Whether in-person or remotely, this is a critical moment to be involved in the IUCN Congress. The event will drive global action needed to address biodiversity issues, and offer a unique platform for government, business, and civil society to collaborate for nature conservation.

109 Congress motions were previously voted on by the Members’ Assembly, and the remaining motions that did not reach a consensus during the online discussions will be decided during Congress. This also includes any new and urgent motions submitted, with these outcomes feeding into future meetings and decision-making bodies such as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP-15 in Kunming, China. Check the programme and register to join in person or virtually 

The IUCN Council has recently admitted 38 new IUCN Members globally. We are pleased to welcome two of them in our region, the Hunting Association of Serbia and KAFLU - Kyrgyz Association of Forest and Land Users. We look forward to their active involvement! Read more

The public consultations for the future Shar Mountains National Park Management Plan officially started, at a virtual event hosted by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia. With the support of IUCN and UNEP, the participatory process will call for the involvement of national and international experts, the civil sector and the local community. Read more

This July, Georgia had its first natural World Heritage site inscribed, following IUCN's recommendation: the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands. The site will contribute to the conservation of rainforests, peatlands and mires home to many plants and animals adapted to the extremely humid climate, such as the Critically Endangered Colchic sturgeon. Read more

Following the recommendation of IUCN, the extension of a natural World Heritage site The Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe has been approved, adding to the existing site 15 new areas located in Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Czechia, France, Italy, Poland, and Switzerland. Read more

Zoos are not just places where animals are exposed to public. The key objective when establishing a zoo is to ensure ex-situ conservation of wildlife species and support public education and research. None of the many facilities in Albania where wildlife is exhibited, the so-called “Zoos” or “Safari Parks”, in restaurants or other private facilities, including the Tirana Zoo, meets the main objectives of creating zoos according to the European Directive on Zoos. Read more

To honour the citizen-rangers in Kyrgyzstan who guard snow leopards and other wildlife from illegal poaching, 16 rangers were awarded at the 7th annual Ranger Rewards Ceremony in Bishkek, hosted by the Snow Leopard Trust. IUCN contributed through SOS Central Asia grants programme, and feels proud to support the dedicated work of rangers in Kyrgyzstan. Read more

North Macedonia has designated Lake Ohrid as its third and largest Ramsar Site. The Site straddles the mountainous border between North Macedonia and Albania. It has been a World Heritage Property since 1979. Read more

This innovative partnership model aims to respond to the environmental and financing challenges of nature conservation in the Mediterranean. Read more

WWF-Russia and the European University have prepared and organised a first course on sustainable finance, tailor-made for banks in Russia. The couse cosists of 16 hours of webinars for bank employees who work in the field of green products and sustainable development. Read more

IUCN and Living Buna partners are encouraging sustainable socio-economic development in north Albania, by focusing on the ecosystem and habitat restoration through the community based actions, in an area of 23,000 ha of the Buna Delta. Read more

Easy to use and readily accessible technological solutions that provide satellite data to non-Earth Observation experts can serve as a powerful tool for environmental compliance monitoring and law enforcement. To inspire discussion on the potential of such innovative tools, the IUCN ELC and IUCN  ECARO organised a webinar in the frame of the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Project enviroLENS. Read more

Albanian environmental CSOs are voicing a great concern about planned developments in Vjosë-Narta, a wetland complex rich with biodiversity. The Green27 consortium has conducted an assessment of the level of transposition and implementation of key EU directives under Chapter 27, which points out a need to address the issues related to public consultation and appropriate assessment of investments and plans affecting the site in whihc  biodiversity conservation is a priority. Read more

The Government of Albania has started the negotiations related to the construction of Vlora International Airport inside the Vjose – Narte Protected Landscape. This strategic plan goes against national laws as well as international conventions for nature conservation. A coalition of 37 organizations is opposing it through an open letter to the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Edi Rama. Read more

In June, the ADAPT team has organised the first Regional Workshop on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) gathering key partners, representatives of financial institutions, academia, project consultants and advisory group members from the Wstern Balkans. This goal of the workshop was to strengthen the understanding of the conceptual foundation of NbS as a practice-based approach for sustainable development and display how NbS can be applied to address different societal challenges including climate change and disaster risk reduction. Participants showed a great interest in the IUCN Global Standard for NbS™, now also available in Albanian, as well as the Guidance for NbS Standard. 

The Living Buna partners are calling the interested organisations based in Albania and individuals based in the Buna Protected Landscape to apply for small grants varying from 5,000 to 40,000 EUR. Project ideas that benefit  sustainable development and ecosystem restoration in Buna River Velipojë Protected Landscape can be submitted by 22 August 2021. More info 

As part of the new initiative funded by Fondation Segré through IUCN Save Our Species, all interested can are invited to submit proposals for Conservation Action and Research Support Grants. Projects across Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East are eligible. The call is open to local Civil Society Organisations and researchers. Apply by 31 August! More info

UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty is seeking for an expert to conduct an assessment of existing and potential UNESCO designated sites in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The deadline for submission of applications is 16 August 2021. More info

The ADAPT Newsletter is all about Nature-based Solutions in the Western Balkans. 

Read the newsletter and subscribe here 

There is a need to protect the Vjosa River Valley along its full length, including its tributaries - confirms the new IUCN WCPA authored study. 

Read  more

Study available in English and Albanian

Ships operating in the North Pacific pose a serious threat to gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus), according to the first scientific study that examines the impacts of vessel traffic on the species throughout its range. Read more

What are Nature-based Solutions, and what is their potential to help address global challenges? What long-term environmental, societal and economic benefits they can provide?

Take a look at our ADAPT infographic and find out more! It is available in Albanian, Bosnian, Montenegrin, Macedonian and Serbian. 

Download here

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World Water Week

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IUCN World Conservation Congress

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UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP-15

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