sharr/šar planina – korab – dešat/deshat - UNEP Vienna ISCC

© Zbigniew NiewiadomskiStakeholders consultation meeting, 12 Sept. 2007, Tetovo, FYR Macedonia.FYR Macedonia) and in the Former Yugoslav Republicof Macedonia (Mavrovo National Park borderingAlbania and Kosovo 7 . However, there areplans to establish new protected areas in Albaniaand in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,as well as to extend the territory of the nationalpark in Kosovo 8 . In the best possible case,should all initiatives on all three sides described inthis study be successful - the transboundary protectedarea “Sharr/Šar Planina – Korab – Dešat/Deshat” could potentially cover the total area ofup to some 255’306 ha, and become the largestprotected area in South-Eastern Europe, and oneof the largest in Europe.In 2006 the Ministry of Environment andPhysical Planning of Macedonia requestedUNEP Vienna ISCC for the assistance concerningthe establishment of a national parkin the Shara Mountains. The Balkan Foundationfor Sustainable Development (BFSD) wascontracted by UNEP to prepare the “FeasibilityStudy for the establishment of the National Parkon the Macedonian side of “Shara” Mountains”,completed in September 2006. As a follow up,a local stakeholder group and a lobby group inthe Parliament of the Former Yugoslav Republicof Macedonia were established, and in September2006 UNEP carried out a fi eld mission7, 8 Kosovo - UN administered territory under UN Security Council resolution 1244BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 13