Albanian Green Deal – Seminar
IEP organized a seminar to set foundations on an Albanian Green Deal, in face of climate crisis and emergency.
Saturday, on 11 January 2020, 10:00-13:00
Vila Tafaj, Tirana
Agenda:
10:00-10:30 Registration and getting to know each-other
10:30-10:30 Global climate crisis and emergency
10:30-11:15 Impact, mitigation and adaptation in Albania
11:15-12:15 Albanian Green Deal and European Green Deal – What each one of us can do
12:15-12:30 Climate crisis movement
This seminar comes after 3 climate marches organized in Tirana in September-October 2019. Everybody, especially youngsters, are invited to participate.
Please confirm your participation at iep@iep-al.org
Event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/452033049074963/
The seminar was also covered by the media, namely Euronews Albania.
Link of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRaC9Z2Bvew
Link of the article: Euronews Albania – Ndryshimet klimatike, aktivistët kërkojnë që Shqipëria të adoptojë një marrëveshje të gjelbër

EATING HEALTHY FOOD BY ENSURING ANIMAL AND NATURE PROTECTION
First regional conference on biodiversity conservation and animal welfare in agricultural landscapes

Serbia was a host to the First regional conference on biodiversity conservation and animal welfare in agricultural landscapes which was held from 6-7 December 2019 in Zrenjanin, Serbia. Over 120 participants and 25 notable experts from Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, Germany and Great Britain have discussed how is conservation of wild species and their habitats related to the production of healthy food and conservation of natural resources.

“We are honored to have had the opportunity together with our partners to host this unique event in the Western Balkans region. First regional conference on biodiversity conservation and animal welfare in agricultural landscapes has gathered representatives of civil society organisations, public institutions, academic community and media in order to start a dialogue together about protecting wild species and their habitats and animal welfare in agricultural landscapes. This question concerns all citizens of the Western Balkans today – a question about what world and which natural resources we are leaving to generations to come”, stated Elvir Burazerovic, director of ORCA.

Main conclusion of the conference is that the region of the Western Balkans has an enormous potential for agricultural production which is in line with the principles of nature conservation. The consortium of organisations from Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo, gathered around organisation ORCA from Serbia had pointed out how important it is to include organisations, experts, farmers, consumers and economy in the development of agricultural policies that protect nature.

The mechanism that enables joint work of the above mentioned actors is the Regional Working Platform which was founded by ORCA and partner organisations. Platform gathers representatives of the Ministry of agriculture, Ministry of environmental protection, civil society organisations and scientific community and is supported by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. Aim of the Platform is to analyse the current state, identify problems and propose solutions for nature conservation in agricultural landscapes of the Western Balkans.

First regional conference on biodiversity conservation and animal welfare in agricultural landscapes “Sustainable agriculture for Sustainable Balkans” was organised in the frame of the project of the same name – “Sustainable agriculture for Sustainable Balkans: Strengthening advocacy capacities of CSOs and developing policies in the Western Balkans” which is supported by European Union. Project is implemented by a consortium of partner organisations led by the Organisation for Respect and Care of Animals – ORCA (Serbia), which includes Center for Protection and Research of Birds – CZIP (Montenegro), Institute for Environmental Policy – IEP (Albania), FLOROZON (North Macedonia), and Aktiv (Kosovo).

A review of topics and conclusions per panel The results of the 10 successful advocacy campaigns for nature conservation and sustainable agricultural practice, conducted by civil society organisations supported in the frame of “Sustainable agriculture for Sustainable Balkans” project were presented at the conference. These campaigns have had a significant positive impact on the organic food production, protection of the cultural and natural heritage, farm animal welfare and producer and consumer rights in Serbia, Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia. More information on www.sasb-eu.org

Examples of good practices of conservation of wild species and their habitats in agricultural landscapes of Europe and the region have been presented. More specifically, there had been discussions about the conservation of wild species and their habitats at the European level and outside of protected areas, support measures for farmers that preserve natural habitats important for birds and butterflies at their farms in Croatia as well as specific examples of the conservation of wild species in agricultural areas of Serbia. Conclusions of this part of the conference had indicated that if we wish to preserve nature and all benefits that it brings us and which are especially important for the production of healthy food, it’s not enough to preserve it only on a small percentage of the territory in protected areas. In the Western Balkan region, the project “Sustainable agriculture for Sustainable Balkans” is one of the rare initiatives that deal with this topic and it’s necessary that all actors who are working in fields of agriculture and nature protection invest more resources in development of this field that is important for production of healthy food, local economic development and protection of animals and nature in the Western Balkans.

Experts in area of rural development and nature conservation had actualised current challenges and advantages our countries have when it comes to producing healthy food and nature conservation in rural areas. Conference participants have had the opportunity to learn about the ways in which a country can monitor the state of animal and nature protection in agricultural landscapes as shown on the example of Germany.

The results of the work of the Regional Working Platform have been presented. Platform gathers experts, civil society and public intuitions in an effort to develop recommendations for the development of policies related to nature conservation in agricultural areas of the Western Balkans. It has been concluded that it is necessary for the policies of nature conservation in agriculture to be adopted as soon as possible in order to sustain the production of healthy food in line with nature conservation in the interest of consumers and farmers that are included in creation and implementation of these policies.

One of the main conference topics was sustainable pasture management and how it influences economic development, conservation of wild species and farm animal welfare. Economic reasons why farmers in Great Britain are motivated to contribute to nature conservation and animal welfare on their farms have been discussed, as well as the ways in which animal welfare influences the production of healthy food and how in Vojvodina province, experts of the Institute for nature conservation of Vojvodina province implement projects aimed at nature conservation and local economic development. Sustainable pasture management represents one of the main ways in which the vision of preserved traditional agricultural landscapes in the Western Balkans which produce safe and healthy food in a cost-effective manner can be realised.

The First regional conference on biodiversity conservation and animal welfare in agricultural landscapes “Sustainable agriculture for sustainable Balkans”

ORCA and partners of the consortium “Sustainable agriculture for sustainable Balkans” cordially invite you to the First regional conference on biodiversity conservation and animal welfare in agricultural landscapes “Sustainable agriculture for sustainable Balkans” which is organized on 6th and 7th December 2019 in the city of Zrenjanin in Serbia.

Download the agenda of the conference here

Topics of the first day (06.12.2019) of the conference:

1. Good practice case studies and impacts of successful campaigns for nature conservation and sustainable agricultural practices in the countries of the Western Balkans
2. Theoretical and practical aspects of wild species and habitats conservation in agricultural landscapes

Topics of the second day (07.12.2019) of the conference:
1. Comparative analysis of the state and perspectives for development of high nature value farmland and species and habitats conservation in the Western Balkans and the European Union – presentation of research results
2. Theoretical and practical aspects of sustainable pasture management and their impact on nature conservation and rural development

The conference will gather representatives of organisations of civil society, public institutions, academic community and media, and initiate the dialogue on the topic of species and habitats conservation and animal welfare in agricultural landscapes of Serbia and Kosovo*, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia.

NOTICE: The number of participants is limited. Organizer covers the costs of lunch and refreshment during the conference. Travel costs and accommodation are covered by participants, except for students of bachelor, master and doctoral studies who can be refunded return bus tickets. Working language of the conference is English.

If you wish to participate in the conference, please fill in the application form here until 29.11.2019.

The First regional conference on nature conservation and animal welfare in agricultural landscapes “Sustainable agriculture for sustainable Balkans” is organized as part of the project “Sustainable agriculture for sustainable Balkans: strengthening advocacy capacities of CSOs and developing policies in the Western Balkans” which is supported by the European Union. The project is conducted by the consortium of partner organisations led by the Organisation for respect and care of animals – ORCA from Serbia, and is made of Center for protection and research of birds – CZIP (Montenegro), Institute for Environmental Policy (Albania), Florozon (North Macedonia) and Aktiv (Kosovo*). More information about the project can be found at: www.sasb-eu.org
Agenda-SASB-Conference-2019-2-2

First meeting of the Regional Working Platform within the project “Sustainable agriculture for sustainable Balkans” was held in Nis, 11-14 June. The aim of this meeting was to initiate preparations of the report on the state and perspectives for biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes of the Western Balkans countries. In the meeting participated experts from Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Germany, representatives of relevant ministries of agriculture and environmental protection from the region and representatives of the CSOs from partner countries.

Regional Working Platform gathered representatives of relevant institutions, CSOs and experts with the aim to analyse the state and perspectives for biodiversity conservation and animal welfare in agricultural landscapes of the Western Balkans region. The work of the Regional Working Platform support European Union and German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation.

Project “Sustainable agriculture for sustainable Balkans”is financed by the European Union and is aimed to strengthen capacities of CSOs for advocacy and policy development in the Western Balkans through research, training and networking. More about the project can be found at: www.sasb-eu.org
Pictures from the meeting:

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Friday, November 22, 2019 at 4:30 PM – 6 PM
Qendra Rinore e Tiranës
Rruga e Kavajës, mes Dhomës së Tregëtisë dhe Raiffeisen Bank

With this activity, the young people are invited to a interactive meeting finding ways how to face the climate crisis.
We are reaching the point of no return in the climate crisis, risking to go beyond the tipping point! Humanity has less than 10 years to lower by than 70% its total CO2 emissions, to have a change to keep the temperature rise below 2°C. If we cannot manage to achieve this, then temperatures will rise by 5-6°C, which means extinction of human species on this planet. Each one of us needs to fight for our future. On the 1st of November, millions around the globe will march for climate, to demand urgent measures to solve the climate crisis. The future of humanity is at risk! Let’s march together for our future, for the future of our kids, and for the planet!

We are reaching the point of no return in the climate crisis, risking to go beyond the tipping point! Humanity has less than 10 years to lower by than 70% its total CO2 emissions, to have a change to keep the temperature rise below 2°C. If we cannot manage to achieve this, then temperatures will rise by 5-6°C, which means extinction of human species on this planet. Each one of us needs to fight for our future. On the 1st of November, millions around the globe will march for climate, to demand urgent measures to solve the climate crisis. The future of humanity is at risk! Let’s march together for our future, for the future of our kids, and for the planet! Let’s also celebrate and march for the World Vegan Day, 1 November! Join IEP in this march in Mother Tereza Square, Tirana, at 16:30.
Citizens Channel article: E premtja e së Ardhmes; aktivistët dëshirojnë të marrin nisma konkrete në mbrojtje të mjedisit
Lëvizja e Greta Thunberg vjen tek ne:

Global Climate Strike Tirana, 4 October 2019
We are reaching the point of no return in the climate crisis, risking to go beyond the tipping point! Humanity has less than 10 years to lower by than 70% its total CO2 emissions, to have a change to keep the temperature rise below 2°C. If we cannot manage to achieve this, then temperatures will rise by 5-6°C, which means extinction of human species on this planet. Each one of us needs to fight for our future. On the 4th of October, millions around the globe will march for climate, to demand urgent measures to solve the climate crisis. The future of humanity is at risk! Let’s march together for our future, for the future of our kids, and for the planet!
Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2471332523103290/

Video from the march: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m600ooZD4_4

Articles on the media: https://citizens-channel.com/2019/10/05/marshimi-per-ndryshimet-klimatike-te-rinjte-shqiptare-kerkojne-veprim-institucional/?fbclid=IwAR20hmK9mUxcAiw1O_dQjCR28r7h03ErPvPxEWc5xqi1BafWDqQeGwnUUSM

VIDEO/ Ndryshimet klimatike, të rinjtë shqiptarë dalin në Bulevard: Mbill pemë, mos mbill beton

We are reaching the point of no return in the climate crisis, risking to go beyond the tipping point! Humanity has less than 10 years to lower by than 70% its total CO2 emissions, to have a change to keep the temperature rise below 2°C. If we cannot manage to achieve this, then temperatures will rise by 5-6°C, which means extinction of human species on this planet. Each one of us needs to fight for our future. On the 20th of September, millions around the globe will march for climate, to demand urgent measures to solve the climate crisis. The future of humanity is at risk! Let’s march together for our future, for the future of our kids, and for the planet!
Let’s march for climate on 20th of September 2019, 17:00 at Sheshi Nënë Tereza, Tiranë.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2915143182044670/
Global Climate Strike: https://act.350.org/event/globalclimatestrike/18127?

Climate Strike in Tirana: Historia Ime. You can read it here

Since beginning of 2018, IEP has been looking for funding to lower human impact and pollution, and develop eco-tourism in the area of Small Prespa (Shyec and Buzëliqen villages).
In early 2018, IEP local team has organized information gathering meetings with the local inhabitants and local government of Devoll Municipality, coupled with field visits to assess the situation and the future intervention. The second field trip was held in autumn 2018, where the IEP team presented the findings and intervention ideas to the Devoll local government and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Devoll Municipality to develop eco-tourism in the area and implement a series of training, awareness raising and works activities to curb pollution in the area of Shyec and Buzëliqen.
The Albanian part of Small Prespa Lake shore is a poor, rural area, with inhabitants living of subsistence agriculture. The Albanian part of Prespa Lake is suffering from eutrophication and advanced succession. Small interventions are needed to counter succession.
Urgent actions are needed to develop the area through eco-tourism and sustainable-green development, in order to alleviate poverty and steer the region towards a greener future.