PONT Connect in Action in Vevčani: Turning Strategy into Measurable Impact

The second PONT Connect NGO Meeting, held on 26–27 March 2026 in Vevčani, North Macedonia, brought together implementing partners from across Greece, North Macedonia, and Albania with a clear and ambitious goal: to move beyond discussion and define how ecological connectivity impact is measured—consistently, practically, and collectively.

Building on previous exchanges, the meeting marked a decisive shift from ideas to action. It created space not just to align approaches, but to challenge assumptions, test methodologies, and agree on what meaningful monitoring looks like across diverse landscapes and projects.

From Strategy to Action

At the heart of the meeting was a shared priority: turning the PONT Connect Strategy into a functioning monitoring system. While individual projects already track their progress, the lack of a unified framework has made it difficult to demonstrate the bigger picture—the combined impact on ecological connectivity and human well-being.

Participants aligned around the need for a common approach that will:

• Capture cumulative impact across nine active grants in three countries
• Strengthen learning and enable adaptive management
• Build a strong evidence base for scaling and future investment
• Shift from isolated actions to a coordinated, landscape-level approach

This marks a critical evolution—from reporting on individual projects to demonstrating collective impact. The signing of four new grants (two in Albania and two in North Macedonia), financed through the French Facility Global Environment (FFEM), is crucial for the envisaged impact on a landscape level.

Rethinking Connectivity Conservation

One message stood out clearly: connectivity conservation is not the same as traditional protected area management. Much of this work happens in landscapes without formal protection or governance structures, where success depends less on designation and more on people.

In this context, NGOs are not just implementers—they are facilitators of change. They identify ecological values, threats, and opportunities while simultaneously building local ownership and long-term stewardship by local stakeholders.

The takeaway was clear: avoid “paper parks.” Real conservation impact depends on trust, engagement, and shared responsibility. In many cases, co-management and community-led approaches are not just effective—they are essential. This requires constant active communication and stakeholder engagement highlighted during a follow-up session with the PeaceNexus Foundation.

Measuring What Matters

Technical sessions zoomed in on what truly matters: identifying indicators that are practical, comparable across countries, and focused on real impact—not just activity. Structured around key themes such as forest ecosystems, large mammals, and human–wildlife conflict, discussions pushed beyond theory to define how success should actually be measured on the ground.

Participants explored indicators ranging from habitat connectivity and restoration to species population trends and the effectiveness of coexistence measures. In doing so, a critical insight emerged: even small, targeted actions can deliver outsized impact—but capturing that impact requires smarter, more connected monitoring. Turning scattered results into a clear, compelling story of change is essential for demonstrating the true value of the work.

At the same time, the group was clear—solutions to human–wildlife conflict must go hand in hand with biodiversity protection. Rather than replacing traditional practices, approaches should strengthen them. Practices like shepherding are not just cultural heritage—they are a vital part of sustaining resilient, living landscapes.

Stronger Together: Engaging Stakeholders

Impact on the ground not only depends on good indicators—it depends on strong relationships. Participants emphasized that meaningful conservation requires long-term presence, trust-building, and continuous dialogue with communities.

Successful engagement starts with listening: understanding local dynamics, working closely with community leaders, and building trust through direct, often one-on-one interactions. Managing expectations and demonstrating tangible benefits are key to maintaining credibility and momentum.

A clear shift is underway—from seeing communities as beneficiaries to recognizing them as equal partners in shaping and sustaining conservation outcomes.

Looking Ahead

The Vevčani meeting did not aim to finalise a system—it set a clear direction.

The next step is to turn alignment into action: moving from fragmented efforts to measurable, collective impact.

As one participant noted, “What we are building through PONT Connect is not just a set of projects, but a shared system for understanding impact. This is how we move from isolated actions to real, measurable change across landscapes.”

PONT Connect is not a fixed model, but a dynamic learning process—one that continuously tests, adapts, and improves across different contexts. With nine active grants, its strength lies in scaling what works, replicating effective approaches, and embedding them within communities.

Sustaining this momentum will depend on staying open, applying consistent monitoring, and turning lessons from the field into visible, lasting change.

Written by Mirjam de Koning, Executive Director, PONT