The National Workshop on the Integration of Biodiversity into National Policies and Plans was held on 26th September, 2025 at the premises of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy of North Macedonia. The workshop brought together 30 participants representing the Public Enterprise National Forests – Skopje, National Parks, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy.
Professors from the Faculty of Forestry, Landscape Architecture and Eco-engineering delivered presentations addressing the current state of forests in the country, the status of biodiversity within planning and policy frameworks, as well as the impacts of climate change and natural hazards on forests and forestry. Following the presentations, participants agreed on the following conclusions:
North Macedonia’s forest fund shows an unfavorable structure, requiring improvement measures.
Stable, long-term financing is needed to convert coppice and degraded stands into high-quality forests.
The Public Enterprise National Forests – Skopje faces financial challenges under its self-financing model, limiting silvicultural activities.
Additional funding is essential to strengthen the forestry sector’s stability and sustainability.
Donor and institutional support for forestry remain limited.
Mechanisms for payments for ecosystem services should be developed.
Subsidy opportunities for protective forests and biodiversity conservation should be explored.
Research on forest adaptation to climate change is still insufficient.
Coniferous ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to climate impacts.
Strengthening human capacities and modern forestry expertise is crucial for sustainable, close-to-nature forest management.
The activity is supported within the Project Agriculture Policy Dialogue Germany-Southeast Europe/Support of a Regional Expert Advisory Working Group on Sustainable Forest Management in the Western Balkans.”
