Big Win 2 - Dinaric Arc Parks Confernce, Budva 2nd - 5th December 2013

Introduction

In 2008, a major political commitment for joint work on Protected Areas between six countries in the region was announced by Ministries responsible for Environment from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania through “Big Win for Dinaric Arc”.

The goal of the Big Win for Dinaric Arc was to acknowledge achievements of the Dinaric Arc countries in building a viable and representative protected areas network. Five years later, 80% of the “Big Win” commitments are implemented including Declaration of new protected areas and expansion of existing ones, management effectiveness assessment completed in all 6 countries, numerous management plans completed. Personal and professional relationships were established between major stakeholders in the region, resulting in more open dialogue, collaboration and development of numerous joint projects. Still, there is a need for even stronger and more effective cooperation among the countries and stakeholders.

A new opportunity for 2013

The first Dinaric Arc Parks conference was held in Banja Luka in November 2012, and gathered about 200 participants from all countries of the region. Second conference of Dinaric Arc Parks, to be held in Montenegro in December 2013, is an opportunity to develop a new regional high-level Declaration of commitments to improve protected areas and nature conservation systems.

On December 2nd 2013, eight Ministers from the countries it the region will sign a major political commitment for joint work on protected areas. The main objectives of the Dinaric Arc Declaration will be the following:

1. Highlighting the biological and cultural importance of Dinaric Arc ecoregion;
2. Presenting Dinaric Arc countries’ planned actions (commitments) towards establishing well managed, representative national systems of protected areas in the light of EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 and CBD;
3. Strengthening regional collaboration in nature conservation issues;
4. Strengthening engagement of the EU and other partners in supporting Governments in improving their nature conservation systems
Key elements of the high-level commitment are the following:


1. Participation

The Government of Montenegro will host the event. The Ministers responsible for environment of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo (UNSCR 1244/99), Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia are invited to sign the declaration. Government of Montenegro invited European Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Janez Potočnik to endorse the declaration. European Union delegations and Embassies from the region invited to the signing ceremony.

2. Date and venue

Signing ceremony will be held on the Monday, December 2nd 2013, in Budva, Montenegro on the first day of the Dinaric Arc Parks Conference (2nd-.5th December)

3. Development of declaration

Declaration will be composed of the joint regional and national-level commitments on improving conservation protected area systems IUCN and WWF have begun working with technical staff from the Ministries on shaping the Declaration, from development of national and regional commitments, to logistical and financial support for the event, and subsequent follow-up.


Contact person on behalf of the organizer is Marina Miskovic-Spahic, contact details :
E-mail : marina.spahic@mrt.gov.me   
Phone : +382 20 446 238
Mobile phone: +382 67 500 777


Contact person on behalf of the WWF is Leon Kebe, contact details:
E-mail : lkebe@wwf.panda.org  
Phone : +385 1 5509 623
Mobile phone: +386 31 655 993 (Sl)
Mobile phone: +385 91 1753 081 (CRO)

Attachments:

http://www.discoverdinarides.com/en  
http://www.nparkovi.me/sajt/  
http://www.iucn.org/southeasterneurope

Dinaric Arc Parks - Montenegro