Western Balkans Environment Programe

Environment and Security Initiative – Transforming risks into cooperation in South Eastern Europe

In the framework of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) – www.envsec.org - UNDP Montenegro started with the implemented of a new programme called – Transforming Risks into Cooperation in South Eastern Europe.
The ENVSEC Initiative is a partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Regional Environment Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC). The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has joined the Initiative as an associated partner.

Purpose of the project is prevention and mitigation of trans-boundary environmental risks arising from hazardous pollution hotspots, in particular from abandoned mines and tailing dams. Activities that UNDP Montenegro has been tasked to undertake are as follows:

- Building and improvement of constructions at tailings dams at up to three locations in the Western Balkans in order to prevent dam failure and/or control overflow (in case tailings dam is still operational), erosion control, pollution control/mitigation acid mine waters;

- Improving institutional arrangements and setting up of monitoring mechanisms.

Project will aim to:

- Reduce local environmental and human health risks and minimize tensions among SEE countries through reduction of risk of accidental trans-boundary pollution arising from hazardous mining sites.

- Improve trans-boundary and regional cooperation on identification, management and reduction of trans-boundary risks from hazardous activities.

The EnvSec programme will be implemented between July 2010 and December 2012 in the Western Balkans countries for which priorities have been set through national and regional consultations. The overall goal of the programme is to contribute to the reduction of environment and security risks, and to the increase cooperation among Western Balkans countries. Activities to achieve that goal include policy integration, capacity development of government institutions (including local government), hotspot risk mitigation, and civil society strengthening and promotion of good environmental governance. The project contributes to improved knowledge, understanding and management of environmental and security risks.

The main beneficiaries of this project include policy-makers and experts of relevant Ministries (Environment and Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, Economic Development, Emergencies, Transport and Industry, Agriculture etc), local government agencies, protected area administrations, local municipalities and civil society organizations. Indirect beneficiaries will be the populations of the recipient countries.

Programme Document can be found here. pdf