Following on from the Call for Proposals in September 2022, PONT is pleased to announce it has awarded grants to 5 National-Level Environmental Actors and their implementing partners in Albania and North Macedonia.
The projects will be implemented across the Korab-Koritnik Nature Park, the Albanian Alps, the Mavrovo and Shar Mountain National Parks, as well as in the Connectivity Conservation Areas connecting the protected areas. The focus of the new grants will be:
(1) Protected Area Governance and Administration,
(2) Understanding and conserving the biodiversity of protected areas and
(3) Connectivity conservation in the PONT focus region.
The proposals cover a diverse range of themes and foresee many activities taking place, all in line with the objectives of the call. Some cover only protected areas while others only have connectivity conservation areas and protected areas within them. Still, others foresee activities either in both the protected areas and connectivity conservation areas covered by the call.
To kick-start the implementation of these new three-year grants, while promoting coordination and cooperation among the new grantees, a joint workshop was organised by PONT in January 2023. The signing of the grants also took place during this event.
PONT is looking forward to fruitful cooperation between the Environmental Actors, Local NGOs, local communities, and local and national authorities.