Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina: #SavaTIES project partners have gathered from 16 till 19 October 2019 in Bihać to discuss ongoing project activities and the SavaParks Network future. Participants have presented pilot implementation actions they have performed at the field and brainstormed on finding the best ways to manage IAS as well as how to present the results to the decision-makers. Training on Project Impact Planning was organized to come up with a strategic plan that can save our time and ensure we can reach and prove the impacts we are seeking within the Sava TIES project. The training is part of the SavaParks Network capacity building program.
At the same time, the 2nd Regional workshop on invasive alien plants topic has been organized. It was held on 17 October 2019 in the local municipality center in the village Kulen Vakuf. More than 30 stakeholders and representatives of project partners had a chance to exchange the experiences about fighting against aggressive introduced plants they are dealing with in the Sava River Basin. Sharing practical knowledge between the local stakeholders and the project consortium is crucial for the successful repression of invasive alien species. The workshop is part of the drafting the SavaParks Network after-project Roadmap. Of the workshop scope, dr Mirjana Bartula, workshop coordinator said: “The workshop is providing inputs on future cooperation among SavaParks Network for harmonized management of the protected areas in the Sava River basin.”.
Una National Park, the host of the 2nd Regional Workshop and 4th Steering Committee meeting, organized field excursion to the pilot site where testing of methods for the removal of invasive alien plant Japanese knotweed has been performed. The Una National Park director, Amarildo Mulić, pointed out the fruitful cooperation they have achieved till now with the locals and relevant sectors. The involvement and education of the local community and cross sectoral cooperation is a step closer in achieving positive results in the fight against non-native species. Besides the pilot site, natural beauties of the Una River were explored.