English - Convention on Biological Diversity

48
COUNTRY STUDY FOR BIODIVERSITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
• Highland pasture communities: These communities develop at a elevations of from
80 to approximately 1,100 m, on soils of heterogeneous geological origin –
andesites, arsenics, dolomites, limestones, serpentines, silicates etc. These
communities are often of secondary origin and are formed primarily by the
destruction of lowland forests. They are represented by over 10 associations
belonging to the vegetative class Festuco-Brometea.
• Forest communities: Such communities cover a large portion of the land area of the
Republic of Macedonia at elevations of 150-2,200 m. Broadleaf forests dominate
(Oak, Hornbeam, Hop-hornbeam, Chestnut and Beech), while evergreen forests
(Pine, Fir and Spruce) as well as mixed forests (Fir-Beech) are distributed in small
areas. Due to over-harvesting, they have been degraded in the lowland areas and
completely destroyed in some places. They are represented by over 80 pure forest
stands and include species from seven classes.
• Subalpine and alpine communities: These are distributed at the upper boundary of
the forested areas, at 1,600-2,700 m, where climatic conditions are the most
unfavourable (long winters, short summers and short growing seasons). Here the
various communities develop on heterogeneous substrates (acid soils, carbonate
substrates, eroded cliffs, mountain peats, mountain streams, rocks etc.).
Additional communities of other vegetation types are also present, such as those
found at forest margins, weeds in crops (on cereals and other crops), ruderal
communities (growing on waste or in waste places), communities in trampled places,
bush and shrub communities etc.
3.4.2. Rare, endemic or threatened plant assemblages
Within the Republic of Macedonia, many rare, relict and endemic communities occur
in almost all vegetation types. Of special importance are those with restricted
distribution among the aquatic, wetland, meadow, halophytic, steppe-like, forest,
subalpine and alpine vegetation communities, as well as those present in the vegetation
of highland pastures. Nevertheless, some of them are seriously endangered and
threatened with extinction, while others are considerably reduced in their populations
and biological viability (Table 8).
Table 8. Rare and threatened plant assemblages in the Republic of Macedonia.
Assemblage Location Type of threat
assn. Myriophyllo-Nupharetum Doyran Lake: Nikolich Water receding
assn. Lemno-Spirodelletum polyrhizae
subassn. aldrovandetosum
Prespa: Ezerani
Limited distribution,
water receding
assn. Caricetum elatae subassn. Ohrid Lake: Limited distribution,
lysimachietosum
Studenchishte desiccation
assn. Osmundo-Thelipteretum Bansko
Limited distribution, land
usurpation
assn. Mariscetum Negortsi Spa
Limited distribution,
fragmentation
assn. Cypero-Caricetum acutiformis Gostivar
Limited distribution,
drainage
assn. Scirpo-Alopecuretum cretici Monospitovo Marsh
Limited distribution,
drainage