NGO Environment Programme, EnvPro 05.12.2023. in Danilovgrad, is held the final event in the lgreat hall of the Danilovgrad Municipality Assembly, where she presented the results of her project “Balkan Waters: Bioindicators of Education and Tourism”. On this occasion, one of the most significant results of this project was presented - the application www.biomonitoring.me, which is intended for the implementation of the biomonitoring program in the Nature Park “Zeta River”. This online platform provides the possibility to identify and enter data on bioindicator species sensitive to changes in the environment. The goal is to collect relevant data in order to take measures for the improvement and protection of this area. The application is adapted to different user profiles, with accompanying protocol and instructions for implementing the biomonitoring program.

As part of the project, a Guide for the biomonitoring process was created, intended for educational institutions in order to implement similar activities in nature. Also, along the banks of the Zeta River, educational boards will be placed at four locations, which will provide visitors with guidelines on ways to contribute to the preservation of this precious area.

At the beginning of the event, in the role of host, the present was addressed by Acting secretary of the Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection in the Municipality of Danilovgrad, Andrea Grgurović Pavićević, who expressed her gratitude to everyone who contributed to the improvement and protection of this area, because the activities they carry out are aimed at preserving the protected area of the Nature Park “Zeta River”.

The executive director of the NGO Program for the Environment, Ana Katnić, presented the results of the project, pointing out the benefits both for the “Rijeka Zeta” Nature Park and for thelocal community. She particularly emphasized the importance of including the local community and the general public in the organization’s activities as a key factor in the long-term preservation and improvement of the environment and protected areas in general.

The expert on the project, Bogić Gligorović, presented the educational program and Guide for biomonitoring in detail, emphasizing the importance of educational institutions in the implementation of such activities and the development of ecological awareness among the youngest.

The students of Elementary School Radojica Perović who actively collaborated through the project, also shared their experience at the event. The biology teacher at this school, Bojana Miranović, and the VII-4th grade student, Andrija Đuranović, presented the educational program from the perspective of those for whom it is intended. It was this boy’s drawing as one of the project’s activities that served as the inspiration for the creation of the project’s logo.

The coordinator of the project, Snežana Dragićević, introduced the participants to the implemented activities of the biomonitoring program, as well as to the events during the Science Festival 2023 - Days of Science and Innovation.

All the participants of the event were addressed and Ms. Arina Maraš in front of the Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, then Ms. Branka Knežević in front of the Secretariat for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development of the Capital City, Mrs. Suzana Kontić in front of the Limited Liability Company “Zeta River Nature Park”, acting director Ms. Jasna Gajević in front of the Agency for the Management of Protected Areas of the Capital City, acting director Mrs. Dušica Brnović in front of the Institute of Hydrometeorology and Seismology, as well as the coordinator of the Environmental Monitoring Sector, Mrs. Lidija Šćepanović, in front of the Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro.

All those present in front of the mentioned institutions praised the results of the project and the activities carried out by EnvPro in the field of environmental protection and expressed their goodwill and readiness to support and deepen cooperation.

The final event was attended by representatives of elementary schools with which EnvPro actively cooperated during the project, Elementary school “Vuko Jovović”, Elementary School “Milosav Koljenšić”, Elementary School “Njegoš”, from Danilovgrad, as well as Elementary School “Radojica Perović”, Elementary School “Štampar Makarije”, Elementary School “Sutjeska” from Podgorica . Then the NGO Center for Protection and Research of Birds (CZIP), NGO Parks Dinarides, University of Eberswalde, Germany/EnvPro, Sports - fishing club - SRK Podgorica, Portal Volim Danilovgrad, who supported the activities of the organization EnvPro in the protected areas of Danilovgrad and the capital city of Podgorica, but also in to all of Montenegro.

With the Balkan Waters project, EnvPro not only made a significant contribution to environmental protection, but also encouraged cooperation between the local community, educational institutions and civil society organizations in order to preserve nature. All phases of the “Waters of the Balkans” project, which has been three so far, are carried out in cooperation with the global environmental organization The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and is supported by the United States Forest Service (USFS). The Coordinator for Southeast Europe from TNC, Mr. Matija Penezić, addressed the audience during the closing events, expressing his support and importance of this project.

We are pleased that the concepts developed within the project are available to all interested parties, and can be used completely free of charge. So we invite all those interested to contribute to the preservation and protection of the environment through the platform www.biomonitoring.me.