Legal Status of the Natura Balkanika 

“Natura Balkanika” Nature Society is a non-partisan, non-governmental, non-profit organization funded in year 2000 Registration number is 1.400 (Registered under low on political and civil associations implemented by Federal Ministry of Human Rights) 

Mission of Natura Balkanika 

The Society is founded by the group of enthusiasts, farmers and experts on agriculture, veterinary sciences, biology, social sciences, economy and rural development, dedicated to support rural revival,  protection and promotion of the natural and cultural values of South East Serbia (Stara Planina Mt. and Gornje Ponishavlje region). Born in the region of the exceptional rural tradition and natural beauty, in the middle of one of 6 World centers of biodiversity, “Natura Balkanika”, is intended to integrate interests for rural economy and environmental conservation.  Our activities are directed towards environmentally friendly agriculture practices, conservation of domestic animal genetic resources, natural biodiversity and local cultural heritage integrated in sustainable rural development concepts, promoting participatory approach and bottom-up initiative. 

Vision of the Natura Balkanika 

“Natura Balkanika” sees conserved natural resources of mountain parts of South East Serbia as a potential capable to provide sustainable life and welfare to local people. The fundaments of “Natura Balkanika’s are made of the opinion that conservation of nature has to be done through the conservation of the whole web of life – human and natural. Therefore today this fact is imbuing the strategy and objectives of the “Natura Balkanika”. 

Strategic Goals of Natura Balkanika 

Natura Balkanika’s efforts are directed towards supporting sustainable rural development of the South East Serbia. Therefore, through its programs strive:  

• to provide high quality, innovative, demand driven services in field of sustainable (especially organic) agriculture to local farmers, aiming at the highest benefit for local rural population, consumers in general and natural resources on which this production is based on;
• to set-up functional production-processing-marketing models aiming to enable sustainable utilization and conservation of domestic animal and plant genetic resources, natural, particularly landscape diversity;
• to empower diversification of rural economy with emphasis on indigenous knowledge, traditional crafts and rural tourism as tools for linking social interest, economy and natural and cultural heritage protection.

Program Areas 

The focus of Natura Balkanika is sustainable rural development through:

:

• promotion & introduction of environmentally friendly agriculture practices;
• indigenous knowledge protection & utilization
• promotion and introduction of agro and rural tourism
• conservation of agro and biodiversity

Natura Balkanika has gained high level of knowledge and experience in field of rural development and gathers a large team of agriculture, environmental and social experts on local and national level.  

Natura Balkanika is encouraging participation of local people, particularly farmers, with mutually supportive relationships based on knowledge sharing, integrity, open communication and trust.  
 

Type of activities 

Development oriented research – in branch of biodiversity protection and sustainable rural development, particularly possibilities for rural economy diversification that rise from the inherited mixed-farming systems, autochthonous breeds utilization, indigenous knowledge, crafts etc.  

Education  - for raising awareness about the necessity for biodiversity conservation, various aspects of sustainable agriculture and development in general, particularly for solving problems with engaging local resources and possibilities within modern science and technology, upgrading environment, natural resources management, sustainable options with agriculture, etc.  

International and intra national cooperation – for exchanging information and cooperation with conducting projects with similar organizations, universities, research and governmental institutions in Serbia and Montenegro and abroad; facilitating intellectual services and technical logistic for their activities in the region. 
 

Type of services 

• Promoting sustainable development of the small and medium private entrepreneurship in rural environment, based on ecological agriculture, processing, agro-forestry, agro and rural tourism ;
• Providing trainings, education and consultancy services for rural households of South East Serbia for finding the point of intersection between available resources and market demands, planning household and farm development etc.;
• Providing consultancy and assistance with provision of inspection and certification for organic production and organic products marketing;
• Promoting sustainable options for rural development within assistance targeting strategic and action planning for local and national authorities, business and ngo sector
• Providing consultancy services for foreign investors, traders, donors, development agencies etc. on rural development, agro eco-production, tourism and nature conservation working opportunities within Serbia.
• Providing platform and logistics for a dialog between local farmers, organizations, entrepreneurs and authorities /local development stakeholders and decision makers.

Organizational capacity and employees 

“Natura Balkanika” strive to grow professionalism in all conducted activities, so have high standards for membership, although volunteers do a lots of the work. Society has no intention to become mass organization, but to enlarge capacity of the attached expert teams, which are on its disposal for solving certain problems. In the same time, So far 30 members are active within the organization, of which 3 PhD,  1 MSc and 17 BSc. A great effort is invested to formal and un-formal education of professional and non-professional members as much as for lobbing new experts for the membership or associated expert teams. Natura Balkanika has a strong presence in South East Serbia through its Center for Sustainable Rural Development in Dimitrovgrad. Technical capacity of the organization is high. The society poses optimal technical equipment,  FWD vehicle and functional office space. 
 

Natura Balkanika’s partners 

Cooperation in project implementation for rural development and environmental protection was established with various GO and NGO organisations in Serbia (Institute for Nature Protection of Serbia, Institute for Animal Husbandry, Institute for Science Application in Agriculture, Republican Agriculture Extension Service,  Ministry of agriculture, forestry and water management, Agriculture faculty University of Belgrade, Nature history museum etc.) and Europe (GTZ, EED, IFAK, Diakonie, Equalita – Germany, SIDA through OPTO International Sweden, SAVE, AVALON - Netherlands, FAO, UNDP, ICS UNIDO, REC, Norwegian Embassy etc.). “Natura Balkanika” is a member of the national organic agriculture network “Terras” Subotica and SAVE International. Natura Balkanika have intensive cross-border cooperation with Bulgaria and Macedonia. 
 

Natura Balkanika Management:  

Ljiljana Zrnzevic, president of the General Assembly 
 
 

Important Projects, Events and Activities 

Natura Balkanika 3 trainer teams for PLA/PRA (Participatory learning and action/Participatory rural appraisal), SEAGA (Socio-economic and gender analysis) and organic agriculture. These team so far have conducted number of trainings and have produced 3 training manuals – one for PLA/PRA and two for organic agriculture.  

Natura Balkanika has implemented a number of projects and conducted numerous individual activates connected to capacity building for local farmers and advisors; provided on-farm support; transfer of good practices; assisted in designing local strategic directions and guidelines for local sustainable development, worked of promotion of local natural, human and cultural resources and potentials for rural development. Natura Balkanika is constantly initializing and implementing events and activities in the frame of its program areas and components on different levels with the aim of establishing and fostering cooperation with different stakeholders, interested groups and individuals. Two most important recent projects are conducted within “Center for Sustainable rural development” project and “Program of on-farm conservation of endangered Serbian autochthonous domestic animals breeds” 

“Center for Sustainable rural development”  Combining the experience gained with participatory research in villages of Central and South-East Serbia, knowledge and experience of its expert teams and consultants, “Natura Balkanika”  have come to the belief that the most needed engagement in Serbia is assistance with transfer of knowledge to farmers. Agriculture and rural development extension is extremely poor, and it is one of the important causes of rural poverty. “Natura Balkanika”  have established Center for sustainable rural development of South-East Serbia in Dimitrovgrad, municipality in the middle of Balkan center of Biodiversity, one of the most famous areas for sheep and cattle farming, high quality cheese production and animal products in general, in the region. Promotion of the integrated rural development, organic agriculture and agro and eco-tourism are pillars of the program of the new established Center.  

Center is transferring knowledge in different braches of agriculture production, cooperative development and launching wide community driven action for sustainable management of the natural resources in nature protected areas of the region. Center also facilitate research and demonstration of successful sustainable technologies,  and empower local producers which deal with the most prospective safe food production within typical local productions, locally adapted breeds, traditional free range and agro-forestry production etc. One of the focuses is placed on the establishing of the extension service to foster the rehabilitation of the sustainable agriculture based on traditional mixed-farming and also training of similar services for other regions with fragile ecosystems. “Natura Balkanika” is trying also to conduct other complementary activities such as natural biodiversity conservation projects, agro diversity conservation (domestic animals and their wild relatives, semi-natural grasslands etc.). 
 

“Program of on-farm conservation of endangered Serbian autochthonous domestic animals breeds” is conducted in cooperation with Ministry of agriculture, forestry and water management and local farmers in Dimitrovgrad area. Activities in the project are: 

• Identification and registration of individuals of endangered breeds;
• Establishment of six farms and providing of various forms of on-farm support and investment;
• Setting up of functional production-processing-marketing  farm models;
• Farmer’s consultations and providing of adequate literature;
• Organization of promotional events and continuous media campaign;

Natura Balkanika started actively with agro-biodiversity conservation since 2002. 26 pigs of Mangulica breed and 5 horses of Bosnian pony breed were received from former Federal Institute for Animal and Plant Genetic Resources of Yugoslavia. The animals were distributed to few rural households in the area. Today, three years later, there are more than 120 Mangalitza pigs, 11 Domestic Mountain Ponies, 4 Nonius Breed horse, a flock of Bardoka Sheep and Balkan Goat, and a flock of Svrljig hen situated in 6 local farms around Dimitrovgrad. In 2005, Natura Balkanika will started with on farm conservation of Balkan donkey and Karakachan sheep breed aslo. Today, Dimitrovgrad area is one of the most important centers for conservation of Serbian indigenous breeds. Traditional free-range system with Mangulica breed which is rehabilitated in Dimitrovgrad area, confirmed that traditional experience have all necessary elements for providing farming systems to be sustainable. Relying environmentally friendly production on local breeds is making it easier to handle, safe and economically more valuable.  The public awareness and consumer’s interest for indigenous breeds products is gradually growing thanks to the continual promotion Natura Balkanika is conducting through its interactive farm and “Regional Fair of Balkan Agrobiodiversity and Rural Heritage”.  

Natura Balkanika’s Interactive farm poses 6 collection of Serbian indigenous breeds and have launched traditional carpeting course based on zackel wool, “riding school” using Domestic Mountain Pony, playground, farm-shop, ethno room and other show-activities in aim to reach their economic valorization. “Natura Balkanika” is one of the leading actors in organizing unique manifestation “Regional Fair of Balkan Agrobiodiversity and Rural Heritage”, every year in September, when many Balkan breeds are being exposed to the national and regional public. Natura Balkanika enabled every rare breed farmer to receive a yearly subsidy and other forms of support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of R. Serbia. Our conservation activities are supported by Serbian Agriculture Ministry, German Foundation EED and the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC).

Some of activities carried so far

1. Revival of Rural Life with Multi-Ethnic Communities on Stara Mt. through Encouraging Traditional Forms of Economy, conducted by the founding initiative group of Natura Balkanika with Ecolibri-Bionet 1998/1999 supported by Open Society Fund
2. CD project – Mountains and People of Serbia and Montenegro / Part Stara Planina, with Ecolibri-Bionet 2000/2001, supported by Open Society Fund
3. UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve Study on Resource Management for Agriculture and Park Management Strategy in Stara Mt. Park of Nature, 1998-2000 produced by Institute for Nature Protection
4. "Stara planina" film, a field consultancy, produced by Institute for Nature Protection
5. "Hidden treasures of Stara Planina Mt."  contest on essays and painting for Dimitrovgrad Municipality primary and secondary schools, Ecolibri-Bionet
6. Round table meeting of Balkan Ornithologists, 2000, supported by Local Government and with contribution from local business organizations
7. Civil Initiative on Returning of the old name Caribrod to the Dimitrovgrad municipality, 2000
8. Round table meeting on Environmental impact of Chernobyl nuclear disaster – 15 years later, 2001, supported by Local Government and with contribution from local business organizations
9. School in nature for primary and secondary scholars to Jerma natural reserve, 2001, supported by Local Government and with contribution from local business organizations
10. Project on feeding points for vultures with Institute for Nature Protection, 2001, supported by Local Government and with contribution from local business organizations
11. Course on ornithology, 2001, supported by Local Government and with contribution from local business organizations
12. “Stara planina mountain” film, a field consultancy, produced by Radio Television of Serbia July 2001,
13. Astronomy Photo Exhibition , supported by Mr. Slavko Stojanov from Locarno, Swiss, July 2001,
14. “Old Tradition of Stara planina mountain”, a field consultancy, produced by Radio Television of Serbia, August 2001
15. Participatory Learning and Action -  training of trainers supported by Diakonie Emergency Aid, DW der EKD e.V., Germany
16. Establishment of the Municipality Council for sustainable rural development, 2002
17. Organization of the first Donation conference for sustainable rural development of Dimitrovgrad municipality, supported by EED Germany & Municipality of Dimitrovgrad, May 2002
18. “Nature Conservation” and “Mission of Sergej Ivanov” films about activities of Natura Balkanika and its members, a field consultancy, BK Television, October 2001
19. Participation in decision making in local Municipality Government (members from "Natura Balkanika" in executive board), 2000/2001
20. 7 members working on the PLA for identification of beneficiaries of DW Agriculture program in Kragujevac Municipality (8 villages) September 2001
21. Sustainable Rural Development in Southeastern Serbia - Project with financial support by Evangelishe Zentralstelle fur Entwicklungshilfe, 2001/2002
22. Agriculture Survey in villages of Topola Municipality - with financial support by SIDA Sweden/OPTO International (conducted by “NB” Society as a member of “Agronet” Belgrade)
23. Study trip on organics and sustainable rural development in Germany by financial support of IFAK, October 2002
24. EED (Evangelishe Zentralstelle fur Entwicklungshilfe Germany) “Center For Sustainable Rural Development Of South-East Serbia”, 2002-2005;
25. “Partnership for the conservation of endangered species of birds in Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Yugoslavia with special focus on the imperial eagle, Supported by REC;
26. “On –farm” conservation of domestic animal genetic resources of Republic of Serbia;
27. “Sustainable rural development of South – East Serbia” – Study on potentials for development, supported by IFAK, Germany;
28. “Interactive farm – pilot model for promotion of agro-biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and rural heritage of South East Serbia”
29. Carpeting training for marginalized rural groups (gender issue), supported by REC, EED Germany.
30. Formation of women reference groups in Nis, Aleksinac and Gadzin Han Municipalities  for SIDA Sweden/OPTO International Dairy project “Reka mleka” (conducted by members of the “gender trainers team”) 2003 & 2004
31. Organizing Balkan regional training of trainers for Socio-economic and gender analysis (SEAGA) with FAO and Ministry of agriculture, forestry and water management in Nis, 2004
32. Facilitating participatory meetings for preparing National agriculture development strategy (4 members of “PLA trainers team”), 2004
33. Monitoring of the Feeding point for vultures nar Rsovci village, inside the Stara Planina Nature Park, in cooperation with the Institute for Nature Protection of Serbia,
34. Preparation of 4 educational films on agrobiodiversity conservation 2005 - 2006