Organisation: Mountaineering-ecological organization "Endophine"

Website: Facebook

Dates:

• Adaptation and promotion of hiking trails, potential and surrounding biodiversity – April and May 2017;
• Eco action – Periodically (every 3 months since June 2016);
• Second birthday of the organisation – 13 June 2017.

Place: Macedonia

Description of the activity:

1. Eco action – Periodically (every 3 months since June 2016): 4 actions in total were organised, as a part of the annual plan of the organisation for improving the nature and surroundings. Actions on which lot of garbage was collected from sport fields, parks and the fortress near Kichevo (Kitino kale), with collaboration with the NGO Vizio, that is managing the summer cultural center “Kita” in the “Kitino kale”.
2. Adaptation and promotion of hiking trails, potential and surrounding biodivercity – April and May 2017: Two teams were included in the process of creating (mapping) two hiking trails on the mountain range Chelioca – Pesjak in the region of Kichevo (one mapping was done with collaboration with mounteneering club “Transverzalec” from Skopje. During these actions cleansing and signalizing the trails were main activities and also informative panels were set up, showing the trail specification and the peculiarities of the micro region. All of this had the aim to engage youth in “natural activities” of learning about surrounding nature and biodiversity, raising awareness about emerging dumpsites and solutions for waste management (which is a topic that we like to meet more often) and promotion of healthy lifestyle while hiking and adventurism. Facebook photos.
3. Second birthday of the organisation – 13 June 2017: Celebrating two years of non-formal socializing and activism (at the moment the organization is officially formal), we organized an event for promotion of the activities of the past period. There were 4 presentations for promoting of what was done in the previous period (Markings and settings for the hiking trails), Etymology of toponyms in the region, Biodiversity (past and present), New proposals for scenic hiking trails with aim of “meeting your surrounding” and archeological cites/ life in the past. This event was supported by summer cultural center “Kita”.

All actions were part of the annual plan of the organisation, as a indicator for increased participation of youth in process of creating sustainable solutions for ecotourism and raising awareness for broader scope of the topic. These actions included approximately 300 people (mostly youth) with support of enthusiasts, local individuals and with collaboration with the NGO Vizio, that is managing the summer cultural center “Kita” in the “Kitino kale”. Facebook photos.

What was the environmental problem:

We, as a responsible citizens, concluded that our town is very polluted by illegal dumpsites, trash from markets and shops, lot of cars, polluted air etc etc. We knew that solving these problem is not going to be as easy as it seems because we need institutional help (while the country was/is in institutional crisis), so we aimed our actions toward engaging citizens and youth that love nature and mountain sports. With their participation we were able to promote and sustain our idea of a healthy nation that needs more “outdoor” than “indoor” productivity. Setting signalization for hiking trails, eco actions, so far, will be beginners steps for improving the awareness about healthy environment.

The result of the activity:

- 300+ engaged citizen (aware of possible ecological threats);

- Promoted hiking trails and their surrounding (biodiversity, meaning and history);

- Raised awareness about eco-tourism potential regarding region specifications.

Environmental challenge accepted - Public vote

Main page of the project