20 & 21 September 2007, Mavrovo National Park, Macedonia

An ECNC team conducted a two-day workshop for the project ‘Communicating Nature Conservation in the Balkan region’ in September 2007 in Mavrovo National Park, FYRO Macedonia. The workshop aimed to assist a partnership of key stakeholders (with the support of the Macedonian Ministry of Environment) in agreeing and establishing a collaborative platform for the ongoing management of the Mavrovo National Park. A first workshop was held in Mavrovo in June 2007.

Rob Wolters, Executive Director ECNC, and the Park Director, Mr Oner Jakuposki, welcomed the participants and expressed their support for the participatory approach in developing a new management plan. Local project coordinator, Ms Robertina Brajanoska, of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, ensured wide stakeholder involvement for this workshop, which was attended by over 40 participants, from NGOs, public institutions, national and regional authorities, park management and local people. Mr Mile Jakimovski, Director of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, expressed his gratitude to the project team and his wish to continue into the final phase of the project, planned for next year.

ECNC Programme Manager, Aysegul Cil, built on the June workshop, emphasizing the objectives of this phase and that ECNC expertise would continue to be available to assist the process of ongoing stakeholder participation and consultation as a part of the management planning process. ECNC Associate, Mr Tom Kovacs, and ECNC’s Senior Programme Manager, Dr Lawrence Jones-Walters, worked together to pass on a combination of practical experience and knowledge of the park management planning process. They also conducted a series of exercises on creating a communication plan and developing a vision for the Park. The focus was on stakeholder views and their prospective roles in the process. The participants and the park management were participated enthusiastically in the discussions, and it was felt by all that this work will provide an excellent platform for the future involvement of all the sectors in the park and will greatly assist in achieving a desirable situation for the future.

This project is funded by the Norwegian Government.

For more information please contact Aysegul Cil, Programme Manager – Nature and Society; cil@ecnc.org