Report on Assessment of Needs for Joint Activities in Transboundary Protected Areas

Transboundary conservation areas (TBC) require cooperation from all actors across state borders, because "nature has no borders." Although developing and implementing a transboundary initiative can be complex and often difficult, this needs assessment study of transboundary protected areas was conducted in the Sharr-Korab mountain massif.

The Sharr-Korab mountain massif is one of the largest protected areas in Europe, covering approximately 244,000 hectares, comprising: Sharr Mountain National Park (NP) in Kosovo (62,000 ha), Sharr Mountain National Park (62,700 ha) and Mavrovo National Park (73,088 ha) in North Macedonia, and Korab-Koritnik Natural Park (NP) in Albania (55,550 ha). It functions as a natural habitat for a large number of species, many of them endangered.

This study was developed within the framework of the project "Protection and Sustainable Use of Protected Areas in Sharr Mountain, Mavrovo, and Korab-Koritnik," implemented by ALCDF and financed by PONT (Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust). The project focuses on transboundary protected areas between Albania and North Macedonia, covering more than 191,338 hectares of protected areas.

The needs assessment report for joint exchanges and activities was conducted with staff and Protected Area Management Authorities (PAMA) at four offices in the Sharr-Korab massif: specifically in Mavrovo for Mavrovo NP, Tetovo for Sharr Mountain NP, and Diber and Kukes for Korab-Koritnik NP. Experts from the consulting company "Black Drini," in close cooperation with local coordinators and the ALCDF project team, conducted the interview process and discussed key findings. The findings from interviews and questions were carefully planned so that joint initiatives would be identified as closely as possible to actual needs, and joint actions or activities to be undertaken during the project would be realistic and capable of contributing significantly to the success and effectiveness of transboundary conservation area protection, while reducing potential risks.

The recommendations and findings from this study will contribute to the project team and decision-makers in the Sharr-Korab massif for the effective management of respective protected areas, by addressing joint activities among technical teams in fields such as monitoring of specific species, use of shared equipment, or any other similar reason, and will enable all regional actors to undertake joint activities for initiatives and projects with socio-economic benefits in the area and in creating a cooperative environment overall.