In Sjenica, on February 27th 2017, the Belgrade Open School and the Forum for local and regional initiatives organized a conference named "The Matter of Choice - Developing Energy and Climate Policy in line with the Needs and Interests of Local Communities."
The conference was attended by representatives of CSOs active in the field of environment protection from the entire region of South-west Serbia (Novi Pazar, Prijepolje, Priboj, Brodarevo, Uzice, Arilje), as well as representatives of municipality of Sjenica, Sjenica Directorate for Construction, Stavalj mine, Special Nature Reserve Uvac, Regional Development Agency Zlatibor and media representatives.
Rich agricultural and tourist offer are the main development potentials of the municipality of Sjenica. Realizing these potentials fully is only possible with adequate protection and preservation of the environment. The vision of Sjenica is that, according to Local Sustainable Development Strategy, it should become "a clean municipality with high environmental awareness, the issue of waste resolved, rational use of natural resources and Pester, rich plant and animal biodiversity and preserved natural resources."
Stevan Petrovic, a Project Coordinator at the Belgrade Open School, opened the conference by stressing the importance of involving local communities in decision-making processes in creating environmental policy at the state level, in order to respect and meet their interests, while all options are still open.
Sedat Vrcic, President of the Forum of Local and Regional Initiatives, stated that it is very important to bring together all interested parties at the local level in searching for and shaping local community interests through constructive dialogue and without conflict.
By presenting the obligations the Republic of Serbia has regarding the strategic framework for climate and energy policy in the context of EU accession and membership in the Energy Community, as well as of international treaties, Mirko Popovic pointed out that it is difficult to expect for the planned medium and long term goals to be met and that it is necessary to devote much more attention to this field.
Mustafa Baltic, Deputy Mayor of Sjenica, said that the municipality of Sjenica stands by the opinion that the agriculture and sustainable tourism represent the engine of the local economy and that new jobs in Sjenica are more than necessary. Jovan Rajic, a lawyer, introduced the regulations and procedures allowing the engagement of the public in the decision-making process within projects that are of great importance to local communities, as well as for the use of natural resources and the environmental protection.
Within the final session, representatives of the organizations concerned with the protection of the environment - Dragoljub Simovic from Kolovrat; Natasa Milivojevic from the Ecological Association "Rzav - God Save Rzav", Radivoje Filipović from the Guardians of Nature – presented their activities and campaigns implemented, which have aimed at protecting natural resources in southwestern Serbia.
The discussion between the participants was dominantly concerned with topics of the pressure on natural resources and the consequences for the quality of the environment, as well as possible ways in which incomes from existing economic activities can be increased while preserving the environment and implementing the principles of sustainable development. Further improvement of agricultural products, natural resources and local tourist attractions and work on their recognition, which would lead to greater recognition and Sjenica and the entire region, were singled out as areas where additional efforts are needed.
The conference was organized within the project "Climate Policy Choices on the Road towards EU - Instructions and Guidelines For Advocacy Campaigns At The Local Level", implemented by the Belgrade Open School with the support of the European Climate Foundation.
Author of the photo: Belgrade Open School