Within the framework of the ISCCA Project – Sustainable Management of Ecological Corridors in the Polis-Valamarë-Rungajë-Moravë-Gramoz CCA, an introductory meeting was held with representatives from municipalities, RAPAs, civil society organizations, and the private sector, including local tour guides, focusing on the presentation and discussion of the Draft-Guideline on Public Participation at the Local Level.
The purpose of this meeting was to gather comments and practical suggestions on how public consultation processes currently function and how they can be improved, particularly in the context of territorial planning, the management of sensitive areas, and ecological corridors.
During the discussions, the role of citizens and institutions in public consultations was addressed, including levels of participation, key steps of the consultation process, and practical tools used for information sharing and engagement. Concrete experiences were shared by institutions and civil society regarding community information practices, including the use of social media, informative meetings, and the role of local structures in notifying the citizens.
Participants also identified a series of challenges affecting the quality of public consultations, such as untimely notification of communities, lack of transparency during these processes, limited selection of participants, and consultations conducted in late stages of decision-making, especially for projects in environmentally sensitive areas.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the need for earlier and more inclusive consultation was emphasized, as well as the importance of broader information sharing with communities and stakeholder groups, and the involvement of relevant institutional and private actors in decision-making processes.
The suggestions collected during this consultation will be taken into account in revising the Draft-Guideline to strengthen genuine public participation and improve the governance of ecological corridors within the framework of the ISCCA Project.
