05 December 2013
05/12/2013 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today organized the closing ceremony of the project Sustainable Land Management and Biodiversity Conservation in the Municipality of Dragash. Over the four years that it lasted, this project has achieved commendable results in the field of biodiversity conservation and environmental protection in the Municipality of Dragash. With a total value of 4 million Euros funded by the Finnish government, the project has left behind development and management plans, strategies, support for small and medium enterprises, farmers, and the creation of jobs. Present at this ceremony were also the Charge d'Affaires of the Finnish Embassy in Kosovo, Ms. Anne Meskanen, the Mayor of the Municipality of Dragash, guests, officials, and the beneficiaries of this project.
The CEO of AMMK, Ilir Morina, in his speech thanked the Finnish embassy and UNDP for the project and mentioned some of the main achievements such as: the drafting of the Management Plan for the Sharr Mountain National Park, the drafting of the Financial Plan and the Business Plan for Sharr Mountain National Park, the Economic Valuation of the Ecosystems of the Dragash Municipality, the research of the biodiversity of the Dragash area, the expansion of the Sharr National Park territory into the Dragash area, raising awareness among the population and the local community about the preservation of biodiversity and the importance of protected areas through publications and campaigns, as well as the deepening of cooperation between Sharr National Park, the Municipality of Dragash, NGOs, the local community, businesses, etc.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the guests were served a traditional homemade lunch with products produced in Dragash, thus also presenting a part of the culture and tradition of this region. The project Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use Management in Dragash aimed to achieve the necessary frameworks for local sustainable development through the preservation of biodiversity, spatial and environmental planning, local economic development, sustainable energy strategy, and capacity building.