A group of environmentalists, experts and environmental organizations gathered on Wednesday to talk about forest restoration in Mavrova National Park. Based on the current situation of forests in the region, they described intervention in forest areas as an urgent need.
According to Global Forest Watch, Albania has lost 6,5% of its total forests in the last 20 years, while North Macedonia lost 5,5%. Recent local analyzes confirmed this trend showing an alarming loss of undegraded forests of 4.88% and 6,78% and 4,88% respectively over the last 12 years.
PPNEA, IUCN and the Macedonian Ecological Society will cooperate for 2 years with the aim of restoring some affected landscapes.
During the presentation of the initiative, experts expressed concern that similar negative trends are known in regions of high biodiversity value, such as the main habitats of the Balkan Lynx, a critically endangered species according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and other endemic species.
Photo: Mavrovo National Park
According to experts, one of the drivers of degradation remains the poor management of key biodiversity landscapes in protected areas, which does not sufficiently prevent forest loss.
Furthermore, illegal logging has been a long-term problem in the Balkans, coupled with rapid urbanization, land use changes and the consequences of climate change.
Kaya Shukova,Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning in North Macedonia
"The revitalization of forests in North Macedonia and Albania is important for our countries, but also for the fulfillment of European goals from the EU Forest Strategy until 2030, because natural ecosystems know no borders and require harmonized and sustainable management", said the Minister of Environment of North Macedonia, Kaja Shukova, during the presentation of the initiative.
The two areas selected for intervention are "Pashtrik-Morina" in Albania and Bukovic in North Macedonia.
Aleksandër Trajçe, director of PPNEA
“We want to restore and preserve vital forest habitats in key biodiversity landscapes beyond protected areas. By implementing Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), we are taking concrete steps towards ensuring a brighter future for nature and people", said the director of PPNEA Aleksandër Trajçe.
As for the importance of this initiative, the experts listed several reasons, starting with the mitigation of climate change, since according to them, the restoration of forests contributes to combating these changes. These areas are home to the Balkan Lynx and the conservation of biodiversity is seen as highly important by environmentalists.
The experts also placed a special emphasis on community engagement.
"We are working closely with local communities to ensure they are central to the conservation process, promoting sustainable coexistencee", PPNEA said in the statement to the media.
He completed master's studies in Investigative Journalism at the Department of Journalism at the University of Tirana. She has been working as a journalist for five years, where she previously covered issues of politics and parliamentary activity, in print and online media. She is currently a journalist at Citizens.al, where she covers various social issues related to the transparency of institutions. At Citizens.al, she leads the podcast "The Unheard" and is engaged as a manager of projects related to the support of investigative journalism.
