Environmental Sustainability

Environmental degradation is a significant development challenge, as Kosovo institutions have insufficient capacities to deal with environmental problems. In this regard the environment part of the programme will focus on developing capacities to address the impact of environmental degradation and climate change (in a gender-sensitive manner) at both central and local level. UNDP sees as a priority to help Kosovo authorities at central and local levels to improve the management and conservation of natural resources, with gender considerations applied at every stage. Thus, UNDP will support the establishment of the first national park in the Sharr mountains, and will work with the central and local level officials to help them prepare management plans, and gain capacity for the management of the park, including monitoring and management of valuable species, expansion of tourism activities, including possible trans-boundary initiatives and development of income-generating activities, protective of the environment, for villagers living in the protected area. The management of the national park is encompassed in a more comprehensive programme of support to the municipality of Dragash based on sustainable development principles. On the example of the first national park, UNDP will explore possibilities to disseminate further models of integrated management of natural resources.

The legal and regulatory framework for mitigation and adaptation to the impact of climate change is an important part of Kosovo's agenda towards European integration; as a first step, UNDP provides support for the roll out of the greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory management system, that will provide the baseline for the policy and for the preparation of specific actions and projects for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. The contamination of the environment and the risks to health posed by the industrial waste of the Trepca Complex in the north of Kosovo is a major problem that requires concerted and fast response. Following remediation activities in the previous years, UNDP supported in 2011 the organization of a conference that convenes ministries, the local authorities, administration of Trepca complex, UN agencies and civil society organizations, in order to examine models of management of industrial waste in other countries and agree a list of short-term and medium term actions to stop the damage to the environment and to the health of people living in the area.
UNDP will also support the institutions involved in disaster management and disaster risk reduction (DRR) establish a Kosovo DRR platform, develop mechanisms for coordination and systems and tools for risk analysis and disaster preparedness.