By Pavel P. Antonov In Kosovo they say that the peony, which they call bozhuri, is a symbol for their land. The legend is that the peony is always the first flower to come from the ground after a battle is over, and it takes its red colour from the blood that was shed. In recent years, Kosovo has seen its share of battles, which have made normal life difficult. But just like the peony, environmental non-governmental organisations in Kosovo have begun to grow now that the fighting has ended. And these groups have their work cut out for them. Kosovo experienced damage from fighting and the planting of landmines. But the territory also needs major infrastructural improvement in its waste disposal system and in handling wastewater - and it faces other environmental worries.   Weak institutions Environmental NGOs, meanwhile, are confronted by a situation where democratic institutions are weak and there is limited long-term vision for the governance of the province. Kosovo has been administered by a United Nations mission since 1999, and is only now making its first unsure steps towards setting up democracy. It will take time to create favourable conditions for improving the environment. "Yes, we did make the first steps in this very long process leading to a better environment in Kosovo," Christy Duijvelaar, the then head of the Kosovo field office of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) wrote in her office's newsletter. But she added that the work done thus far is not enough: "Did we change people's mind? Did we educate children to love the nature and not to spoil it? Did we really have an impact on our local authorities with our pledge for more environmental friendly developments? Did we really impact industrial companies when making them aware about the toxic material they work with? In many cases we have to be honest and conclude that printing leaflets, organising meetings and putting up posters does not mean that environmental problems are solved."   More than 25 groups More than 25 Kosovar environmental groups have already been established. REC's Kosovo office has been one of the pioneering organisations looking to build and support these groups and encourage new ones. REC's field office has provided local activists with training, grants and technical support for their first projects. NGO campaigns and actions have already taken place in Prizren, Prishtina, Dardane and Mitrovica as a result of these efforts. Another hindrance to building civil society is the post-conflict animosity that remains between the Albanian population and the large Serbian minority in the province. But a desire by everyone to improve the environment, and the good will of activists, has helped overcome this problem. In January, an ethnic Serbian from the Leposavic-based NGO Bastina joined a group of NGOs with mostly ethnic Albanian members for a meeting in Prishtina, to work on the creation of an electronic information network. This workshop provided an opportunity to encourage Kosovo's Serbs and Albanians to work together. It also lead to the creation of a network called Sharri.net, a unique NGO communication platform.

Photo: MTI CHAOTIC PAST: Kosovo refugees enter Albania during the 1999 bombing, which shook society — and civil society.