Biosphere Reserves Institute

Summer School 2021 in the Shkoder region of Albania. Photo Credit: Judith Kloiber

Shkoder/Skadar Lake Watershed – a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve?

While the summer school 2021 was held, two NGOs (EDEN from Albania and EnvPro from Montenegro) together with both sides protected area authorities took initiative to submit a project proposal to the EU Cross-border Cooperation Action Programme Montenegro-Albania under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II). The aim of the partners is to strengthen the protection of transboundary ecosystems and sustainable socio-economic development of Shkoder/Skadar Lake Watershed and to promote good neighbourly relations through designation in line with conditions of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme.

During the process there was a lively exchange between the project team of HNEE, the University of Tirana and the University of Donja Gorica with the practitioners who prepared the application. The partners and NGOs agreed to cooperate on the topic beyond the activities of the DAAD Western Balkans project.

Teaching Adaptive Management (TAM) Europe Network

The CEEM and partners in the Western Balkans are committed to an adaptive, ecosystem-based and climate change-integrated approach to conservation management. They have established Adaptive Management/Conservation Standards courses or are interested in integrating one in the portfolio of their study programmes. They have joined the European Teaching Adaptive Management – Network (TAM), which provides a platform for universities to exchange experiences as well as to establish further cooperation between the participating universities. In November 2021 the lecturers will meet virtually for another network meeting.