Regional Agency DUNEA organized the third workshop and capacity building session for local stakeholders on April 30th at the premises of the City Hall in Opuzen. The workshop brought together key stakeholders with the aim of continuing the development of the Guidelines for the Conservation of Biodiversity of the Neretva Valley, which will contribute to the development of a sustainable model of natural resource management of this valuable area.
The gathered stakeholders represented different sectors – from representatives of local and regional government, tourism and economic sectors, to waste management experts, academia and civil society. The workshop began with a brief review of the results of the previous workshop, which served as a basis for further guiding the process. Through group work, stakeholders presented valuable suggestions and ideas, based on which key directions of action were defined. The suggestions form the basis for the design of concrete activities that will be included in the action plan as part of the Guidelines for the Conservation of Biodiversity of the Neretva Valley.
Special emphasis was placed on the necessity of systematic education of the general public on the importance of preserving natural values and biodiversity. The need for continuous cooperation of all relevant stakeholders, both at the institutional and operational levels, was also highlighted, with the aim of ensuring long-term and sustainable management of the Neretva Valley. Participants expressed high satisfaction with the workshop, especially with the group work format that enabled a direct exchange of experiences and ideas. The workshop was an important step towards creating sustainable and locally adapted solutions, which take into account the specificities of the Neretva Valley.
