Project name: Flood Prevention for Environment Protection”.

Lead applicant: Association Center for Civic Initiative Prilep (MK);

Co- applicants: Destination Management Organization (AL); Municipality of Mogila (MK); Municipality of Maliq (AL).

Website: www.fpep-cbc.mk.

Location: Municipality of Mogila in North Macedonia and Municipality of Maliq in Albania

The regions around the municipalities of Mogila in North Macedonia and Maliq in Albania are prone to adverse weather and climatic phenomena, especially heavy storms and rainfalls resulting in local flooding and landslides damaging roads, private properties and agricultural land. The rivers Devoll in Mailq and Crna Reka and Shemenica in Mogila are facing increased spatial and temporal variability of water resources which is among the key natural factors increasing the flooding risk, besides topographic and land characteristics, and a relatively dense hydrographic network in the most affected regions. Additional causes of the growing flooding risk include: a) reduced conveyance/discharge capacity of existing regulated river sections (e.g., because of poor maintenance of existing river regulations, conversion of floodplains/river corridors); b) aging/poorly maintained hydraulic/flood control infrastructure (e.g., drainage systems, embankments and levees); and c) operating regimes of existing multi-purpose dams/reservoirs not optimized properly to enable better flood risk mitigation. Agriculture, extending dominantly along rivers, is the economic sector most affected by floods. At the same time agriculture plays the most important role in securing income for households in the affected regions. The growing flooding risk makes agriculture a particularly vulnerable sector, which most directly influences socio-economic stability of communities.

In order to strengthen the resilience, the disaster risk preparedness and to prevent floods for protection of the environment, the livelihoods and the agricultural lands the project team has taken the following actions:

Improved public infrastructure

In order to ensure the protection of agricultural lands and livelihoods:

  • Drainage canals in both of the municipalities Mogila and Maliq in length of 6 km have been built;
  • 2 hydrological stations placed on the rivers Devoll in Maliq and Crna Reka in Mogila that measure the water level in the rivers;
  • Mobile application developed for early warning of floods and weather changes alerts;
  • Tools provided for cleaning of the canals.

Cross-border cooperation and joint approach

In order to establish a joint approach between both municipalities:

  • Action plans for floods management developed for the each of the municipalities of Mogila and Maliq;
  • A Joint risk management plan developed for joint approach and support for protection and management of floods.

Awareness rising and preparedness of the population

In order to motivate and prepare the agro-producers and local population for management and prevention from floods:

  • Specialised trainings for the agro-producers for flood management;
  • Community forums for inclusion of the community in the flood prevention and management;
  • Exchange visits among the agro-producers in the cross-border region;
  • Awareness rising and cleaning actions with students.

With this EU funded action, more than 12,000 people have been directly protected from flooding despite the frequent massive rain falling in these regions. The local population is now prepared and motivated to continue taking action for protection of the environment and protection of their agricultural lands and livelihoods not only from floods, but also from other natural disasters.

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