Nature in Macedonia

The Šar, Korab, Bistra, Baba and Galicica mountain systems contain forests, alpine grasslands, freshwater habitats, wetlands, caves and distinctive geological features. Lake Ohrid is a tectonic ancient lake estimated to be about 2 to 3 million years old and has more than 200 endemic species, including 17 endemic fish species. Ohrid, Prespa and Dojran are transboundary lakes with ecological value beyond North Macedonia. The country also contains important wetlands and the Deep River beech forest in Mavrovo. The Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, particularly its Department of Nature, is responsible for national nature protection. The ministry designates protected areas, proposes management institutions and supervises implementation. The reported 1990–2024 indicator lists 70 protected areas covering 352,136 hectares, or 13.86% of the country. Published material also contains a conflicting figure of 68 areas and 13.84%, so the source and reporting date matter when using the statistics. The listed categories include national parks, nature monuments, nature parks, protected landscapes and multipurpose areas. The four national parks are Mavrovo, Pelister, Galicica and Šar Mountain. Each has a public management institution, a management plan and an annual programme, while municipalities and other local authorities also influence practical protection. International designations add further rules and responsibilities. The Ohrid region is UNESCO Natural and Cultural Heritage covering 94,728.6 hectares, and the Ohrid–Prespa area has UNESCO Man and the Biosphere recognition. Lake Prespa, Lake Dojran and Lake Ohrid are Ramsar sites covering a combined 46,821 hectares. These designations do not replace national permits or park rules. A fully established national Natura 2000 network has not been evidenced; potential sites, draft lists and Natura or Emerald GIS work support an ongoing approximation process rather than a completed system. North Macedonia has a high share of relic and endemic species. The Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning reports about 23,019 taxa, including approximately 3,200 vascular plants, 13,379 invertebrates and 555 vertebrates. Pelister alone contains 1,307 recorded flora taxa and 88 tree species, including Pinus peuce. The Balkan lynx, Lynx lynx balcanicus, is critically endangered; the National Red List reports 32 adult individuals, concentrated mainly in western areas between Šar and Galicica. Prey shortage, habitat fragmentation, road collisions, trapping and mange threaten the species. The brown bear is classified as vulnerable. The National Red List is complete for amphibians and reptiles and for priority vascular plants, while coverage of other groups remains partial. People may use forests, grazing land, fisheries, water resources and non-timber forest products only within the applicable protection status, zones and sector rules. Collecting protected or endangered plants, fungi, animals or animal parts requires a permit from the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning. Scientific nature research requires a separate permit. CITES trade, which concerns internationally regulated species and specimens, is handled by the ministry as the Management Authority through the EXIM or e-portal system; applications can also be submitted through a registry, by post or electronically. Published fee information differs by service: ministry pages mention 50 or 1,000 MKD for collection or export and the CITES service lists 1,050 MKD in total. The exact fee and processing time should therefore be checked for the specific service because no single reliable national deadline was established. Recreation includes hiking, nature observation, marked trails and park information centres. Rules depend on the protected area and zone, and no uniform national entrance fee is evidenced. Mavrovo guidance, for example, directs visitors to marked paths and prohibits camping, fires, collecting specimens and altering water bodies. A park's management plan and posted instructions determine the practical rules at the site. Traditional fishing practices have also been documented at Dojran, including the use of birds and traps, but activity remains subject to the applicable lake, fisheries and protection rules. Nature-related risks include wildfire, drought, falling water levels, erosion, flooding, landslides and earthquakes because they can damage habitats and species populations. The Directorate for Protection and Rescue handles disaster and rescue operations; nature protection concerns the ecological effects and recovery of those events. Major conflicts arise from energy, transport and construction projects, mining, agriculture, forestry, urban and industrial development, mass tourism, water extraction, river diversion and hydropower. Wetland loss, pollution, fires, invasive species and the abandonment of extensive grazing also affect habitats. Project proponents may need a nature opinion or an environmental impact assessment, depending on the project and the applicable procedure. The ministry's 2021 field-observation and biodiversity-monitoring protocols cover plants, mosses, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, crayfish, invertebrates, fungi, lichens and forest, open and wetland habitats. The National Information System for Nature, Red List, GIS and cadastre support records and management decisions. Monitoring continuity, incomplete taxonomic and habitat coverage, financing and institutional capacity remain practical limitations. The Institute of Hydrobiology in Ohrid contributes to monitoring the Ohrid ecosystem, while local communities and authorities participate in protected-area designation and management.