Green Agenda Network

The topic of the training was “ How to write a good project proposal” and it was conducted by EDEN Centre.

In this training, there were participants very interested from the three working groups and some new ones that joined with the working groups.

During the training the three working groups worked about how to write a good proposal based on their main environmental problem.  

written by albpermakulture

Solutions for each of the identified problems from the Ethno-cultural and artisan values group  

1)      Oblige the owners of the oil mills to treat the waters / dispose of the precipitate properly after the production of oil has finished.

2)      If efficient, provide water streams to regenerate the tradition of using water mills. Nowadays they use electricity for efficiency reasons, but they can combine it with water during the electricity shortages in certain months of the year in order to continue with their work

3)      To plant the species needed to produce musical instruments by the interested people. School pupils may be used for this.

4)      To create model zones in nature such as lawns, forests, flower-gardens lakes and rivers which will inspire the folk-song writers to write more songs and poetry.

 Solutions for each of the identified problems from the “Forests and Biodiversity” group Water Pollution

In order to solve this problem, pollution needs to be reduced to normal levels and to be eliminated at a later stage. The business that extract inert materials from the river need to close their activity as soon as possible. Lobbying work in the Ministry of Environment and Commune to close these businesses. Lobbying work in the above mentioned institutions to obligate the polluting businesses to use the industrial water treatment mini-plants in order to lessen the water pollution.

 Fauna’s disappearance; Disappearance of medicinal plants; Dysfunction of the biological chain

In order to solve the above mentioned problems, the Commune and the community need to do lobbying in the Central Government, and the Ministry of Environment to declare “Protected area” certain areas in Preza Commune, such as the area around the Lakes and alongside the River.

 Air pollution

To solve this problem all businesses causing air pollution must be obliged by the local authorities and the Ministries of the line, to use the air filters in order to lessen the pollutants’ levels and respect the norms set for them.

 Erosion

To solve this problem, the well-management of the forest must become a priority for the Directory of Forests, the Commune Council and the community itself. Illegal tree cutting must stop immediately and heavy fines imposed on the trespassers.

Solutions for each of the  identified problems from the Touristy Infrastructure group: 

Landslides

To address this problem to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports as well as to the Institute of Monuments, under whose jurisdiction the Casle is. Lobbying for the strengthening of the Castle Walls and planting more trees on the hill on which the Castle is built to enable the strengthening of its sides. Placement of several lightning rods to prevent lightning from hitting the Castle walls.

 Forestfires

This problem is already solved. There are workers that quench the fires on duty all the time, and the community itself collaborates very well for fire quenching in the summer. The lightning rods to be placed on highest points on Castle hill will preserve the forests as well. More awareness raising projects with the Community to explain the losses caused by fires lit intentionally or accidentally.

 Construction activity without criteria and non-traditional styles,

To lobby in the Central Govenrment for receiving the Status “Touristy Village”. To lobby in the Central and Local Government and the  Ministry of Tourism that in order to attract more tourists, the native traditional style in construction activities must be preserved.

To Compile the Urban Development plan for the Commune keeping in mind preserving the Traditional style in reconstruction of present homes and using elements of traditional style on the construction of brand new houses [this lowers the cost and is affordable by most of people who do construction work].

 Lack of waste management

So far the Commune has started to provide for the waste management as follows:

7 waste bins [large ones, 1.1 m3] per village and a vehicle for waste disposal. A site has been selected but it has been objected by the inhabitants of the village nearby and it remains an issue to be solved in the future.

Public participation for the selection of the best waste disposal site is needed to solve the issue. More public education and cooperation with recycling businesses in the area will bring about the start of the waste separation at the source.

 Drinking water and sewerage system

Studies for each village to be undertaken by the Urban Development office in the Commune. The Commune has to find funds to enable the reconstruction of the present drinking water system and the construction of the wastewater and sewerage system.

For touristy attraction purposes, the natural springs to be decorated after the traditional style, the informative signs to be placed on visible places in order to attract attention of tourists to visit them and the access paths to be built to make them visitable by tourists and other people.

written by albpermakulture

Green agenda project in Kyrgyzstan was implemented during 2005-2007 in four communities in Kyrgyzstan, two of them were rural and two – urban. Manual on Green Agenda in Kyrgyzstan was published as two language manual – Russian/Kyrgyz.

To download translation of this manual into English, please, click the link below:

Manual Green Agenda in KG

written by sofiya

Representatives of the Green Agenda Working Groups from Struga and Bitola visit Delcevo municipality and members of the Green Agenda workingf groups.

The main goal of the study visit was to exchange information and experience related to Green Agenda implementation in a 3 different municipalities.

Monthly  meeting with local coordinator for Green Agenda Macedonia was also held. Progres of the Green Agenda implementation is explained, plan till end of the year and short info about status of implementation of the Green Agenda in other countries.

Participants have had the opportunity to visit PIJANECKO MALESEVSKA SVADBA (traditional wedding celabration) with a smal  fair of traditional food and folk dances..

 Click here ti see the the short video

written by biosfera

SEPTEMBER 12/09/08

Working groups of GA in Voskopoja Commune working to ananlyze potentials and opportunities.

written by Natyra Nderkufitare

Dear colleagues,

Due to independance day celabration in Macedonia we posponde the date for official oppening ceremony. It will be on 11 of September 11.00 h in Bitola.

written by biosfera

On 05-06/09/08 in Voskopoja Commune was organized the work groups meeting for SWOT and problems’ costs analyze.

Goal: Identification of the possibilities, threats and other factors that cause defined problems.

During the first workshop the working groups developed the SWOT analyze based on the values identified during the previous meetings. All the four work groups defined the strong and week points, possibilities and threats based on the main values.

During the second workshop, the working groups identified the factors and policies that cause the defined problems and they indentified the main responsible actors. The possibilities for positive changes, were discussed too

In order to facilitate the work of Green Agenda Staff, a form was prepared before the workshop where factors, actors and possibilities in local, national and international level were identified per each problem.

In order to have a better definition, financial, demografic, political factors were taken into account. Per each problem was agreed on:

1.      Factors that cause the problem in local, national and international level

2.      Responsible actors

3.      Possibilities that help on the problem solution

4.      Other factors and issues

The collected idea and information from the community will help for preparation of the realistic and applicable environmental plan.

written by Natyra Nderkufitare

On 16/08/08 in Voskopoja Commune was organized the workshop with working groups in order to define the main environmental problems (Step 7)

Goal: Defining the main environmental problems and using them as criteria for establishing the strategy and the ways for the problems’ solution.

During the first session working groups identified the problems that the main environmental value have, filling in the following table:

TABLE FOR PROBLEMS DEFINITION ACCORDING TO VALUES Group of environmental values __________

During the second session the working groups identified the problem solutions passing from the actual situation into the desired one.

A preparatory work has been done by Green Agenda staff for designing a table based on the problems which will be analyzed by each group:

 Problem_______________

After the problems analyze the working groups gathered together and reported for the problems’ analyze. During this face to face meeting all the working groups reported for the problem analyze process, giving comments and suggestions for the problem solutions.

written by Natyra Nderkufitare

In Voskopoja commune came visitors from Dajçi commune ( Shkodër) and from Preza commune ( Tirana). For each group were 5 members, representatives of NGO, commune, and working groups.

The objectives of this study visit were:

-          1.  Experience changing between the three communes were is implementing Green Agenda.

-          2.  Establishing contacts in local level of the three working groups that are working for Green Agenda

There were 24 members in this study visit, and the participants from each commune took experience from the Development of Green Agenda in Voskopoja, by giving  presentation, that each coordinator from Vosjopoja commune had prepared very well for each value. There were four presentation in four different sessions, one presentation for each value.

After each presentation they had four sessions with questions& answers. The participants ( visitors from the other communes ) got new ideas that they may adapt in the future in their communes in the framework of the Green Agenda.

Some of the ideas expressed in the evaluation form were:

-          To develop family tourism and to offer traditional food.

-          The local authorities to work toward receiving the status “ Touristy village” even for our commune.

-          To promote the work of the three working groups for Green Agenda process between people in their houses or at a bar.

-          To include all the classes of society with representatives as interested parties.

On Saturday the visitors went for a visit to see Voskopoja’s hills and the forest with black pines, a strategic point were you can see all the villages of the commune, and the beauty of the nature that the area offers. Forests, old churches and the monastery full with visitors during our visit in them, hospitality houses that offers business of family tourism were attracted by all of the participants. The participants considered very profitable the work of the Touristy group for their communes, because in Voskopoja there is a long-term tradition in this area and they found new ideas that they can apply and adapt for their communes.

  All of the visitors expressed in the evaluation form that “ It was worthy to be part of this study visit in Voskopoja Commune ”

written by albpermakulture

Biosfera as a leading organization for the Green Agenda process in Bitola, Macedonia in cooperation with the Local municipality , on 9th of September is oppening the Green Agenda office.

The official ceremony will be at 11.00 h with expected presence  of the Mayor of Bitola.

written by biosfera