DPM Simović, Ms. Fiona McCluney: New projects with aim to mitigate impact of climate change in forests, water and agriculture

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Milutin Simović, with his associates, today spoke with Ms. Fiona McCluney Permanent Representative of the United Nations and UNDP in Montenegro.  

The aim of the meeting was to jointly examine the possibilities for Montenegro to apply for new grants from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Adaption Fund (AF), through the preparation and implementation of projects aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change in forests, water and agriculture.

DPM Simović expressed the Government's gratitude for the ongoing, continuous and important support that UNDP is providing to Montenegro's efforts in implementing overall reforms in various areas, especially in the field of environmental protection." The goal is to contribute to the breakthroughs of Montenegro, in order to protect its resources, as well as contribute to overall global initiatives, such as mitigation of climate change,"  DPM Simović highlited.

In this context, DPM Simović emphasised the importance of defining new projects that would be quickly realised and as a result of visible, life effects. In particular, DPM Simović stressed the necessity of creating projects that would respond to climate change, which will provide answers to challenges related to droughts, floods, the impact of torrential rivers, erosion and degradation of agricultural land.  Deputy Prime Minister Simović underlined the importance of integrating the forest position as an indispensable part of the overall ecosystem.

The meeting also analysed and already prepared the concept of the project "Integrated cross-border flood management, in the Drim, in the Western Balkans", initiated by DPM Simović in December 2017 in a meeting with the regional coordinator of the Global Water Partnership. The project, which would be realised in cooperation with Albania, is planned preparation of documentation and execution of priority works on the regulation of the river Bojana.

DPM Simović expressed his expectation that this project will be approved by the end of the year by the bodies of the Adaptation Fund, so that the implementation will start as soon as possible in March next year. Permanent Representative of the UNDP in Montenegro Fiona McCluney shared the readiness of the organisation to provide all technical and expert support in defining new projects in cooperation with the Montenegrin administration in order to fulfill the demanding procedures for approving financial support from these funds.