National Strategy for Nature Protection 2017-2027.

This publication contains the Macedonian National Strategy for Nature Protection for the programmed period from 2017 until the year 2027. This Strategy in general explains the vision, main objectives and strategic goals for nature protection and represents an integrated framework based on a series of strategic components and approaches. The Strategy further defines the guidelines for nature conservation, the manner of its implementation in accordance with the overall economic, social and cultural development of the Republic of Macedonia, and is prepared on the basis of the Study on the State of Geological Diversity and Geological Heritage of the Republic of Macedonia and other Components of Nature (biological and landscape diversity, as well as all the interacting elements of the ecological system, i.e. the soil, water and air). The text is divide into five main thematic Chapters as follows: 1. Vision, main objectives and role of the strategy for nature protection; 2. Analysis of the legal and institutional framework for nature protection; 3. Analysis and assessment of the current situation with respect to nature protection in the Republic of Macedonia; 4. Main threats to nature and analysis of identified issues; 5. Strategy for nature protection.
The vision of the Strategy for Nature Protection until 2027 has been established in the process of drafting the National Strategy for Nature Protection, taking into account the vision of the European Union for biodiversity as well as the ratified international agreements of the Republic of Macedonia in the field of nature protection and the national needs, through the process of involving the relevant stakeholder. The main objectives of the National Strategy for Nature Protection are identification, study, protection and permanent monitoring of the implementation in the protection of objects and phenomena of protection interest in the area of geodiversity and geological heritage of the Republic of Macedonia and other components of nature (biological and landscape diversity). In the context of the aforementioned, the objectives encompass understanding of: the situation and problems in the realm of nature protection; the guidelines for establishing an integrated system for protection of geodiversity and geoheritage of the Republic of Macedonia and other components of nature (biological and landscape diversity), preservation and management of protected areas; the responsibilities of all nature protection stakeholders; the legal and financial mechanisms for the protection and management of nature. This National Strategy also defines a number of specific goals that cover: preservation of the natural entities in terms of the geological and geomorphological properties of nature; rational use of mineral resources; ensuring the sustainable use of wild species and ecosystems; strengthening and improving the system of protected areas; preservation of landscape diversity in accordance with the requirements of the Landscape Convention; strengthening the institutional capacities for nature protection at the central and local level; establishing and developing ecological networks for effective protection and management of natural heritage; aligning the Strategy for Nature Protection with other strategic development documents of other sectors (forestry, agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, transport, energy, industry, mining, tourism, civil engineering, etc.) by integrating the nature protection policy; achieving integrated nature protection by promoting a holistic approach to protecting biodiversity, geodiversity and landscape diversity. Two interconnected aspects are very important for meeting these goals: (1) adapting the conditions in the Republic of Macedonia to the concept of sustainable development of the society as a whole; (2) approximating and integrating the Republic of Macedonia in the European Union (EU). In both cases, nature protection is an important link which would contribute to the development of the country as a whole. The National Strategy for Nature Protection will contribute to more efficient implementation of the national legislation and the obligations arising from the EU legislation, that is, the implementation of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. Undoubtedly, the strategy will also have a positive impact on the implementation of the three UN Framework Conventions (Convention for the Protection of Biodiversity, the Convention on Climate Change and the Convention to Combat Desertification), as well as the international ratified documents in the area of nature protection. In terms of establishing integral nature protection (geodiversity and biodiversity), the strategy will contribute to the promotion of the implementation of the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the European Landscape Convention aimed at protection, management and planning of landscapes and the organization of European cooperation on landscape issues.
Vision and national targets of the Strategy are elaborated in details in the Action Plan (part of the Chapter 5), which contains numerous actions to be undertaken in order to meet and achieve the Vision and national targets of the Strategy. Actions in the Action Plan integrally refer to the whole nature, that is, the geodiversity and geoheritage and other components of nature (biological and landscape diversity), and they include: 1. protection, conservation and monitoring; 2. identification, research and inventory of objects of interest for protection; 3. sustainable use of the geodiversity and geoheritage and other components of nature (biological and landscape diversity); 4. embedding of nature protection policies into the strategies, plans and programmes of other sectors; 5. improvement of legal framework and strengthening the institutional capacities; 6. raising the level of information, education and promotion of the value of the geodiversity and geoheritage and other components of nature (biological and landscape diversity); and 7. provision of continuous and increased financing of the nature protection. This Action plan also identifies five national targets as follows: (1) To properly identify, research, monitor and make inventory of the geodiversity and geoheritage and other components of nature (biological and landscape diversity); (2) To protect, conserve and monitor the components of the geodiversity, geoheritage, biological and landscape diversity; (3) To embed the nature protection policies into the strategies, plans and programmes of other sectors by 2020; (4) To establish and practice sustainable use of the geodiversity and geoheritage and other components of nature (biological and landscape diversity) through the use of traditional knowledge, innovations, best practices and positive incentives related to conservation and sustainable use of the nature. (5) To improve the legislation framework in accordance with the EU legislation and relevant ratified international treaties for nature protection and to provide adequate institutional framework by strengthening the administrative capacities.