The cooperation of the Faculty of Forestry in Skopje and the Bern University of Applied Sciences is further developed

As part of the activity of the Programme titled “Improvement of the Education System and Introduction of Biodiversity Conservation in the Programme of the Faculty of Forestry in Skopje” and the established cooperation between the Faculty of Forestry in Skopje and the Bern University of Applied Sciences, in November 2013, representatives of the Faculty of Forestry in Skopje paid an official visit to the Bern University of Applied Sciences in order to get better knowledge of the activities for forest management and biodiversity conservation in this part of Switzerland and also to define next steps for cooperation between the two institutions. Several working meetings with representatives of the Bern University of Applied Sciences, the Swiss Ministry of Environment and Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation were held during the visit. Some concrete ideas for cooperation in 2014 were analyzed in more details at the meetings, including organisation of block teaching sessions for the students of the Faculty of Forestry in Skopje  to be held by professors from the Bern University of Applied Sciences; implementation of joint field teaching activities; support in the implementation of some of the activities of the Nature Conservation Programme in Macedonia, including increased coverage of the topic of biodiversity conservation in the study programme of the Faculty of Forestry in Skopje; and also the possibility for student exchange that could be realized through EU supported programs. The representatives of the Faculty of Forestry in Skopje had the opportunity to visit the Biosphere Reserve Emmental.

According to professor Nikolcho Velkovski PhD, this area in Switzerland resembles the Malesh area in Macedonia in terms of forest coverage, forest ownership, rural setting and connection of people with nature. However, there is a big difference in the method of forest management allowing the forest and the whole region to look like a place ruled by nature, and where people exercise their right to forest exploitation in a sustainable way without causing permanent damage to the forest and the entire eco system. The way forests are conserved and cultivated in the Biosphere Reserve Emmental is an example of forest resources management that can be applied in other areas, including the Malesh region.