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Category: Sustainable Future for Shar-Korab-Koritnik

  • Donation of equipment to beekeepers and livestock farmers from Shar Mountain

    Donation of equipment to beekeepers and livestock farmers from Shar Mountain

    The projects for sustainable beekeeping and livestock farming on the Shar Mountain, which are implemented by the organizations Center for Education and Development (CED) and Wild Iris and are supported by the project “Sustainable future for the Shar-Korab-Koritnik region”, have donated equipment for the modernization of beekeepers and livestock farmers before the New Year from the region.

    A total of 14 beekeepers and livestock farmers received equipment. The beekeepers were supported with centrifuges and a honey extractor, while 8 farmers were supported with inox pots, gas boilers and generators.

    Within the scope of both projects, the installation of solar panels and an electric fence to protect against wild animals is planned, but this equipment will be installed in the spring of 2023 on high-mountain shepherding huts.

    According to Metin Muaremi from CED, the equipment, although symbolic, is still very significant for the herders who maintain these traditional practices in the region. For Biljana Filipovska, the cooperation with the beekeepers of Shar Mountain should be nurtured even after the completion of such projects.

    The “Sustainable future for the Shara-Korab-Koritnik region” project, apart from agricultural projects, also supports tourism and cultivation projects. A total of 14 model projects are supported in North Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania

    The Macedonian Ecological Society is implementing this project in partnership with EuroNatur (Germany) and local partners CNVP (Kosovo) and PPNEA (Albania). The activities of the project are supported by the German Environmental Foundation DBU and the charitable foundation JENSEN.

     

     

  • A round table with international organizations and donors was held at Popova Shapka

    A round table with international organizations and donors was held at Popova Shapka

    30.09.2022 – Over 30 representatives from the non-governmental sector, international organizations and donors met on September 28 at Popova Shapka to discuss the potential for cooperation in the Shara-Korab-Koritnik region. The purpose of the round table was to exchange information on current projects in the region and to initiate synergies in order to improve regional sustainable development in this mountainous region.

    “MES through its research and projects has been present in this region for more than two decades, we hope that in the future this region will develop even more, especially after the declaration of Shar Mountain as a National Park,” said Robertina Brajanoska, executive director of MES, in her address at the beginning of the meeting.

    According to the director of the national park, Ibrahim Dehari, the park, as the youngest institution, has a lot of challenges ahead of it.

    “Such meetings are particularly important for mutual exchange of experiences and support. Although the park has many challenges, we believe that rural development and nature protection require extensive cooperation from all involved, above all, we have a big job ahead of us according to the Management Plan of NP “Shar Mountain”, said Dehari while welcoming the attendees.

    Sandra Wigger from Euronatur presented the model projects supported by the overarching “Sustainable future for the Shara-Korab-Koritnik region” project, which are divided into four topics: tourism, animal husbandry, beekeeping and cultivation. Additionally, she presented the efforts of the project for cross-border cooperation and exchange in the three countries on the mentioned topics.

    The discussions showed that meetings of this type need to be organized more often. Current problems affecting the local population such as youth migration, lack of workforce in animal husbandry and similar challenges were part of the discussions. In addition to the donors, the representatives of the local action groups in the three countries participated in this meeting as one of the main drivers for cross-border cooperation. Within the framework of the meeting, the illustrator Zdravko Girov tried to convey and visually present some of the problems and challenges present in the region.

  • Natural Beauty of the Shara-Korab-Koritnik region – regional fair held at Popova Shapka

    Natural Beauty of the Shara-Korab-Koritnik region – regional fair held at Popova Shapka

    29.09.2022 – In September, the representatives of 14 model projects from Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia supported by the project “Sustainable future for the Shara-Korab-Koritnik region” presented their work at the regional fair that we organized in Popova Shapka in cooperation with the foundation Euronatur from Germany as well as the project partners PPNEA from Albania and CNVP from Kosovo.

    The aim of the fair was to present regional highlights: the nature of the protected areas, traditional food, music, and culture. At the stands, the participants presented their local products and promotional materials prepared within the framework of their projects.

    After having worked for more than a decade in the region, we learned that we cannot help to protect the nature without cooperation with the local population, and this project especially teaches us that by supporting traditional practices such as beekeeping and animal husbandry, we indirectly preserve biodiversity,” states Pandurska-Dramikjanin, project manager in MES.

    The organizations Wild Iris, Mountaineering Club Ljuboten, Center of Education and Development and Initiative for Civil Integration are involved in the realization of the model projects from North Macedonia. Within the framework of these projects, support is given to beekeepers, livestock farmers, tourist offers and infrastructure are developed, and young people from the region are educated on the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plant species.

    As part of the fair, cultural and artistic societies from the region and performers of traditional songs and dances also took part. The activities of the project “Sustainable future for the Shara-Korab-Koritnik region” are supported by the German Environmental Foundation DBU and the charitable foundation JENSEN.

  • Opening of an Info Center for Shar Planina in Tetovo and two botanical gardens in Gostivar

    Opening of an Info Center for Shar Planina in Tetovo and two botanical gardens in Gostivar

    Within the scope of the project “Sustainable Future for the Shara/Korab-Koritnik Region” two excellent promotional events were held during the months of April and May. The mountaineering club “Ljuboten” promoted their Info-Center for Shar Mountain in Tetovo while the organization ICI held openings to the botanical gardens in two primary schools in Gostivar.

    “It is our honor that the work of the club continues with an important info-center which would offer the most important information about the nature on Shar Mountain as well as the opportunities for sustainable tourism in the region,” said Jovan Bozhinoski, president of the MC “Ljuboten” during the promotion in Tetovo.

     

    ICI Gostivar held two openings for the new botanical gardens in the primary schools “Mustafa Kemal Ataturk” and “Goce Delchev” in collaboration with the Municipality of Gostivar.

    “We are happy that the students will enrich their education with the practical work in the botanical gardens and care for the homegrown plants. We live so close to Shara but the youth know less and less the practicalities of farm work,” stated Sunchica Gjurchinoska, from ICI Gostivar.

    Alongside these two activities, MES is also directly supporting projects targeting support for bee and livestock keepers on Shar Mountain. The organizations implementing these activities are “Wild Iris” and “Center for Education and Development”.

  • Local action group meeting from the Shara-Korab-Koritnik region

    Local action group meeting from the Shara-Korab-Koritnik region

    Representatives of the platform “Friends of Shara”, in which MES also is a part of, participated in a cross-border meeting with representatives from the other two local action groups (LAGS) from Kosovo (“Sharri”) and Albania (“Korabi”) on the 13th of April in Prizren, Kosovo.

            “ We are happy that the platform “Friend of Shara” has future collaborators from the region Shara/Korab-Koritnik from Kosovo and Albania and we hope that the two groups will begin with specific activities soon targeted at natural resource protection and improving the local livelihoods. We as a platform exist since 2015 and are prepared to share our experience with you,” says Metin Muaremi, the president of the platform “Friends of Shara”. “

    Representatives of both LAGS from Kosovo and Albania emphasized that there were different opportunities for cross-border collaboration but that first, these groups have to be formalized and choose a president, which then would be followed by their active participation in different projects.

    The LAGS from all three countries are an excellent platform for cross-border cooperation in the context of nature protection and act as a link between the protected areas in the region. Partaking in the LAGS from Kosovo and Albania are representatives of the nature protected areas, business owners, NGO workers and different key stakeholders

  • A meeting of 13 project leaders from the Shara-Korab-Koritnik region was held in Prizren

    A meeting of 13 project leaders from the Shara-Korab-Koritnik region was held in Prizren

    In the national Park Sharri in Kosovo during the dates 12-14 April, after a long break and online meetings, the representatives of the project “Sustainable Future for the Shara/Korab-Koritnik Region” met in Prizren to exchange their experiences within the project.

    Aside from this meeting, within the scope of the project different meetings between model projects within their respective countries had been organized (North Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania and Germany).

     

    During the meeting, the model projects from all three countries exchanged their experiences on topics of tourism, cultivation, sustainable livestock and bee keeping as well as contacts for further

    cooperation on a cross-border level. Although the project leaders work on the same mountain massif, their problems can be very different when it comes to the work of the bee and livestock keepers.

    A similar meeting is being planned for September 2022 in the national park “Shar Mountain”, in North Macedonia.

    The project is financed by the The German Federal Environmental Foundation DBU and the humanitarian foundation Aage V. Jensen.

    MES is implemented the project in cooperation with EuroNatur from Germany, and its regional partners PPNEA from Albania and CNVP from Kosovo.

  • A total of 13 model projects supported within the project “Sustainable future for Shara/Korab-Koritnik Region” in all three countries

    A total of 13 model projects supported within the project “Sustainable future for Shara/Korab-Koritnik Region” in all three countries

    Within the scope of the project “Sustainable future for Shara/Korab-Koritnik Region”, thirteen model projects from local organizations are being supported from North Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania which will be implemented between 12 to 18 months, starting from September 2021.

    The projects were prepared within the scope of the precursing project for regional development, which MES implemented during the 2019. The aim of this project was to create a program for support for the local community in the Shara/Korab-Koritnik region but because of the pandemic, their realization was transferred to the year 2021.

    All projects have activities related to supporting livestock and beekeepers in the region, actions for cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants as well as autochthonous varieties of trees, and development of regional tourism.

    Photo by Frosina P. Dramikjanin

    The following model projects are supported in North Macedonia:

    • “Empowering local farmers for sustainable future” – Center for Education and Development – CED, Teartse
    • “Beekeeping: vital input for sustainable agriculture in Sharr Mountain Region” – NGO Wild Iris, Skopje
    • “Education of an environmentally conscious generation in schools in Gostivar”- NGO ICI, Gostivar
    • “Shar Mountain Info center” – Mountaineering Club Ljuboten, Tetovo
    Photo by Olsi Lama

    The initial meeting for all model projects was held in November 2021, through the online platform ZOOM. During the meeting, the local organizations presented their activities and discussed possible cooperation with their colleagues from the protected areas in the neighboring countries. Upcoming activities for cross-border cooperation within the scope of the project were announced.

    MES is implemented this project in partnership with EuroNatur Foundation (Germany), Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA), and CNVP – Connecting Nature Values and People (Kosovo).

  • First partner meeting within the project “Sustainable Future for the Shara/Korab-Koritnik Region”

    First partner meeting within the project “Sustainable Future for the Shara/Korab-Koritnik Region”

    In September 2021, the project coordinators of the regional project “Sustainable Future for the Shara/Korab-Koritnik Region” held their first in-person meeting in Peshkopi in Albania. During the meeting they shared their thoughts about the project activities and the model projects that are being implemented in the three countries.

    Photo by Olsi Lama

     

    “Sustainable Future for the Shara/Korab-Koritnik Region” is a new project that MES has begun in April 2021 and will manage until September 2023. The focus of the project is the local community from the Shara/Korab-Koritnik region as the main drivers of regional development and guardians of the biological and landscape diversity.

     

     

    Within the scope of this project, thirteen model projects from local organizations are being supported- of which four are from North Macedonia, five are from Kosovo and four are from Albania.

    Photo by Hajrush Kurtaj

     

    The projects focus on the topics: beekeeping, livestock keeping, cultivation and tourism. In the month of September, EuroNatur as the lead project coordinator visited all model projects. The project is financed by the The German Federal Environmental Foundation DBU and the humanitarian foundation Aage V. Jensen

    Photo by Frosina P. Dramikjanin

  • The project “Sustainable Future for the Shara/Korab-Koritnik Region” has started

    The project “Sustainable Future for the Shara/Korab-Koritnik Region” has started

    “Sustainable Future for the Shara/Korab-Koritnik Region” is a new project that MES has begun in April 2021 and will manage until September 2023. The focus of the project is the local community from the Shara/Korab-Koritnik region as the main drivers of regional development and guardians of the biological and landscape diversity.

    There are several activities foreseen in the project targeting regional development, engaging the local community, decreasing biodiversity threats and improvement of habitats. Additionally the activities focus on strengthening the cross-border cooperation through learning and knowledge exchange, and therefore reinforcing the regional brand of the cross-border protected area.

    The project covers the following topics: support for traditional livestock and bee- keepers in the region, actions for cultivating aromatic and medicinal plants, as well as regional touristic development.

    Apart from directly supporting the local community, within the project cross-border events, fairs cooperation, and regional conferences will also be organized. These are all intended to strengthen local community capacity as well as promote the region.

    The project is financed by the The German Federal Environmental Foundation DBU and the humanitarian foundation Aage V. Jensen