Description
Front 21/42 is an environmental law NGO focused on nature protection, environmental democracy and environmental law education. Our ultimate mission is harmonization of the society with nature. Urbanization has been identified as one of the main threats to the values of the World Heritage site Ohrid Region in all relevant plans and reports (UNESCO’s mission reports, Bern Convention mission report, Strategic Recovery Plan for the site, etc.). The action aims to identify existing valid urban plans and projects which violate relevant national and international laws and to prevent their realization in timely manner. For this purpose Front 21/42 will conduct legal analysis; organize joint CSOs’ action for cancelation of the unlawful urban plans and projects; inform UNESCO and the Bern Convention; and conduct extensive media campaign. The action will also be used to raise the awareness of the Macedonian citizens about the significance of the Ohrid Region, its universal values and the plans and projects which threaten the preservation of the only world natural and cultural heritage site in the country
The specific goals of this project are:
Main goal: To prevent realization of urban plans and projects that are contrary to the Law on Managing the World Natural and Cultural Heritage of Ohrid Region and could escalate the degradation of already vulnerable natural values of the site.
Other goals: (1) To contribute to the rule of law in North Macedonia through management of the World Heritage Ohrid Region in compliance with the Constitution, national laws and international conventions; (2) To strengthen the role of the civil society in the management of the World Heritage Ohrid Region and the CSOs’ contribution towards the rule of law in environmental protection and nature conservation; (3) To raise the publics’ awareness about the values of the World Heritage Ohrid Region and threats to these values, with a special focus on the threats from urbanization.
Target group and main beneficiaries
All citizens of North Macedonia; CSOs; relevant central and local authorities of North Macedonia; the media; international conventions (UNESCO, Bern Convention, Ramsar Convention).
Main activities:
- Identification of valid (but still unrealized) urban plans and projects for WH Ohrid Region and legal analysis of their compliance with the Constitution, national and international laws – desk analysis and field visit;
- Identification of possible legal tools which can be used for prevention of the realization of the unlawful urban plans and projects;
- Joint CSOs’ action against unlawful urbanization of the World Heritage Ohrid Region;
- Media campaign to raise the publics’ awareness about the values of the World Heritage Ohrid Region and the threats from urbanization.
