The first two phases of the project focused on developing basic professional capacities in strategic and interactive communication in support of nature conservation through:

• Tailor-made training workshops on the use of strategic and interactive communication in conservation policy and action for staff of conservation authorities, NGOs and National Parks in Croatia and Macedonia;
• Pilot projects focusing on stakeholder involvement and communication in order to give the participants in each country the chance to apply the lessons learned during the training workshop. Two pilot sites, Neretva Delta in Croatia and Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia, were selected.

In the last phase of this project, to ensure continuity beyond the project lifespan and to extend the capacity-building effort beyond the direct group of participants:

• the most talented workshop participants are being trained as in-country communication trainers; and
• an in-country training programme has been set up, supported by reference and training materials.