Back Bern Convention visits North Macedonia to assess developments at Lake Ohrid and Galichica National Park

Lake Ohrid during the OSA

Lake Ohrid during the OSA

The Bern Convention carried out an on-the-spot appraisal (OSA) to the Lake Ohrid and Galichica National Park candidate Emerald Sites on 25-27 April in relation to the open case-file 2017/2 which concerns alleged negative impacts due to unsustainable infrastructure and urbanisation developments.

As the areas concerned also relate to a UNESCO World Heritage site and Ramsar wetland site, international observers representing those organisations also joined the visit, continuing the good recent collaboration amongst international environmental institutions.

The international mission team met with various stakeholders across the three days including Ms Kaja Shukova, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, other representatives of North Macedonian authorities at national and municipal levels (including the Mayor of Ohrid, Mr Kiril Pecakov), civil society, park management, and the EU delegation in North Macedonia. Several field and site visits also allowed for a good overview of the protected areas and developments which may have a negative impact on the species and habitats present there.

The visit follows an online mission carried out in 2021 focusing on the open case-file 2013/1 on Mavrovo National Park, which also proposed recommendations aimed at the general governance of protected areas in North Macedonia including specific reference to the two sites concerned by the 2023 mission (Recommendation No. 211 (2021) on conservation measures within national parks in North Macedonia, including in relation to Mavrovo National Park, Lake Ohrid and Galichica National Park; Mission report).

The independent expert will now elaborate the mission report and draft recommendations, which will be submitted for consideration in view of adoption at the 43rd Standing Committee, meeting at the end of 2023.

North Macedonia 25-27 April 2023
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