15 April 2014
15.04.2014 - The CEO of the Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Ilir Morina, met today with the Mayor of Gjakova Municipality, Ms. Mimoza Kusari-Lila. In the meeting, which was also attended by the acting director of the Directorate for the Administration of the Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park, Fatmir Morina, and the representative from the Spatial Planning Institute, Faton Deva, discussions focused on cooperation between the Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency and the Gjakova Municipality for the protection and more efficient management of the natural resources of Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park.
On this occasion, KEPA and the Gjakova Municipality signed a cooperation memorandum for the transfer of competencies, human resources, financial resources, inventory, and assets related to the management of the National Park from the municipal level to the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (MMPH), specifically the Directorate for the Administration of Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park.
The meeting also discussed the implementation of joint projects of AMMK and the Municipality of Gjakova in the territory of the Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park, the drafting of the Spatial Plan for the park, and other cooperation opportunities in the environmental protection sector. The territory of Bjeshkët e Nemuna has been declared a National Park with the approval of the law for the National Park "Bjeshkët e Nemuna." This is the second National Park of Kosovo, covering an area of 62,488 ha and extending into the territories of the municipalities: Gjakova, Junik, Peja, Deçan, and Istog. The territory declared a National Park stands out for its rare natural values, a large number of important forest ecosystems, habitats of rare species, as well as rich hydrological, geomorphological, and landscape characteristics that have scientific, educational, and tourist-recreational importance.
Since the declaration of the area as a National Park, AMMK, through donors, has carried out several important projects in this area, while during this year it is expected that several other projects will also begin to be implemented, which will help in improving the management and conservation of the park's natural values.