The session was opened by Mileva Gjurovska, national coordinator of NCEU-MK, who explained in her opening address that we must develop the awareness that we are all responsible for preserving nature, but that this should not reduce the share of competent ministries. Turning to the topic of the sustainable management of forests, she emphasized that we must change the paradigm that we have an abundance of forests and that forests are the greatest wealth we possess, because this is not true, because the forests are seriously threatened – barren. They are especially threatened by illegal cutting and illegal sales.
Hristina Odzaklieska, Deputy Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, emphasized that the sustainable management of forests is related to the European Green Agreement, which aims to protect, conserve and strengthen the natural capital of the EU, but also to protect the health of citizens. According to Odzaklieska, sustainable afforestation and restoration of degraded forests will increase the absorption of carbon dioxide, while improving the resilience of forests and promoting the circular bioeconomy. “Natural resources are not inexhaustible, and nature is susceptible to harmful effects from human activities that need to be regulated,” Odzaklievska pointed out, concluding her introductory presentation.
Abdulshukjur Abedini, talked about the importance of building a strategic approach for the protection of Macedonian forests and forestry. Following the EU strategies for forests, he pointed out that in this decade we could face even greater risks, primarily due to climate change and natural disturbances that will disable what the forests have provided so far – ecosystem services. But on the other hand, opportunities for forestry and the forestry sector could increase, thanks to the application of renewable and bio-based solutions to decarbonize our economy.
David Geer, EU Ambassador in North Macedonia, pointed out that this topic is very important for the EU and for Macedonia, because more than 30% of the territory is covered with forests. By drawing a parallel with the territory of the EU, which has 43% forests, he emphasized that they are a survival system that stabilizes the climate and temperature, purifying water and air. In addition, they also protect villages from floods and landslides, and provide wood for processing, while also increasing tourism. Having healthy and resistant forests is significant and a priority for everyone, both authorities and citizens, as well as for companies.
Some important problems were pointed out: preservation of forest biodiversity, reduction of pollution, development of green cities and development of a circular economy to utilize resources to the maximum. All these problems are problems that exist in the European Union, but also in Macedonia. It is necessary for everyone to understand what the benefits are, but also what the price to be paid is. Action is needed right now, here as well as globally, and neglect is doing irreparable harm.
Henrik Markus, Slovak ambassador in Macedonia, in his address relied on his personal experience of cycling through Macedonia. According to him, the country is very beautiful, but much more attention must be paid to the presentation and to better utilization of the tourist potential. According to him, the biggest problem that needs to be solved unconditionally is pollution, and especially the improperly thrown garbage in nature. This is especially a problem in smaller towns and villages, because there is no waste management, where apart from the financial aspect, he problem is also the mentality of the people.
Bojana Stanojevska Pecurovska, co-chair of Working Group 5, and the president of the Center for Climate Change, referred to the previous 3 sessions and the topics that were discussed, along with the organizational details for the realization of the session.
Vladimir Stojanovski, professor at the Faculty of Forestry, Landscape Architecture and Eco-engineering “Hans Em”, presented the new tendencies for redefining the forests, from a traditional sector where the wood was considered as the primary raw material, where a new way of management is being passed, where in addition to wood, other products are important as well (herbs, forest fruits and other forest products). In the new way of defining forests, a special place is given to the protection of biological diversity, ecosystem services delivery and landscape values.
The public enterprises that manage the forests are all self-financed, which is a big problem and will be even bigger in the future. According to researches, the protected areas that were declared in the previous system work better than the new ones – declared after the independence, and he reason is self-financing in combination with other political aspects – pointed out Professor Stojanovski. In Macedonia, the New Green Agenda is being implemented through two big projects, as well as a new law on forests which is in process, and a revision of the strategy and formation of a national strategy for forests which has sublimated some of these things.
Nikolco Velkovski pointed out that the Republic of Macedonia has a specific location that was the cause of civilization clashes, which reflected on the condition of the forests that were often and excessively destroyed. The concept of sustainable forest management is based on 6 pan-European criteria, which were adopted at an EU ministerial conference and which the EU believes should be practiced:
• First criterion: Increasing forest resources and their contribution to the global carbon cycle. In order to achieve this goal, there must be changes in the directions of planning, which, in addition to economic parameters, must include environmental and social ones.
• Second criterion: Preserving the health and vitality of forest ecosystems. In the legal legislation, we have certain norms that monitor the health and vitality of these ecosystems, which allows maintaining a minimum level. However, a big problem is the increasing number of fires, increasing number of harmful insects that disrupt the health and vitality of ecosystems. The capacities are too low to do preventive protection against such problems, and here serious work must be done.
• Third criterion: Maintenance and improvement of the productive functions of forests (timber and non-timber). The area and wood mass in the forest has improved, but it is still among the lowest 5 in Europe (per cubic meters per unit area). The reason is the large percentage of forests that are degraded and cannot achieve high productivity.
• Fourth criterion: Maintaining, protecting and increasing bio-diversity of forest ecosystems. Macedonia is a small area, but it is full with rich bio-diversity, a large number of different habitats, where different soil, climate and other types collide that make that diversity possible.
• Fifth criterion: Maintenance of the socioeconomic functions of the forest. It means integration of social, economic and ecological functions of forests. Ownership rights and the various other functions that forests have with their values should be taken into account.
The sixth criterion, which refers to maintenance and appropriate improvement of protective functions in forest management (especially soil and water), will be explained by Ivan Blinkov.
Ivan Blinkov, from the Faculty of Forestry, Landscape Architecture and Eco-Engineering “Hans Em” informed in more detail about the fifth criterion. According to him, 1/3 of Macedonia is affected by strong erosion processes. Almost 30% of the territory is under the threat of desertification, which is impossible for the countries of central and northern Europe, but is characteristic of southern Europe. Therefore, a special approach must be built for the prevention of various natural disasters due to the amount of costs that are seven times greater if not prevented, (a natural disaster would do 7 times more damage).
In Macedonia, most of the afforestation in the past had a primarily ecological character, for the protection of water and soil. Commercial afforestation was insignificant.
Professor Blinkov concluded that it is easier to find financing for projects, and many such projects are currently being worked on, but it is much more difficult to find opportunities for implementation, indicating that donors should show more interest in implementation.
Matej Schwartz presented Slovakia’s experiences with Natura 2000. A way to solve the problem was re-mapping the protected areas, which mostly overlapped with the old ones. In order to avoid such problems in Macedonia, he recommended harmonizing the borders of the national and European networks of protected areas.
A problem Slovakia faced when establishing the Natura 2000 network was the collection and use of data. According to him, Macedonia is currently in the same position – collecting data for the creation of the network.
With Natura 2000, there were also problems with the management of the areas. It should be based on an integrated system of nature protection and proactive forest management. In Europe there is no single opinion regarding these issues. Currently, the most popular approach is a non-interventionist approach, which leads to problems because if you are in charge of managing the area, it is very difficult to do without management, especially with climate change.
Mare Basova, while presenting the data emphasized that forestry as a branch has very heavy pressures, because, on the one hand, it has to satisfy the public interest, and on the other hand, it has to be profitable. She believes that it is necessary to work on projects to find methods to improve the value of the forest by providing conditions for ensuring the three basic functions of the forest, respecting bio-diversity. Wild logging is the biggest problem facing the forests, but there are also climate changes that cause serious problems like droughts, erosions and floods. Forest management gives favorable effects – for now only in Osogovo and Malesevo mountains.
Stefko Stefanovski from the Center for Crisis Management, explained the needs for forest protection in conditions of increased risk of forest fires. In the segment of forest protection, there are shared competences, and therefore shared responsibilities. He focused on the protective function of forests, because this helps to reduce the risks of flash floods and soil degradation (erosion and landslides). The sustainable management of forests is a national challenge and all institutions that have authority should do their job. Also, to consider the possibility of building a system that exists in Europe – Payment for ecosystem services, in order to properly manage forests.
Nazif Sefer elaborated the project to support forestry reforms, financed by the EU with three main objectives: updating the strategy for sustainable development, revising the Law on Forests and creating a new draft National Forestry Program. He shared that a working group was created for this project with all relevant stakeholders from all competent ministries and institutions, and representatives from the EU, who share good practices. Also, the Law on Forests in its working version is in the final stage and is planned to be submitted to the Government this fall.
Daniela Kamcheva presented the current situation in terms of nature protection in Macedonia, as well as the activities undertaken by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. At the moment there are 82 protected areas, most of which belong to national parks (13.92% of the entire territory of the country). A large part of the forests located in the protected areas should be managed by the manager of the protected area. The EMERALD network, which was established in Macedonia in 2008, was also presented.
Anela Stavrevska Panajotova emphasized that the goal of the New Forest Strategy is to make the vision for improving the quantity and quality of forests concrete and to strengthen their protection, recovery and resilience. However, these three keywords still have no real value in Macedonia and are totally marginalized. For example, the construction of the Kicevo-Ohrid road caused clear cutting of forests. The state of national parks is alarming as well. For example, National Park Mavrovo is financed from the use of forest resources. They have no other alternative source of funding.
“Nature pays for the lack of finances, and we feel the consequences,” Stavrevska – Panayotova pointed out.
Dimitar Nikolovski presented results obtained from a project implemented by the Eurothink team regarding illegal logging. He pointed out that during the project some things have changed for the better. According to the results of the field activities, in the period between 2010 and 2020, the Forest Police submitted 2380 criminal cases to the Public Prosecutor’s Office and 2637 from the National Forests. Of the total misdemeanor cases brought to the basic courts (18,750 from the Forestry Police and 11,094 from the National Forests JP), only 16 cases were processed in Strumica, 26 in Veles, while no cases were processed in Prilep and Gevgelija.
Following the presentation delivered by the experts, a discussion ensued, in which members of the public actively participated, focusing on the key themes of deforestation, forest protection, and natural resource management.
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