Pasture Management, One of the Most Important Issues in the Sharr-Korab Massif at the Next Meeting Supported by PONT

Pasture management is a very important issue for protected areas in the Sharr-Korab massif, which is renowned for its numerous mountain ranges and centuries-old tradition of highland summer pastures, livestock raising, and their seasonal migration throughout the year. Recently, the ALCDF team and its partners from CSCD, together with the leadership of the Public Enterprise for Pasture Management, Director Mr. Nefruz Celiku, and regional representatives from Tetova and Gostivar, held awareness-raising meetings with shepherds at the highland camps of Shipkovica in Sharr Mountain and the highland camps of Galacnik in Mavrovo. During these meetings, discussions focused on the problems faced by shepherds and their needs to serve as primary guardians and protectors of environmental conservation in the mountains. These meetings addressed issues of biodiversity protection, endemic plants, illegal interventions, wildlife care, fire protection and response, hospitality to tourists, as well as indiscriminate motorized vehicle interventions that damage pastures and environmental protection from plastic waste. The meetings also discussed legal and administrative gaps and conflicts in pasture management, which create uncertainty among pasture users and affect the work of shepherds who lack time and knowledge of bureaucratic matters. We cannot fail to mention and express gratitude for the generous traditional hospitality of the family of Nexhbedin Halit and his wife in Shipkovica and the warm tea, as well as Vase and Taulanti in Galacnik with fresh sour milk and cheese, which add value and beauty to the nature of these mountains.

These meetings were organized within the framework of the project "Protection and Sustainable Use of Protected Areas in Sharr, Mavrovo, and Korab-Koritnik Mountains," financed by the Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust - PONT program, with project implementers being the ALCDF Foundation and partners CSCD and LAG Dibra Tourism.