Friday 23 December 2011

CLOSING EVENT IN BELGRADE 20.12.2011

Case study for Ratkova Skala HERE.
Watch the video reportage below:
Part 1
Part 2

Wednesday 14 December 2011

Study tour in Bulgaria

One of the key activities of the project "EU environmental policies and strategies" was held last week in Bulgaria, and was attended by members of DEM member groups as well as farmers from the region Ratkova Skala. The point of this 6-day event was a study tour that enables participants to have indoor and on location sessions about Natura2000 and farming practices and policies in several regions in Bulgaria.
 

Lecture in Transhumance restoration and nature-friendly farming (Wen, 07.12.2011)

The lectures began in Sofia with Andrey Kovachev from Balkani Wildlife Society, who transferred a number of experiences and problems that Bulgarian NGOs met in the process of protecting areas and parks in the country. What followed was a visit to the National Park Rila and Pirin acompanied by on the road sessions by Dunchev Alexander,  a visit to Kresna Gora and accommodation in a bio hotel that produces its own organic food. The study tour continued with visiting farms, a presentation of the Bulgarian agri-environmental program in BIOSELENA, visiting a  local winery and so on. The tour ended in Sofia with a session with Vjara Stefanova who spoke of examples of rural development in Bulgaria.

Besepari Hills winery session (Thu, 08.12.2011)

Study tour map 


Thanks to Veronika for the photos, more coming soon!

Presentation - 03.12.2011

3rd of December 2011, meetings were held for the Project Steering Group and the Network for Policy creation within the project "Promoting agriculture with high natural values ​​and agri-environmental payments through civil society organizations in Macedonia." 

The purpose of these meetings was the presentation of the project results in the second year of its implementation, presentation of the draft policy measures that support agriculture in HNV areas where case studies made by Dr. Susanna Kratovalieva and activities will be implemented by the end of the project. Project leader Vjara Stefanova presented the proposed direct payments and rural development for the period of 2014 -2020 as a part of the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU. 
At the end of the meeting participants discussed the proposed policy measures that support HNV agriculture in areas that are focal in the case studies.

Upcoming activities to be implemented are:

- Preparation of a manual for High Nature Value farming ​​in Macedonia 
- involving all the key project results / conclusions in Macedonian and English 
- will be followed by another meeting of the Project Steering Group and the Network for Policy creation- Dissemination of project results 
- organizing round tables, press conferences, events 
- Communication campaign organized by the DEM and local NGO members, in order to promote the "hidden values" of traditional extensive agriculture in Macedonia.



Friday 2 December 2011

SAVE VELES

On the 9th of November, Veles had the largest protest in its history. We gathered together on the Samarmaale Square and joined forces to show our revolt and disagreement with the decision to restart the smelting factory that has caused so much harm in the past. DEM was present with all of its members to show support to citizens of Veles. Enough poisoning, save Veles!