Stories of people protecting rivers, planting trees, recycling waste, and driving change were brought to life through the lenses of citizens at the photo exhibition “The Greenest Examples of the Western Balkans”, officially opened in Skopje today.

Hosted within Skopje Design Week at Public Room – a regional event celebrating design, innovation, and sustainability, which is also part of the NextGen Design network, a European platform connecting design festivals committed to sustainable solutions.

The exhibition is organized by the EU4Green project, which supports the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans through different pillars such as depollution of air, water and soil, waste management, and biodiversity. It also highlights the importance of local engagement in advancing the region’s green transition.

The exhibition presents 15 winning photo stories, selected from 138 submissions received from all six Western Balkan economies – North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo*, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Each photograph tells an authentic story of people, challenges, and initiatives that contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.

Among the top stories are works by Bojana Aleksievska and Blagoj Trajkov from North Macedonia. Aleksievska’s photo story captures the natural beauty and authentic spirit of the Mariovo region and the village of Zovjik, while Trajkov’s series highlights the rich biodiversity of the Demir Kapija municipality and the importance of preserving nature at the local level.

The exhibition was officially opened by H.E. Mr. Martin Pammer, Ambassador of Austria to North Macedonia, who emphasized the importance of citizen engagement and cross-border cooperation:

“Each of these 15 photo-series tells us something about the courage, creativity, and responsibility of citizens across the Western Balkans. Together, they show us the beauty of the region and remind us that positive change often begins with people who care enough to act,” said Ambassador Pammer.

“Through my photographs, I wanted to show that preserving biodiversity is not just an obligation, but an act of love – love for the land, for nature, and for the places that keep our history alive. Zovik taught me that nature doesn’t ask for much – only respect,” said Bojana Aleksievska.

“I wanted to show the beautiful biodiversity of the Demir Kapija region and place importance on the diverse ecosystem there. The presence of rare and endangered insect species, like the Fasciated Conehead Mantis and Milky Owlfly, are indicators of the region’s biodiversity.” said Blagoj Trajkov.

Following Skopje, the exhibition will travel to Belgrade and Sarajevo, concluding its regional tour through all Western Balkan economies.

The EU4Green – Green Agenda for the Western Balkans project supports the region in implementing environmental reforms. It is funded by the European Union, co-funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) through International Partnerships Austria, and implemented by the Environment Agency Austria.