about the history and nature of Skadar Lake, narrated by Mr. Milan Pravilovic, an archeologist, and Mr. Vukic Pulevic, a botanist. After the trip participants prepared a lot of materials (texts, drawings, poems, and so on) about the Lake for the next issue of the Zooza newsletter. Dialogue/partnership (2001-2003) In order to overcome the legacy of the past and to create common ground for future cooperation in different fields, a number of meetings and activities were implemented in both Montenegro and Albania. These activities helped to develop dialogue and partnerships between stakeholders from two countries in order to involve them in other international projects and processes. It is hoped that this will eventually help to stabilise the region. Dialogue and partnerships were established on the local and regional levels to delegate responsibilities to local institutions and improve management of the lake on both sides. Get everyone involved meetings (2000-2001) The first step at the beginning of the project's implementation
in November 2001 was to introduce the project to local stakeholders through
get everyone involved meetings. These meetings enabled the stakeholders
to meet and negotiate with all relevant institutions in the region dealing
with environmental protection and to identify possible partners for future
cooperation. Additionally, the meetings allowed local stakeholders to
participate in the planning process. During these sessions participants
identified several problems and activities that could solve them. Shkoder Lake forums, local and bilateral (2001-2003) The Shkoder Lake forum gathers representatives of local stakeholders who were to play the most important roles in the lake’s management and protection during the first two project years. On the Montenegro side the forum has seven members, who include representatives of National Park Shkoder Lake, the Ministry of Environment, the Republic Institute for Nature Protection, the Municipality of Podgorica, educational institutions, NGOs and the project focal point. On Albanian side forum members represent the University of Shkoder, the Repbulic Environmental Agency, Shkoder Prefecture, the Education Directorate and the Municipality of Shkoder. The forums were meant to enhance cross-border cooperation between partner organisations, but also to improve communication between sectors within the countries. The forums were key in both project implementation and planning, and served as the project advisory board. However, in the future the forums could become the nucleus for a joint lake management committee, with a much more institutionalised character and equipped with official mandates from both governments. This would make such an institution responsible for making decisions about the management of the lake and the verification of implementation of strategies and measures. Skadar Lake Forum (SLF) , 2004 Two bilateral and one local SLF meetings were organized between March and September, 2004. The first bilateral meeting was held on March 2nd in Shkodra, Albania, with the purpose of informing Forum members about the next project phase and the activities planned for 2004. A further aim was to collect ideas concerning the new roles of the Forums in the project. The second bilateral meeting was held on the 26th of July in Pjesacac, a small village on the Montenegrin coast of the lake, with the purpose of exchanging information about the current and future projects in the Skadar Lake region, and to discuss future project activities. A local SLF meeting was organised between these two bilateral meetings to discus the above- mentioned issues at the local level first, using an inter-sectoral approach. Internal communication strategy (2001) The communication strategy was prepared by the Shkoder Lake project staff. The strategy was to identify the main target groups for the project activities and to define the best ways to approach them. The strategy was prepared so it could be adapted to all three sites. Local environmental action programmes (LEAP) for Shkodra, Albania and Cetinje, Montenegro Technical assistance to Water and Education Directorates in Albania Following studies concerning the responsibilities of different institutions the obstacles that some face, in 2005 a needs assessment of the Water Basin Directorate and of the Regional Education Directorate was carried out on the Albanian side of Shkodra Lake. Following recommendations in the needs assessment, basic equipment was provided to both institutions, allowing them to better fulfil their duties.
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The
preparation of local environmental action plans (LEAPs) for the towns
of Cetinje, Montenegro and Shkodra, Albania began in 2004. Documents are
to be finalised during 2005, while 2006 will see the implementation of
some parts of the plans. The development of the respective towns’
plans has run separately, but the same methodology applies to both. In
Cetinje in the spring of 2005, a public opinion poll was conducted in
which citizens identified several main problems, including communal issues
(wastewater, solid waste and fresh water), insufficient tourism development
(in spite of the presence of two national parks, numerous cultural-historical
monuments, religious relicts, etc.), and education. Action plans for selected
priorities have been developed, and the relevant document was opened for
comments and suggestions. The final version of the plan is expected to
be finished by the end of the year. Strong public campaigns involving
schools and several NGOs have been organised for all the important steps
of the process.