Together for the Preservation of Nauter’s Diversity

The Regional Office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) was founded twenty years ago. During that period, its goals have been adapted to suit climate change and the increased loss of biodiversity, but also finding strategies to solve them. They rely on the knowledge and resources of more than 1,400 members and 16,500 experts in seven IUCN expert commissions. Some of the criteria for membership in the Union imply that the interested party supports its goals, that it has already contributed to the preservation of nature with its activities and that it works wholeheartedly to preserve its integrity and diversity. Joining IUCN facilitates connection with a growing number of member organizations and the scientific community, advising on  developing  relevant policies, sharing knowledge, developing capacities, and implementing projects.

Oliver Avramoski, Regional Director of IUCN ECARO, was recently appointed to that position at the time when the Belgrade office celebrates two decades of operations, which for him is an honor and a responsibility, as he joined a motivated team of experts who have been working dedicatedly for the protection of nature and biodiversity for years in the region, together with members and partners. We talked with him about the status of nature protection in the region, how to devote ourselves more to its preservation, the implementation of the Biodiversity Protection Strategy, and the challenges in the fight against climate change and plans.

Q: Could you please comment on sustainability and biodiversity protection in the Western Balkans and Serbia? How can we be more committed to preserving nature and natural resources? 

A: The region of the Western Balkans, including Serbia, is highly abundant in numerous species and habitats, including many species found only in our area, such as Pančić’s spruce, Balkan lynx and two species of ramonda. Our survival depends on diverse living habitats and functioning ecosystems because they provide us with water, air, medicine, and food and help us adapt to climate change. Nevertheless, numerous studies point to significant pressure on ecosystems while the number of species and habitats in the region is decreasing. Biodiversity and ecosystem services are rarely taken into account in decision-making. The relevant institutions face numerous challenges regarding protecting and managing resources or enforcing environmental laws. To this end, we are collaborating with members and line institutions to  analyze  the nature protection system in Serbia in partnership with the Together for the Environment project. The received recommendations will guide us in providing systemic support to institutions and managers of protected areas in Serbia.

IN FOCUS:

• GREEN TRANSFORMATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
• EU SUPPORT FOR GREEN TRANSITION PROJECTS IN SERBIA
• WALK, RECYCLE, EARN TOKENS

Q: The EU 2030 Biodiversity Protection Strategy is the first step towards creating a more sustainable and resilient society. How is the Strategy implemented, and what are the biggest challenges?

A: In late 2020, the European Commission adopted the 2030 Biodiversity Protection Strategy, which, along with the European Green Deal, provides guidelines for developing  policies for the EU, setting the goals and ambitions regarding nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. The European Union has expanded the network of protected areas to protect at least 30 per cent of land and sea, with 10 per cent under strict protection. The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans seeks to align the region with the EU’s ambition to become climate-neutral by 2050 and key elements of the European Green Deal. It is an essential political framework for nature conservation in our region. The Biodiversity Task Force of Southeast Europe (BDTF SEE), whose work we coordinate, manages the Green Agenda’s pillar related to protecting nature and biodiversity. There are many challenges in accomplishing the goals outlined in the 2030 Strategy, including the unsustainable use of land and sea for urbanization, agriculture, and development purposes, the impact of climate change, pollution, and lack of financial support. However, the cessation of unsustainable practices will not lead us to accomplish our goals. It is necessary to restore degraded habitats and improve the state of nature and the environment. Our region lags  significantly  in terms of taking care of protected areas and the restoration of degraded ecosystems.

Q: What direction should the vision of the Convention on Biological Diversity on “living in harmony with nature” take by 2050? 

A: Under the auspices of this Convention, the international obligations on the preservation and restoration of biodiversity, which were negotiated in December 2022, include the restoration of 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems and the preservation of 30 per cent of land and sea. The Convention’s vision is very ambitious but necessary. Integrating nature protection and conservation into development strategies is a safe and cost-effective way to unlock the enormous potential of sustainable development, which will have multiple benefits for our economic progress, environment and society. The IUCN plays a significant  role in the protection of biodiversity and regularly updates the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – the most comprehensive source of information on the global conservation status of plant, animal and fungal species and measures the level of achievement of the Convention’s goals. There are many such species, so coordinated work under the auspices of the Convention at the national, regional, and global levels is necessary to restore their status through successful protection measures and remove them from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Interview by Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski