Project
Preserving North Macedonia’s wild beauty while moving one step closer to European Union membership
To help safeguard North Macedonia’s environment at a systemic level, NIRAS supported national partners in aligning national legislation with EU nature protection laws. This included developing legal acts, organising training programmes on Natura 2000 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and creating WebGIS software for collecting field data, as well as software for managing CITES permits.
April 21, 2025
- SDG: #15
- SECTORS: Environment and Ecology
- COUNTRIES: North Macedonia
- CLIENT: European Commission
- DURATION: June 2022 - November 2024
From the shores of Lake Ohrid to the peaks of the Shar Mountains, North Macedonia is home to some of Europe’s most biodiverse and breathtaking landscapes. Nearly 40% of the country is forested, providing refuge for rare species such as the Balkan lynx and the brown bear. But as development accelerates, protecting this natural heritage has never been more urgent.
Recognising this, North Macedonia has taking major steps toward aligning with the EU environmental standards. In a country aspiring to membership, that means more than preserving beauty—it means adopting concrete systems that would protect habitats and regulate trade in endangered species.
To support this goal, NIRAS partnered with national institutions and international experts to implement the project “Improving Capacities for Natura 2000 and CITES”. The project aimed to help bring North Macedonia’s nature protection legislation in line with EU laws while strengthening institutional capacities to enforce it—specifically in relation to Natura 2000 sites and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Natura 2000 is a network of protected areas meant to preserve biodiversity across the EU. CITES is an international agreement among 184 contracting parties (which North Macedonia is a part of) designed to regulate global trade on wild animals and plants.
After two and a half years of implementation, the project achieved outstanding results. A total of 50 experts were deployed on the ground to study North Macedonia’s rich biodiversity, contributing to the delineation of Natura 2000 sites and alignment with the EU nature protection acquis.
As for CITES, the team initiated the process of developing North Macedonian’s regulations in line with the international Convention by drafting primary and secondary legislation. They also built the capacity of stakeholders from 15 institutions and organisations by providing training on CITES-related topics, equipping them to implement and enforce CITES at the central level.
Progress towards full protection of the environment and wildlife
Environmental protection requires institutional support to safeguard the natural world from negative impact. North Macedonia, a candidate for EU membership as part of the Western Balkans, set out to strengthen the administrative capacity of its Government, particularly the Ministry of Environment and Physical Capacity (MoEPP), concerning the EU’s nature protection legislation by focussing on Natura 2000 and CITES.
Under the Natura 2000 component, the team capacitated stakeholders from 20 institutions and organisations in North Macedonia who participated in the training programme on the network of protected areas, including state inspectorates and academia. Key stakeholders for Natura 2000 included the Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, the Public Institution for Pastures and National Forests, nationals parks and other protected areas, non-government organisations, forestry and hunting, landowners and land users, the touristic sector and the hunting and fishing sector.
Local partners:
- Macedonian Ecological Society
- FARMAHEM Dooel
International partners:
- Polish Society for Protection of Birds (OTOP)
- EFTAS Remote Sensing Transfer of Technology GmbH
- Stichting BirdLife Europe (BLE)
Scope of “Improving Capacities for Natura 2000 and CITES”
Component 1: NATURA 2000
- Assessment and preparation of draft Standard Data Form for potential NATURA 2000 sites
- Capacity building programme for implementation of NATURA 2000
Component 2: CITES
- Preparation of primary legislation
- Capacity building programme for implementing of CITES regulations
Through this training programme, these stakeholders gained knowledge on various areas, including:
- Management plans for Natura 2000;
- Stakeholders involvement for management of sites;
- Agri-environmental measures for Natura2000 sites;
- Communication and conflict management;
- Appropriate assessment,
- Status of conservation;
- Benefits of Natura 2000 and green jobs.
For CITES, some of the key stakeholders included the Food and Veterinary Agency, Administration for Phytosanitary Health, Customs Administration and the border police. The training programme tackled topics such as:
- Identification of protected species during trade and cross-border movement;
- Protocols for cross-border movement and trade;
- Issuing of CITES permits and certificates;
- Software and data management;
- CITES on the ground, covering cases from the region and the EU Member States.
As part of the capacity building programme for CITES, the team also developed a software for facilitating CITES permits and other certificates by relevant North Macedonian authorities.
International trainers from various regions (namely Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland, Serbia and Slovenia) presented participants with multiple case studies from EU Member States. During training, participants engaged in group work, seminars, study visits and peer learning.
The project team contributed to raising awareness on both components not only among the country’s key but also among the general public through info brochures and videos showcasing remarkable Natura 2000 sites (Belchisko Blato, Lake Ohrid, Galichica, Osogovo and various forests in North Macedonia) and CITES.
The project team also developed and maintained two websites for the Government of North Macedonia: the website for Natura 2000 has all the information on the natural sites, habitats, species and relevant projects and sectoral news, while the website on CITES contains essential and practical information on permits and certificates required by the CITES Convention.
Other notable deliverables from the project included:
- The development of Standard Data Forms – the official reporting tools used by EU Member States to document and propose areas for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network —in cooperation with MoEPP, which prepared 24 delineation sites;
- A WebGIS software for Natura 2000 to collect and store fieldwork data in a digital repository;
- The identification of several potential Natura 2000 areas;
- The preparation of a Draft National Reference for habitats, plants, animals and birds, according to the Habitat and Birds Directive;
- Preparation of three action plans for EU-selected priority species (the Brown Bear and Western Hermann’s Tortoise) and natural habitat (the Bog Woodland);
- Preparation of draft text for primary and secondary legislation to implement EU Directive 228/97, which tackles the protection of wild fauna and flora through trade regulation, that underwent two consultation workshops.
Sustaining impact on the path to the EU
As North Macedonia continues its journey toward EU membership, strengthening the country’s ability to protect its natural heritage is not just an environmental imperative—it’s a strategic priority. The groundwork laid by this project has positioned national authorities and stakeholders to take lasting ownership of Natura 2000 and CITES implementation.
To ensure this progress endures, the project team developed a series of targeted recommendations:
- Conduct further research into the potential Natura 2000 sites identified;
- Operationalise the three action plans developed for priority species and habitats;
- Expand the use of remote sensing for habitat mapping;
- Strengthen institutional capacities and continue training efforts for Natura 2000 and CITES;
- Increase public awareness and engagement around nature protection;
- Formally adopt the new law on CITES developed during the project.
These forward-looking steps are designed to reinforce national ownership and ensure the systems, knowledge, and tools established continue to protect North Macedonia’s biodiversity for generations to come.
By aligning legislation with EU standards, building capacity across institutions, and engaging the public, the country has taken a decisive step toward sustainable environmental governance—and closer integration with the European Union.
