World Earth Day - Outcome of Community Engagement Workshop
April 26, 2021 - On World Earth Day 2021, as one of the outcomes of the IOM-supported Community Engagement workshop held recently as a joint action by NGOs from Pristina, Gracanica and Lipljan municipalities, is the issue of disposal of the construction waste in the Nature Park Kishnica.
After consultations held last week, the following public statement has been published, urging the Municipality of Prishtina, Municipality of Gracanica and MESP to organize cleaning of this area as soon as possible and to place it under monitoring and protection pursuant to laws in force:
Expression of Concern about Degradation of Nature park - Kishnica Hill
During the implementation of joint Community Engagement activities, in the framework of the Project "Building Social Ties and Support for Reconciliation and Social Cohesion in Kosovo", supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), joint teams of the Alpine Club Prishtina, Gracanica Youth Council and Human Opportunities, Participation and Engagement – HopeLipjan, drafted a joint concept of a network of connecting trails between Pristina, Gracanica and Janjevo.
An important part of this mountainous area is the Nature Park - Kishnica Hill, which is placed under preliminary protection by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. This protected area is located between Prishtina, Gracanica and Lake Badovac, is part of the IUCN/V category and is of great importance in preserving the diversity of Lake Badovac and Germia massif.
The network of connecting trails between Gracanica and the neighborhoods of Matiqan, Hajvali and Lugmir passes through this area, which justifies the appropriate decision of MESP to protect it as a Nature Park and area of special importance.
Unfortunately, the condition of this park raises concern because it is gradually being turned into a construction waste landfill, and not excluding beginning of different constructions works and the flow of pollution into the waters of Badovac.
On behalf of the wider community, we urge Municipality of Prishtina, Municipality of Gracanica and MESP to organize cleaning of this area as soon as possible and to place it under monitoring and protection pursuant to laws in force. Support from our community in the cleaning and afforestation activities of the area would not be lacking.