Conservation of biodiversity in mountain grazing areas of Shara
Improving the management of protected areas
Project “Conservation of biodiversity in mountain grazing areas of Shara” is funded by European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Program in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning. The Project is intended to reconcile biodiversity conservation and economic development. The goal of the Project is to restore biodiversity of Shara Mountain pastures, generate new employment and opportunities.
This project is implemented in the frame of “Improving the Management of Protected Areas” project, which goal is to help protect natural resources and to improve the quality of life of the local population.
Project is implemented by Milieukontakt Macedonia and partner Public Enterprise on Pastures and Association of Agricultural Economists of Republic of Macedonia.
Leader
leader organization
Association for Sustainable Development-Milieukontakt Macedonia Skopje is a non-for-profit, civil society organization, supporting initiatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) on climate change, environment and sustainable development. It was established in 2012 following 12 years of successful implementation of Milieukontakt International programs in Macedonia. Its vision is to help create a strong, visible, professional, self-sustainable environmental CSO movement, based on the principles of democracy and openness. This means a movement that is highly visible in society, able to raise public awareness and capable of playing an important role in policy and decision-making processes, on local, national and international level.
Partners
Project Partners
The Public Enterprise on Pastures has been established by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in order to manage the state-owned pastures. According to Law on pasture, PE on Pastures creates a pasture management program every year. This program determines the natural conditions of the pasture, its restoration, development, measures for breeding, protection, promotion and extension of pastures.
The Association of Agricultural Economists of Republic of Macedonia (AAEM) is non-governmental organization of experts in the area of agricultural economics. Since its foundation in 1997, its goal is development of sustainable agriculture in Republic of Macedonia. One of the most important features of the organization and its members is the cooperation with different representatives of private and public sectors as well as governmental and non-governmental institutions in the country such as Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, as well as the National Extension Agency, while from the non-governmental sector the collaborations with the Federation of Farmers of Republic of Macedonia, Association for Consumer Protection, Environmental Associations and others. The Association has developed many strategic documents for agricultural sector but also many specific documents as Laws and secondary legislative for milk, wine, grain, fruit and vegetables, etc.
covered pastures
about pastures
Shar Planina is located on the far northwestern part of the territory of the Republic of Macedonia, and is one of the highest and according to the surface one of the largest mountains in the Balkans. The total area of Shar Planina is 840.2 km2, of which 693.9 km2 are located above 1.000 m. The areas that are located above 2,000 m above sea level are represented by 158,8 km2 (18,9% of the total area of the mountain).
The main activity of Shar Planina is livestock breeding, especially sheep breeding, as well as the utilization of wood mass. The great altitudes, the diversity of the geological base together with the dominant vegetation types are the main factors, along with the anthropogenic activities, the appearance and diversity of today’s landscapes of Shar Planina.
The pastures on the Shara Mountain are created as the primary vegetation of the area where the unfavorable conditions for growth and development of other vegetation are affected. These are higher altitude, unfavorable climatic conditions or shallow salt, etc. In the Sharplanin region, the primary natural pastures are at higher altitudes, above the forest vegetation or above 1800 m above sea level.
Within the project, three grasslands are located, located in the southern parts of Shar Mountain
Gallery
pictures from pastures
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latest news
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