Success at launch of grant programme in Skopje

A ceremony was held on 14^th of May in Skopje to mark the launching of PONT’s grants programmes in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The event was opened by PONT’s Executive Director Mirjam de Koning who, in her opening remarks, noted that PONT is a private, independent grant-making foundation providing long-term co-financing to protected area authorities, non-governmental organizations and other environmental actors active in the Prespa-Ohrid ecoregion. Jani Makraduli, Deputy Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, stressed that PONT’s grants will help strengthen the capacity of protected area authorities and NGOs for effective conservation of biodiversity in the region, and also transboundary cooperation with Albania and Greece. Lynda Mansson, President of the PONT Supervisory Board, underlined the importance of the ecoregion as a biodiversity hotspot, whereas Christoph Tiskens, a Board member, emphasized PONT’s readiness to support governments in fulfilling their international obligations in protecting the region’s outstanding biodiversity.

PONT is currently supporting the members of the PrespaNet transboundary network and has recently approved the proposals submitted by the Pelister National Park Authority and the Municipality of Resen. At this occasion, Zhivko Gosharevski, Mayor of Resen, presented their grant proposal concerning the implementation of the management plans for the Ezerani Nature Park and the Prespa Lake Monument of Nature.