Workshop for Familiarization with the Needs of Different Forestry Stakeholders (with Emphasis on Bregalnica River Basin) and Identification of the Potential Future Contribution of the Nature Conservation Programme in Macedonia

The first Workshop for Familiarisation with the Needs of Different Forestry Stakeholders (with Emphasis on Bregalnica River Basin) and Identification of the Potential Future Contribution of the Nature Conservation Programme in Macedonia took place on 25 February 2015 in Kochani and it was organised by the Nature Conservation Programme in Macedonia. The workshop was attended by representatives of the forestry stakeholders: the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, the Faculty of Forestry in Skopje, the Public Enterprise “Makedonski shumi”, including its subsidiaries in the Bregalnica region, the State Inspectorate of Forestry and Hunting, as well as the National Association of Private Forest Owners.

The first session of the workshop included a brief presentation of the Nature Conservation Programme in Macedonia by the Programme Assistant Cvetan Nikolovski. The Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Mr. Jane Acevski PhD, presented the study titled “Ecology and Forest Management in the Region of the Upper Course of Bregalnica River (Malesh)” which in the previous period was supported by the Nature Conservation Programme. Mr. Juergen Blaser PhD addressed the “Key Aspects for Sustainable Forest Management in Today’s Context”, whereas the presentation of Mr. Nikolcho Velkovski PhD was focused on “Sustainable Forest Management in Bregalnica Region”.

In the second part of the workshop the attendees were given the opportunity through interactive group work to share their opinion related to the challenges faced in terms of sustainable forest management and the needs and possible solutions for overcoming these challenges.

The final session of the workshop included a summary of the possible directions for future cooperation and suggestions on how the Nature Conservation Programme in Macedonia can give particular contribution towards improving the state of sustainable forest management.

The attendees expressed their satisfaction with the event that served as a platform for bringing together into one place all the stakeholders involved in sustainable forest management and the need for organising similar events in the upcoming period.