SEE BAP
Full project name: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Local Sustainable Development in the Western Balkans
Project duration: Feb 2009 – Dec 2011
My role: Project Director - REC
My assignment: Feb 2009 – Dec 2011
Project overview:
SEE BAP connected biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services with sustainable local development in ten municipalities across the Western Balkans. Funded by Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and implemented by the European Centre for Nature Conservation (ECNC) in cooperation with the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), the project combined municipal assessments, stakeholder engagement, training and Local Biodiversity Action Planning (LBAP). It helped communities identify conservation priorities and biodiversity-based economic opportunities, prepare action plans and implement selected local initiatives. Working across the Drina and Drin river basins, the project promoted cooperation between municipalities and linked environmental protection with local livelihoods, poverty reduction and community participation. A practical handbook and regional knowledge exchange supported wider application of the approach.
My contribution:
Organisation: Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), working in partnership with ECNC
Geographical coverage: Western Balkans — Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia
As REC’s Project Director, provided overall supervision of REC’s contribution, with responsibility for quality control and links with policymakers. Worked with the ECNC-led project team, REC country offices and local stakeholders to connect biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services with municipal development priorities. Edited the Local Biodiversity Action Planning methodology, contributing to a practical approach combining stakeholder participation, conservation objectives and sustainable economic opportunities. Supported coordination and quality assurance across municipal assessments, capacity building, action planning and implementation of priority biodiversity measures.
Selected results:
Edited the LBAP methodology, contributing to the practical framework presented in the published Handbook for Developing Local Biodiversity Action Plans and its supporting resources, translated into six languages.
Supported the development of ten Local Biodiversity Action Plans covering Bajina Bašta, Čajetina, Goražde, Srebrenica, Pljevlja, Žabljak, Peshkopi, Dragash, Gostivar and Mavrovo-Rostuša.
Supported municipal assessments identifying biodiversity resources, development opportunities, stakeholder needs and priority conservation issues as the evidence base for local action planning.
Provided oversight and quality assurance for capacity building, including two regional workshops in October 2009 and follow-up training in May 2010 involving more than 50 municipal representatives.
Supported municipal ownership through cooperation agreements with all ten municipalities and the appointment of local LBAP coordinators and teams.
Supported the financing and implementation of priority biodiversity actions, with project contributions of up to EUR 20,000 per municipality and municipal co-financing requirements. Funded activities covered species conservation, botanical and nursery gardens, river protection, nature trails, visitor information and biodiversity-based local livelihoods.
Contributed to regional exchange through the “Biodiversity Goes Local” conference in Budva on 13–14 October 2011, bringing together more than 95 participants and producing a conference declaration and proposals for continued municipal learning.
Supported dissemination of the LBAP approach through regional and international channels, including CBD COP10, the Dinaric Arc initiative and cooperation with other conservation and development organisations.