Nature is treated as if it were an unlimited resource
Despite biodiversity’s essential value for economic sectors such as forestry, agriculture, tourism, and fisheries, and its relevance for social and cultural well-being, nature is treated as if it were an unlimited resource in the region of South-East Europe, while environmental protection is often seen as an expense. Why this is happening, but also what the […]
Paper: Valuing biodiversity assets through ecotourism in SEE – trans-boundary region of Sharr/ Korab-Koritnik/ Mavrovo mountain areas
The working paper “Valuing biodiversity assets through ecotourism in South-East Europe – A review of the situation in and recommendations for the trans-boundary region of Sharr/ Korab-Koritnik/ Mavrovo mountain areas” is the product of a three-month assignment in the frame of Engagement Global Program within the GIZ Open Regional Fund Biodiversity Project (ORF-BD) and attached […]
Informal Green Parliamentary Group established in Montenegro
The School of Democratic Leadership in cooperation with the members of the Montenegrin Parliament established an informal Green Parliamentary Group with the support of the German organization GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH). The aim of this project is to prioritize and put into the focus of decision making process the issues of environmental […]
Study: Who is financing hydropower projects in protected areas in Southeast Europe
Out of the 2,112 planned or operational hydropower projects across southeast Europe (SEE) since 2005, at least 735 are in protected areas or internationally recognized areas of high biodiversity value. Of these, 152 are already operating, 34 are under construction and 513 are planned or potential, with the remainder at an unclear stage. At least […]
Biodiversity: Second publication BIMR Regional Guidelines now available
The Open Regional Funds for South-East Europe – Biodiversity project (ORF-BD), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) supports the development of the second publication BIMR Regional Guidelines through the Regional Network for Biodiversity Information Management and Reporting (BIMR) sub-project. […]
Open call for Alfred Toepfer Natural Heritage Scholarships 2018
The EUROPARC Federation, with support from the Alfred Toepfer Stiftung F.V.S., has issued an open call to young professionals – conservationists to apply for Alfred Toepfer Natural Heritage Scholarship. The aim of the scholarships is to enhance international cooperation and to advance the quality, innovation and European dimension of Protected Area management. Each year the EUROPARC […]
Exploring regional and SEE economies’ Assessments of BIMR Baseline
Prepared by Azra Velagić-Hajrudinović and Jelena Peruničić, GIZ ORF-BD Biodiversity Information Management and Reporting (BIMR) project ORF-BD conducted several assessments on biodiversity information management and reporting in the past year. The Assessments encompassed six assessments for the economies in SEE region and a regional overview, and were published in May. The focus of the research […]
WWF launches Nature for People initiative/platform in SEE
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF Adria), an important regional partner of the GIZ Open Regional Fund for South-East Europe – Biodiversity (ORF-BD), has launched a new regional initiative under the title Nature for People, with an aim to provide information and share examples of good practice in order to help improve management of […]