Members of Dinaric Arc Initiative (DAI) met for two days in Tirana (16-17 November) to discuss progress made so far and map out their future steps. The meeting was hosted by SNV Balkans, one of the partners of the initiative.
In this their 11th meeting, participants reported on six projects currently being implemented. They agreed to focus on securing a second phase of the regional initiative called Big Win, where six countries of the Dinaric Arc commit to protect their natural heritage by enlarging their protected area systems and improving management planning effectiveness.
“The success of DAI stays with the flexibility of the structure we have created and the people within it,” says Giorgio Andrian of UNESCO-BRESCE. “While we are pursuing our mission as individual organizations, we join forces whenever we see an opportunity to cooperate and that’s inspiring”.
Currently SNV Balkans is implementing the “Environment for people” project in Prokletija/Bjeshket e Namuna between Albania and Montenegro, in partnership with IUCN and WWF.
Established in 2005 by a group of international organizations working in the region as a broad framework of collaboration, the initiative aims to support the conservation of the cultural and natural heritage of the Dinaric Arc region of South Eastern Europe.
There are 14 members : WWF MedPO , UNESCO-BRESCE, FAO, Council of Europe, UNDP (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro), ECNC, REC, SNV, UNEP, EuroNature, IUCN.
DAI’s next meeting is scheduled for first semester of 2010 and will be organized by ECNC.
For more information about DAI, please visit http://www.cbddinaricarc.com/content/view/13/28/