Story | 16 May, 2017

Law on Nature protection prepared in FYR Macedonia

Within the successfully completed EU IPA funded project "Capacity building for implementation of Natura 2000”, alongside introduction of the concept of the EU ecological network Natura 2000, the new Law on Nature Protection and sub-regulations have been prepared. In order to harmonize national legislation and fulfil obligations under EU Directives on habitats and birds, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of FYR Macedonia began the project in 2016, and used it as an opportunity to transfer experience from EU member states and to establish and develop the Natura 2000 network.

Photo: T.Pezold

Stakeholders involved in the project encompassed the public and private sectors as well as civil society organisaitons - the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, public institutions National Park Pelister, Mavrovo and Galicica, Public Enterprise Macedonian Forests, local governments, the sector for tourism, hunting and fishing, non-governmental organizations working on environmental protection, owners and users of land and other relevant actors.

Alongside preparation of the new law the project contributed to the identification of nationwide natural habitats, plant and animal species and birds of European importance. Training modules were organised in order to strengthen administrative capacities on issues related to Natura 2000, 9 pilot NATURA 2000 sites across the country were identified, as well as high quality GIS database for Need2Know project. In parallel various communication tools for Natura 2000 were activated. Furthermore, with two more projects starting in 2017, scientific field research will be conducted in order to identify and establish Natura 2000 sites.

LINKS:

Natura 2000 Macedonia