Held initial meeting for establishment of protected areas

The initial meeting for establishment of protected areas in the Bregalnica River basin was held on 8th June in Kochani, as part of the activities of the Nature Conservation Programme in Macedonia.

The purpose of this meeting was to introduce and inform the representatives of the different stakeholders (relevant state institutions, local self-government, business sector, local population, associations of citizens, scientific and educational institutions, etc.) with the planned activities of Phase II of the Programme regarding the proclamation of protected areas in the region and the manner in which they will be involved in the process which shall apply participatory approach.

The meeting was opened by Mr. Ratko Dimitrovski, President of the Council for Development of the East Planning Region, and Mrs. Dragica Zdraveva, Director of the Centre for Development of the East Planning Region. Marjana Shushlevska, Team Leader of the Programme, presented the achieved results in Phase I and the planned activities for Phase II of the Programme, and Mr. Slavcho Hristovski of the Macedonian Ecological Society, Programme partner, presented the situation, proposals and future steps related to the proclamation of protected areas in the Bregalnica river basin.

The meeting was attended by more than 60 representatives of different stakeholders, both at national and local level.