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

2.5.2. Planned new protected areasin Sharr/Šar Planina – Korab –Dešat/Deshat regionAs for June 2009 – in the region of the plannedtransboundary protected area “Sharr/Šar Planina– Korab – Dešat/Deshat” legally designatedprotected areas are present only in Kosovo - UNadministered territory under UN Security Councilresolution 1244/99 (Sharr Mountains / MaliSharr National Park at the border with the FYRof Macedonia) and in the FYR of Macedonia(Mavrovo National Park bordering Albania andKosovo). Thus, the natural values of the Sharr/ Šar Planina mountains are legally protectedmainly on one side in Mali Sharr National Park,while the vast mountain areas across the borderwith the FYR of Macedonia, including the highestmountain peaks and ridges in the centralpart of Šar Planina mountains currently remainunprotected. Moreover, the southwestern partof the Sharr / Šar Planina mountains remainswell beyond the borders of existing protected areas,as the territory of Mali Sharr National Parkencompasses only the northern part of Sharrmountains, while Mavrovo National Park in theFYR of Macedonia encompasses only a smallpart of the southernmost slopes of Šar Planinamountain range. Similarly, the natural values ofthe Korab and Dešat/Deshat mountain rangeare currently protected only on the Macedonianside, in Mavrovo National Park (the largest protectedarea in the FYR of Macedonia).Therefore, adjacent border areas of highconservation values in Albania, Kosovo - UNadministered territory under UN Security Councilresolution 1244/99 and the FYR of Macedoniain the region of the proposed transboundaryprotected area “Sharr / Šar Planina – Korab –Dešat/Deshat” have, as for 2009, quite differentlegal protective status, being either includedinto the territory of a national park on one sideof the state border, or remaining without legalprotection on the other side. Furthermore, bothexisting national parks, isolated and distantfrom each other, operate very much as “separateislands”, being neither adjacent nor linkedto any other protected areas, located either incountryor across the state border. Therefore,the connectivity and continuity of protectedarea network in the Sharr/Šar Planina – Korab– Dešat/Deshat region currently remains anopen question.The mountain ranges of Sharr/Šar Planina,Korab and Dešat/Deshat form the natural ecologicalcorridors connecting the whole region,but at present the integrity and continuity ofthese corridors is not yet ensured by puttingthese connecting areas under any kind of natureand landscape protection, accordingly tonational legislations. However, there are plansto establish new protected areas in Albania andthe FYR of Macedonia, as well as extend theterritory of the national park in Kosovo - UN administeredterritory under UN Security Councilresolution 1244/99.In the best possible case, should all initiativeson all three sides described below be successful- the transboundary protected area “Sharr/Šar Planina – Korab – Dešat/Deshat" couldpotentially cover the total area of up to some255'306 ha, and become the largest protectedarea in South-Eastern Europe, and one of thelargest in Europe.Albania - Korabi Protected LandscapeThe Macedonian part of the Korab massif andDešat/Deshat mountain ridge is entirely withinthe boundaries of Mavrovo National Park, whilethe Albanian side is not yet protected, exceptfor a number of small scale natural monuments(‘bio-monuments’ and ‘geo-monuments’).80Feasibility Study: SHARR/ ŠAR PLANINA - KORAB - DESHAT/DEŠAT