Project:
Cross-border LEAPs: Environmental Planning for Peace and Stability |
Introduction
Recent democratization, decentralization, and a move towards EU accession have put considerable pressure upon local communities in region to take responsibility for their own economies, environment, and overall quality of life. Most communities in the region face considerable difficulties due to lack of management, planning, and communication skills related to the new responsibilities. At the same time, several decades of serious neglect, combined with the recent armed conflict, have resulted in highly visible environmental pollution and serious ecosystem damage throughout the region.
Regarding
to this, REC has initiated the process of local environmental planning
by applying LEAP methodology developed in cooperation with the US-based
Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC). The process involves assessing
and ranking environmental problems, setting priorities, and developing
an action plan to address the main priorities.
The Regional Environmental Center Bosnia and Herzegovina (REC BiH), has
started implementation of the project: "Cross-Border LEAPs:
Environmental Planning for Peace and Stability" supported
by Netherlands Ministry for Development Cooperation.
Following lessons learned from the LEAP processes implemented in the region,
Municipalities of Ljubovija and Priboj (Serbia), also as Bratunac and
Rudo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) were selected for the project implementation.
During the timeline of 30 months the project activities will be implemented
at two levels:
1. Four cross-border communities develop and further
political, social and other contacts through joint development of LEAPs;
quality of the environmental planning is improved due to technical coordination
between neighbours
2. Local aspect of the project is pilot project leading
in each community
Contact persons:
Suad Hajrić /REC BiH LEAP Coordinator/;
tel/fax: 033/ 209 130
Đorđe Vojinović /Project Manager/;
tel/fax: 051/ 317 022
