25 November 2022
The Kosovo Institute for Nature Protection, with the support of the European Commission’s Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument (TAIEX), organized a one-week mission related to the preparation of the Reference List for Kosovo.
Representatives of various central and local-level institutions participated in the activities carried out during this mission, which included workshops and working meetings. Participants included representatives of the Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Environmental and Water Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, the University of Prishtina, municipalities and non-governmental organizations.
The biodiversity expert engaged by TAIEX, Piter Skoberna from Slovenia, presented good practices through a series of presentations regarding the procedures that should be followed for preparing the Reference List, as well as the data required for its preparation. The Reference List contains the species and habitats of Kosovo that are listed in the European Union’s Birds Directive and Habitats Directive and which serve as a basis for the designation of Natura 2000 sites.
As part of the process of approximation to the European Union, Kosovo is obliged to identify and designate Natura 2000 sites within its territory. The designation of NATURA 2000 sites will contribute not only to biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and its promotion, but also to meeting European Union environmental standards.
Alignment with the requirements of the European Union environmental acquis, particularly Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, Directive 2009/147/EC of 30 November 2009, and Directive 79/406/EEC on wild birds, is of particular importance.
This activity served as part of the identification of needs and planning for the development of the policies and strategies necessary for the identification of Natura 2000 sites.