Tirana– Project progress and the introduction of innovative measures for ecosystem conservation were the focus of the Third Impreco Steering Committee meeting held in Tirana, on 21-23 May. Partners from 5 countries attended the meeting and the Study Visit that followed in the Lake Shkodra area.

The participating partners shared their experience of the setup of the Joint Task Forces which will link Protected Areas and stakeholders together, respectively presented their selected Pilot Action Plans, as well as agreed on the methodology and tools to successfully monitor and asses its impacts. Mr. Pinat, representing the Municipality of Staranzano- Lead Parner of the Project, addressed the steps for the integration of the Common Educational Programme (CEP) on biodiversity conservation already developed and tested by Adriawet 2000 project with a specific section on ES safeguarding. He discussed the importance of the activities for networking and knowledge sharing by stressing that “natural capital is a common capital for all humankind and, therefore, all stakeholders, present or future, are called to work on its preservation. We need to teach our future generations how to deal with the conservation of our common natural capital!”

A study Visit in Lake Shkodra followed the meeting where participating partners and stakeholders visited four sites in the area. The first visit was in Malesi e Madhe to the collection point, processing and packaging of salvia officinalis, recognized as sage. The second visit to a bee’s habitat familiarized everyone with the beekeepers and practitioners dealing with honey’s challenges of their work. The visit to the treatment plant of sewage waters in Shiroka presented the best management practice implemented in Shkodra Lake – Shiroka Village regarding water treatment. Finally, a visit to the hand crafting entrepreneurship established in Zogaj village by the women community living there introduced the efforts and challenges faced by the women of this area and the measures taken to ensure the sustainability of the traditional culture continuation.

More information on this, the Impreco project, and its activities can be found on the project website at: https://impreco.adrioninterreg.eu/