ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE ACTION (ERA) GROUP
ERA’s History, Role and Achievements toward Cross-Border Cooperation in the fields of
Sustainable Development, Ecotourism, and Youth Environmental Education in the Western Balkans 2003-2007
June 2003ERA formed in response to non-functional local environmental NGOs in western Kosova
July 2003Organized logistics for Kosova section of the “Inaugral Balkan Peace Park Trek[i];” ERA professional mountain guides coordinated and led hikes for international and local trekkers; produced short documentary in conjunction with Lone Wolf Pictures to serve as trekkers’ video guide and introduction to the Rugova region and Kosova; worked in partnership and promoted Rugova Camp, a rural business establishment
Fall 2003ERA founders, Ellen Frank and Lindsay Mackenzie, gave presentations at Colgate University, USA; spoke about the current environmental situation in Kosova for the Environmental Studies and Peace Studies programs, and commented on the relationship between politics and religion in the region with interns from Albania for the Center of Ethics and World Societies
Winter 2003ERA founder Lindsay Mackenzie’s photos from the western Balkans displayed at the Barge Canal Co. in Hamilton, NY
2004Produced documentary film about cross-border cooperation in the region, and the successful international trek; used by the UK Balkan Peace Park Committee to raise awareness internationally about local NGOs and their cooperative projects; ERA photos used in traveling panel exhibitions in USA and UK
2005-2006ERA founder Lindsay Mackenzie received distinguished fellowship from the Watson Foundation in the USA to travel the world for a year studying trans-boundary conservation areas with the intention of applying this knowledge to the western Balkans
August 2005ERA, in partnership with Kosova Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, organized the second “Long Walk for Peace[ii]” through Kosova and Montenego; coordinated logistics for international conference in Mitrovica held at conclusion of trek; ERA imparted its organizational stance to conference participants that solutions are more effective and enduring when they involve local participation from all stakeholders and a shared respect for natural and cultural heritage
June 2006ERA documentary shown at UNEP conference “Enhancing Trans-boundary Biodiversity Management in South East Europe”
July 2006Spearheaded the creation of the Balkan Peace Park Coalition[iii], which comprises local NGOs from Kosova, Montenegro and Albania that have pledged to work towards the creation of a trans-boundary conservation area in the border region; promoted this newly formed network and sustainable relationship between environmental, community and youth organizations throughout region
August 2006ERA President, Fatos Lajçi, received a prestigious fellowship from the Quebec-Labrador Foundation (QLF) to study the operation and management of environmental conservation organizations in the USA; he gained professional experience in cooperation and negotiation with governmental institutions that he brought back to Kosova and to the BPP Coalition
Fall 2006Transformed the BPP Coalition initiative into an inclusive social movement; ERA and Coalition members insured support from local authorities to their respective civil society organizations by visiting every mayor of each municipality in the region and receiving their support for the cross-border project of a trans-boundary conservation area[iv]
Nov. 15, 2006ERA and Kosova hosted first annual regional BPP Coalition conference, “Balkan Peace Park: Strategic Cooperation between Civil Society, Local Authorities and International Institutions,”[v] in the Hotel Grand, Prishtinë, which brought together all mayors of municipalities along the border between Kosova, Montenegro, and Albania to sign a Letter of Good Intent[vi] to work towards the common goal of establishing a trans-boundary conservation area to protect the unique cultural and natural resources of the region
Nov. 16, 2006ERA hosted second day of Coalition conference to strategize an action plan for the Coalition; invitation extended to UK BPP Committee to clarify the role of this committee towards the BPP Coalition and cross-border projects, and also to accept their offer for capacity building initiatives in the cross-border area
March 2007ERA organized a mountaineering excursion to Jezerca Peak of Albania dedicated to cross-border cooperation in the region. Approximately twenty people took part in the winter hike to the highest peak in the proposed Balkan Peace Park, half from Kosovo and half from Montenegro, and were also joined by mountaineers from Italy. The hike started at the border between Kosovo and Montenegro, and continued up into the highest mountains of Albania.
June 2007ERA hosted the 1st meeting of the “Peace and Environment” sub-project group that was developed from the framework of “youthNET – Creative Partnerships with SEE[vii].” This sub-project groups aims to support the vision of the Balkan Peace Park movement. ERA group serves as the main coordinator of this project assisted by Interculturelles Zentrum of Austria.
Summer 2007ERA hosted an international intern from Colgate University, USA, to complete an initiative to establish a user-friendly access trail for youth and families to a natural waterfall site in western Kosova. ERA group’s intern from Colgate University helped coordinate and implement the Waterfall Trail project. She was ERA’s first international intern, and her internship not only allowed us to complete the Waterfall Trail but allowed us to provide jobs to locals and aid in local and sustainable development of the region.
Sept. 11, 2007 ERA FotoMaratona ran for 12 hours where youth from Peja, Gjakova, and Prishtina were given free film from ERA to photograph social and environmental issues in Kosovo today. Their photos were exhibited at the YOUTH DAY on 16 September, where the top three photographers were given awards of free weekend stays at the touristic ventures in Rugova. This project was a part of the “All Different, All Equal” youth campaign.
Sept. 16, 2007 ERA group held the inauguration of the Waterfall Trail as part of the Municipality of Peja’s YOUTH DAY. The dedication of the Waterfall Trail to youth environmental education and nature exploration marks the first opening of a constructed trail in the Rugova region, and is just the beginning of many ecotourism initiatives from ERA group.
Fall 2007 ERA group hosted capacity training on project development for youth organizations in regards to the Youth in Action program priorities of Europe. Organizations from the SEE region and from EU countries joined us in developing project proposals under the frame of creating a trans-boundary conservation area, commonly known as the Balkan Peace Park. This was the 2nd meeting of the “Peace and Environment” sub-project group, which is coordinated by ERA. ERA also attended a project development meeting from another youthNET sub-project group “Tolerance through Local Participation” held in Skopje, Macedonia.
October 2007ERA group representative attended the Forestry Training given by the Ministry of the Forestry. ERA group presented during the training on the “Destructive Human Impact in Rugova Region,” which was accompanied by video footage.
Nov. 2007ERA hosted the annual meeting of the Coalition of NGOs for the Balkan Peace Park in the Rugova Gorge of Kosovo. The main outcome of the meeting was that the partners pledged to implement joint cross-border projects in 2008, as well as hold a meeting of stakeholders for the establishment of a trans-boundary conservation area.
Dec. 2007ERA partnered with Milieukontakt of the Netherlands, along with two other local organizations in Kosovo, to implement the Green Agenda process in three communities: Istog, Rugova (Peja), and Prizren. The Green Agenda is a community driven initiative to work towards sustainable development.
Dec. 2007ERA piloted the first youth environmental education program in the winter. During December, ERA took local youth from Peja up to the mountains of Rugova for exploration, discovery, and adventure. During our first trip, we visited the waterfall trail where we tracked local wildlife in their habitat. This Winter Explorers program will run through 2008.
These open and public commitments from all sectors of society towards the establishment of a trans-boundary conservation area are a huge step forward in the journey towards the reality of the “Balkan Peace Park.” These achievements are all necessary and important for the next steps to be taken by ERA and the BPP Coalition towards bringing together the three central governments of Kosova, Montenegro, and Albania.
ERA-Environmentally Responsible Action group
[i]International trek from Rugova (Kosova) through Prokletija (Montenegro) to Vermosh and Thethi (Albania) to promote ecotourism in the region, and to test the economic and social viability of such a venture. Trek was facilitated by a UK Project Committee and interns from Colgate University, USA. Logistics of the trek were the responsibility of designated local NGOs in each area working with the interns.
[ii] Promoted internationally by the UK Balkan Peace Park Committee, this trek began in Rugova and passed through Montenegro, stopping to observe notable landscapes and historical heritage sites
[iii] ERA Founder and President Fatos Lajçi currently serves as the President of the Balkan Peace Park Coalition as well, empowering all local NGOs function and operate with the Coalition framework and vision
[iv] Commonly referred to in literature as the “Balkan Peace Park,” for the purpose of this site we accept the usage of that name for the trans-boundary conservation area between Kosova, Montenegro and Albania
[v] Conference funded by Kosova government, Kosova Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, SOROS/Kosova Foundation for Open Society, and the GTZ office in Kosova. The conference was supported and embraced by several national and international organizations such as EWI, OSCE, and UNEP
[vi] The Letter of Good Intent, formulated by ERA, signifies all six mayors declaration to publicly recognize the Coalition and its commitment to support the Coalition’s efforts, and also for each municipality to share common interests with their neighborhood municipalities and to collaborate across the borders; the mayors’ Letter of Good Intent is a tremendous success and is the result of trust-building field visits by all members of the BPP Coalition and a transparent discourse process
[vii] “youthNET - Creative Partnerships with SEE” is a youth organization networking project to assist NGOs working in the field of youth with creating and developing successful projects in the frameworks of the European Commission’s Youth in Action priorities.