Cheshinovo-Obleshevo Municipality Hosts Meeting of European Stork Network
Between 12 and 15 June the Municipality of Cheshinovo-Obleshevo hosted the 16th meeting of the European Stork Network. Around 50 representatives of this European network visited the white storks in the municipality, who have a good life thanks to the productive rice fields. There was a presentation of the activities of the Nature Conservation Programme in North Macedonia related to biodiversity preservation and application of sustainable practices in agriculture.
The municipality was declared a European Stork Village by the German foundation Euronatur in 2013. The title of European Stork Village is of great importance for the inhabitants of Cheshinovo-Obleshevo, which was apparent at the event “Day of the Stork”, marked every year in the village of Cheshinovo. This year the main event was held at the Eco ethno park in the village of Cheshinovo dedicated to storks, with participation of children from the primary schools and kindergartens in the Cheshinovo-Obleshevo municipality.
The Eco-ethno park was designed as part of the activities of the Nature Conservation Programme in North Macedonia, with the aim of encouraging sustainable use of resources and local potentials for developing tourism and promotion of local products. The park has various features: amphitheater for organizing events, a lookout to watch the largest stork nest on the roof of the community hall and other nearby nests; info billboards with details about the meaning of storks, as well as info booths and a children’s play area. A park with these features is also located in the village of Sokolarci.
The “Day of the Stork” event was an opportunity to promote the products of the two core groups supported by the Nature Conservation Programme in North Macedonia: CG of beekeepers “Honey East” and CG of rice producers “Orizova bratimka”, which had their displays where the visitors could sample and buy sustainably made products.
