Bio-diversity

In the last 10 years, Macedonian environmental organizations have not succeeded in joining their activities and commitments for protecting the environment. Many organizations still do not have the capacity to systematically follow the situation with protecting the environment in Macedonia and at the same time to take actions for solving these situations. Meanwhile, relevant institutions still do not consider the environmental organizations as serious and relevant players in decision-making about environmental issues. Public participation in decision-making processes is conducted without actual inclusion of all stakeholders and without proper compliance with all relevant legislation. The environmental portal Eko.net which functioned with the aim of overcoming these problems is no longer existing (is not operational in the last couple of years). There is neither a single mailing list for intercommunication between the environmental organizations, nor a formal communication mechanism with institutions. There is no formal selection of representatives from the environmental organizations in certain bodies/commissions and working groups (for the implementation needs of legal obligations) and as a result, the representatives of the environmental sector in some of the bodies/commissions which are established to date are still not known to the environmental NGO sector. Consequently, the impact that the environmental organizations can have/make in these bodies/commissions and groups is reduced to a minimum. The reasons for the problems which the Macedonian ecological movement is facing are the following: - Poor organization, lack of financial and human resources; - Low level of expertise and professionalism; - Lack of networking, partnerships and coalitions that work properly. Although the internet as a means of communication is widely used by the environmental organizations, their connectivity is still at a very low level which is reflected in their work and the effects of the work of all environmental organizations on society in general. Eko-svest and Biosfera (as a partner in the project) are mainly motivated to unite the environmental organizations in their aspiration towards a healthy and clean environment. As organizations we are present in the environmental sector for a long time and have successfully implemented our activities, but during our years of working in the sector we have found that association and joint action of organizations has a significantly larger effect on the public and institutions since joint efforts are perceived as more serious and valid, pass the position of organizations more strongly and create drive and devotion to the mission of in much larger number of concerned citizens/organizations. The overall objective of the project is to improve and develop the capacities of environmental organizations for active participation in consultative processes, for adequate exchange of information, following the impacts on the environment and the local environmental trends. The specific goal of the project is to create the platform ekosfera.mk for the needs of all environmental organizations in Macedonia. Through the creation of the platform ekosfera.mk the following will be achieved: - A single place for posting information, news, events by the environmental organizations about their activities, as well as all activities of relevant authorities (where environmental organizations can take part) will be provided; - A watch-dogging mechanism for the state of the environment on the local and national level will be established and new modes of action (online petitions, letters etc.) will be set up; - Creation of new partnerships between organizations, better networking possibilities and the creation of new organizations will be enabled - New innovative ways of using the internet for better reach of the public will be provided; - Significantly more massive media coverage of events and activities of environmental organizations will be enabled due to ease of access to information which is stored in one place; - A knowledge network and expertise/knowledge base of previous and recent GEF SGP grantees will be enabled, thus providing an attractive and easy way of communication and interaction between GEF SGP grantees in Macedonia.

Macedonia