On December 6, 2011, INCA organized a stakeholder consultation meeting about the establishment and management challenges of the new Marine National Park “Karaburun Sazan”. The meeting, held in Hotel Vlora International, was part of the activities of the GEF project “Strategic partnership for large marine ecosystems of the Mediterranean” in cooperation with MedMPAnet and MedPAN south projects. The meeting was supported by the UNDP/GEF project “Improving coverage and management effectiveness of marine and coastal protected areas”.
In the framework of the activities of the projects MedMPAnet and MedPAN South, part of the biodiversity component of the GEF project “Strategic partnership for large marine ecosystems of the Mediterranean”, INCA has published a brochure about the first Marine National Park in Albania, “Karaburun Sazan”. The brochure highlights the most important features of the area both in terms of biodiversity and sustainable development and emphasizes important challenges for the management of the area.
On 29 and 30 November 2011, respectively in Podgorica and Shkodra was developed a joint activity for the closing the project "Support the proposal of Transboundary Biosphere Reserve in the area of Lake Skadar, by means of participation" part of IPA CBC Albania-Montenegro (2007-2013), funded by the EU, with the participation of all stakeholders.
Green Belt meeting. INCA was represented with Ms. Vilma Kadiu in the period 16-19 November 2011 in Ulcinj (Montenegro), to discuss the future of the Green Belt in South-Eastern Europe. The meeting was organized by IUCN&EuroNatur with the support of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, and the German Federal Environment Agency.
Within the project "Support the proposal of Transboundary Biosphere Reserve in the area of Lake Skadar, by means of participation" part of IPA CBC Albania-Montenegro (2007-2013), funded by the EU, the Institute for Nature Conservation in Albania (INCA) and the Green Home in Montenegro, in partnership with Transboundary Forum of Lake Skadar, organize a six-day program of Training Course on Transboundary Biosphere Reserve in the Lake Shkodra; the first three days were held in Shkodra (26-28 October 2011, Hotel Colosseo), and the other three in Cetinje-Montenegro (9-11 November, Hotel Grand). The training was facilitated by the International expert, UNESCO and INCA staff.
The ETC/BD and the Council of Europe organized the seminar “Emerald biogeographical process in the West Balkans - 2nd Biogeographical Seminar” in Tivar, Montenegro, on November 2-4, 2011. This seminar is part of the implementation of phase II of the Emerald Network in the 6 West Balkan countries. The seminar provided NGOs with a very strategic and unique tool for influencing the designation of Emerald sites in the West-Balkans. The NGO preparatory workshop for the Emerald Biogeographic Seminar, organized prior to the seminar, on October 31-November 1, provided the opportunity to organise the NGO input to the seminar in order to ensure the best possible outcome. The meeting also provided the opportunity to update each other, evaluate existing data, perform a virtual biogeographic seminar, and identify possible gaps. INCA participated and contributed to these seminars with two experts Dr. Zamir Dedej and Dr. Genti Kromidha who have closely worked for the implementation of the EMERALD network in Albania.