12 August 2014
12/08/2014 - In December of this year, it will be two years since the Assembly of Kosovo declared the territory of the Accursed Mountains a National Park. Since the time of its declaration as a National Park, despite many difficulties, tangible results have been achieved in the management of the protected territory of the Accursed Mountains and the conservation of nature in this region. Management, increased inter-institutional cooperation, project implementation, drafting of documents, marking of the area, and community awareness are just some of the achievements that can be highlighted.
Within the framework of institutional management, the main achievement is considered to be the establishment of the Directorate for the Administration of the Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park, the drafting of the internal regulation, and the signing of the cooperation memorandum with the municipalities of Deçan, Junik, Istog, Gjakovë, Dragash, and Kaçanik 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).
Within the framework of inter-institutional cooperation, besides very good cooperation with the municipalities, cooperation with the Kosovo Police, Courts, and Prosecution has also increased. Thus, within these engagements, up to now, 124 requests for the initiation of misdemeanor procedures based on the reports of Nature Rangers for illegal logging have been submitted, as well as 37 requests for the initiation of criminal proceedings against illegal loggers. 36 rulings have been issued by the courts against illegal loggers in favor of MMPH-AMMK, and 2 criminal charges have also been filed. Reports from the field indicate that the amount of illegally logged timber in the territory of the National Park has significantly decreased.
The completion of the zoning of the territory of the Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park and the beginning of the process of drafting the Spatial Plan for the park are two other significant activities that have been carried out during this period. There has also been cooperation with Non-Governmental Organizations with the aim of raising awareness for the protection of this rare natural heritage, while dozens of meetings and debates have been organized with the local community and representatives of other interest groups to resolve issues and provide information and clarifications for all the concerns and uncertainties they have regarding the park. Research has also continued in identifying and exploring the natural values of the area, especially in the field of speleology and rare plant and animal species.
The interest of donors and international organizations in helping to improve the management and conservation of the area has not been lacking. Several projects have been carried out, while some projects that are expected to be implemented in the area are in the finalization phase.
The Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park has also become part of several regional and cross-border projects, and its tourism and landscape values are now recognized not only in the Balkan region but also more broadly. Bjeshkët e Nemuna is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Kosovo by foreign tourists, and for the values it represents, it has also received international awards.
Marking the territory and placing various informational signs has begun in some of the most frequented parts and entrances of the park and is expected to continue in other areas.
A detailed recording of all objects and activities found in the Park's territory has also been made, as well as the digitization of the data collected from the field.