Eko-svest – protecting the critically endangered lynx in Mavrovo national park

The ETNAR sub-grantee Eko-svest used the summer period for raising awareness about the negative impacts of hydro-power projects planned in the Mavrovo national park. The rhetoric used was positive and speaking of the need to protect wildlife. The main mascot was the critically endangered lynx and for that purpose they had a person dressed up in a lynx costume walking around Skopje and inviting people (usually with small children) to attend the creative workshops held on 12^th and 19^th of July in the educational centre of the Skopje ZOO. Children were presented with the life of the lynx and threats to its survival in an easy language and were stimulated to draw and paint together with their parents. There was an award making game and children received lynx branded T-shirts, scarfs and hats.

Petition

During the summer a petition was also initiated on the Rainforest Rescue website. Almost 100 000 people signed the petition in a period of a few months. The reason why the petition to call for the protection of Mavrovo National Park was organised was because the summer was dedicated to the promotion of values of Mavrovo, and people were more prone to sign up to something to protect. The petition was printed and sent to the Prime Minister of Macedonia as well as the presidents of EBRD and WB.

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