26 August 2010
Under the organization of the Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency and with the support of TAIEX, a two-day workshop (15 and 16 January) was held at the premises of Hotel Afa in Prishtina on the topic Initiating the process of identifying important bird areas for the Natura 2000 network in Kosovo – challenges and opportunities.
At the opening of this workshop, the Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Mahir Yagcilar, after welcoming numerous local and international experts, emphasized that Natura 2000 is an integral system of protected areas within the EU, which includes areas according to the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive.
Both of these directives for the EU and its member states represent a very important legal instrument for the implementation of the tasks of the Convention on Biological Diversity for the preservation of the biological diversity of species and their habitats. Minister Yagcilar also emphasized the fact that Kosovo is characterized by rich nature, landscapes, and a diverse plant and animal world. The values of our natural heritage are facing continuous pressure from uncontrolled and unplanned exploitation.
Despite this, our orientation is to intensify efforts to preserve these values: by drafting effective policies for the protection of nature; by increasing the areas of protected zones; by raising the quality of management of these areas; by protecting rare plant and animal species and by safeguarding forests. In this way, we fulfill the legal obligation to gradually bring the standards of the European Union, among other things, said Minister Yagcilar.
Representatives of governmental and non-governmental institutions expected to be involved in the process of identification, research, inventory, declaration, and management of Natura 2000 areas in Kosovo participated in the workshop. Based on the presentations of local experts and those from European Union countries, as well as taking into account the works and discussions of the workshop, recommendations were made at the conclusion for the next steps in continuing this process in Kosovo.