BIRS BALKAN INSTITUTE FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION

Total budget: MKD 1,800,000

Timeframe: 18 months

CONSTITUENTS

Constituents are the citizens of the villages on the Shar Mountain, the citizens, institutions experts, CSOs that specifically take care about the biodiversity of the Shar Mountain and other social factors that support the idea and action to keep the eco-balance in this mountain.

ON THE PROJECT SUPPORTED BY CIVICA MOBILITAS

SHAR MOUNTAIN – LAST DAM AGAINS THE ENVIORNMENTAL DISASTER

BACKGROUND

Public awareness raising for the need to protect the Shar Mountain as natural wealth to keep the balance of the whole eco system in the Republic of North Macedonia. The main focus is raising the awareness of the local population and the pubic on the need to protect the natural resources on this mountain.

GOALS AND RESULTS

Goal: Raising the public awareness for the need to preserve the Shar Mountain as natural wealth to maintain the balance of the complete eco system of the Republic of North Macedonia.

Objective: Raising the awareness with the local population as well as including most of the institutional and social stakeholders to preserve the natural balance of the Shar Mountain, with special focus on its protection from damages caused by the human factor.

RESULTS

1. The complete image of the ecological disruptions to the Shar Mountain, recommendations for resolving this environmental problem, as well as a specific image of the degree of implementation of the initiative for proclaiming it a national park;
2. Showing the level of disruption of the resources of the Shar Mountain in the last ten years;
3. Promotion of the Shar Mountain as a possibility to develop the business of herbal medicine, cultural tourism and other types of rural and eco-tourism.

ACTIVITIES

1. Preparation of a broader and detailed report on the situation with the Shar Mountain by using methods for secondary analysis, contents analysis, survey and interviews. The report will detect the real problems and give recommendations for better protection of this mountain from further damages;
2. A multimedia investigative story on the current state of affairs on the Shar Mountain, which will inform the public in a more detailed way on the procedure for proclaiming it a national park, to the degree to which there have been damages on the natural resources and how this mountain can turn into a real profitable destination for cultural, rural and winter tourism;
3. Four thematic documentary films to show the capacities of the Shar Mountain;
4. Conducing four interviews with competent persons, experts and CSO representatives on the situation and possible perspectives for development of the villages on the Shar Mountain;
5. Caravan for popularizing the topic by meeting the inhabitants of the villages on the Shar Mountain, in order to raise the awareness to preserve and protect this mountain as a natural wealth;
6. A mini documentary on the caravan visits to these settlements;
7. Closing conference with the presence of representatives of state institutions, local communities, CSOs, experts and other stakeholders in this area.