FORUMI SHQIPTARE LIQENI I SHKODRES Transboundary Forum of Shkodra Lake ALBANIAN SHKODRA LAKE FORUM (member of Joint (Montenegro-Albanian) Skadar Lake Forum MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND WATER ADMINISTRATION MINISTRY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT MONTENEGRO Submitted by: ALBANIAN SHKODRA LAKE FORUM Awareness Campaign implementated in the Region of Lake Shkodra/Skadar FINAL ACTIVITY REPORT September 2011. Shkoder Transboundary SHKODRA/Skadar LAKE FORUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE Transboundary SHKODRA/Skadar LAKE FORUM is a non-partisan, non- advocacy, not-for-profit transboundary organisation with a mission to assist in solving environmental problems in the regional level. The organization fulfils this mission by promoting cooperation among non-governmental organisations, governments, businesses and other environmental stakeholders, and by supporting the free exchange of information and public participation in environmental decision-making. The Transboundary SHKODRA/Skadar LAKE FORUM was established in 2001 by the Stability Pact Project (REC Implemented) “Transboundary Cooperation through the management of Shared Natural Resources” Today, Transboundary SHKODRA/Skadar LAKE FORUM is legally based on a charter signed by both forum units in Albania and Montenegro based on the agreement signed on 2nd February 2006 with participation and commitment of both respective ministries in AL & MNE as the key focal stakeholders during the stability pack project implementation in bilateral level. The Transboundary SHKODRA/Skadar LAKE FORUM has its units in Albania and Montenegro and each unit is compounded by 10 experts on different environmental topics. Albanian SHKODRA/Skadar LAKE FORUM operates since 2007 through its Office in Shkodra located in street Qemal Stafa, nr 21. The programmes of our organization includes: public awareness; Environmental Education and Information, Planning and Management, Public Participation, concrete actions and campaigns etc. The recent donors and partners of the organization: Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC); The regional Environmental Center Albania; World Bank/GEF; local development and decentralization Albania – dldp; EU IPA CBC program in cross-border level Albania and Montenegro etc,. Contact address: L. Qemal Stafa, Rr. Vasil Shanto P.O.Box 123, Shkoder Tel/fax: +355 222 4 72 03 E-mail: [email protected] Contact person: Contact person: Prof. Mahir HOTI Arbana Halili President FORUM Secretariat Tel/fax: +355 222 4 72 03 Tel/fax: +355 222 4 72 03 Mob: +355 68 20 52 677 Mob: +355 067 23 52 198 E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] 2 Table of content 1. Executive Summary ....................................................4 2. Project Background and Objectives ................................5 3. Project Implementation and Achievements .....................6 4. Project challenges .................................................. 19 5. Lessons learned & Recommendation ........................... 20 Annex 1 – Project book (electronic version send to the key stakeholders & hard copy submitted to PIU Shkoder – Albania) 3 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Narrative Report will cover the full implementation period; starting from august 30th 2010 till September 30th 2011. The report is prepared based on the contract signed between WB Project, Ministry of Environment Forestry and Water Administration Tirana and Albanian SHKODRA/Skadar LAKE FORUM Shkoder office within the period upper mentioned. Aiming to inform the public on the WB Project planned activities and outcomes; promote coordinated organization of joint events; inform the public on the importance of Lake Skadar/Shkodra ecosystem and resources and help resource users, lakeside communities and relevant stakeholders understand the values of Lake Skadar/Shkodra and use its resources in a sustainable way the public campaign was focused in the lake Shkodra/Skadar area. Meanwhile the public campaign aimed to inform the stakeholders regarding their role, rights and obligations towards the lake and educates about the need of working jointly for the management and preservation of Lake Shkodra/Skadar Lake toward ensure sustainability; improve communication between all resource users and lakeside communities. The Cross-Border Programme between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Montenegro was designed to provide better management of shared resources between AL-MNE countries as well as planning and joint management of the lake resources. The main LSIEMP objective was to maintain and enhance the long-term value and environmental services of Lake Skadar-Shkoder and its natural resources. The Project is going to establish and strengthen institutional mechanisms for transboundary cooperation through joint efforts to improve sustainable management of Lake Skadar-Shkoder. Having into consideration the ToRs a list of documents have been prepared and agreed between the client and the service provider (FORUM) before the project started up in the region. The list of the documents prepared in advance and submitted to the PIU in Shkoder is the following: 1. Technical proposal regarding Public Awareness Campaign (Annex 1) 2. Strategy of Public Awareness Campaign (Annex 2) 3. Plan of Activities in respect of Public Awareness Campaign implementation (Annex 3) 4. Monthly Reports on Activities 5. Media plan 6. Final report (submitted) 4 All listed documents are presented also in the project book submitted to the PIU Shkoder together with products published on the frame of Awareness Campaign implementation. Meanwhile the list of the products/publications submitted within this project book is the following: 1. Booklet on cultural monuments of shkodra/skadar lake (copy published) 2. TV Publicity spot on values of the lake. USB attached 3. Photo of the activities implemented. USB attached 4. Leaflet disseminated during the eco-camp by the children (copy published) 5. Film produced on natural resources of the Lake Shkodra/Skadar. CD attached. 6. Brochure on cultural monuments on Shkodra/Skadar Lake. Printed document attached & electronic version provided. USB attached 7. Environmental education KIT (220 pages – 3 languages, full colored, interactive composed and designed – attached) 8. T-shirts for children prepared and used during two activities where young students/pupils have been involved – attached) 9. Presentations provided during the joint conference aiming knowledge dissemination and management as well as imputes for further potential activities implementing in the region of Shkodra/Skadar Lake. USB attached 2. PROJECT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Within the overall goal to help the awareness rising of the community concerned Shkodra/Skadar lake natural resources preservation and protection, the Albanian SHKODRA/Skadar LAKE FORUM with the financial support of the WB/GEF, through the project LAKE SKADAR-SHKODRA INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROJECT, implemented the project titled: “Public Awareness Camping on Shkodra/Skadar Lake Natural Values Promotion & Protection” Facing Illegal activities like lakeshore construction, fishing, hunting and pollution from point and non point sources and the other management concerned issues was essential to design a public awareness campaign to better understand the values of the lakes ecosystem and its resources, the importance of joint management and joint events and promotion of sustainable economic development. Public awareness is vital to fostering community ownership of the protection of natural resources. In this respect the Albanian SHKODRA/Skadar 5 LAKE FORUM submited the proposal taking into account the call for expression of interest announced by the MoEWF Albania at July 2010. The proposed and awarded proposal had four main objectives which were defined as the main drivers for developing and implementing the public awareness campaign in Cross-Border level. The objectives are the followings: 1. Rising Public Awareness toward joint Albanian – Montenegrin cooperation on the joint natural and cultural values of the water ecosystem protection and preservation; 2. Promoting nature protection and biodiversity conservation; preserving the future of the environmental ecosystem conditions in a good quality; 3. Promoting the natural, cultural, historical and economical values of the shared water ecosystem between Albania and Montenegro as a common resource; 4. Educating young generation with actions “learning by doing” toward the environment quality ensuring as an indicator for the life quality in the region Moreover this project was relevant because it provided a specific campaign in a specific time frame due to the flood situation in Albanian side (lake area settlements in the lower and upper part of the region) and engagement of the young targets affected directly the education and raised their awareness on better management of water resources. At the same time the proposal was relevant because it demonstrated the relevance of the proposal to the objectives and priorities and requirements of the call for proposals. 3. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND ACHIEVEMENTS The project implementation in respect of “Public Awareness Camping on Shkodra/Skadar Lake Natural Values Promotion & Protection” was based on the contract and the technical proposal submitted to the PIU Shkoder. Based on the technical proposal agreed among parties the activities implemented are the followings: The project activities planned and implemented are