The Strategy for Sustainable Development of Forestry in the Republic of Macedonia is a sectoral national Strategy. The main objective of the document is to increase the contribution of the forestry sector to the national economy and rural development through sustainable forest management, ensuring renewable resources and protection of local and global environment, and providing products and services for improving the quality of life of all citizens. The Strategy aims to maintain and enhance economic viability of the forest sector in favour of overall national development. To this end, the Government will provide the regulatory, institutional and economic frameworks for the implementation of sustainable forest management and ensure the permanent financial mechanisms to improve the status of forests and the development of the forestry sector. According to the Strategy, the main directions in this area are: (1) enlarging the forest covered area and improving the quality of forests in accordance with the Spatial plan of the Republic of Macedonia; (2) multifunctional forest management and sustainable development of economically viable forestry; (3) increasing the contribution of forests and related goods and services to the quality of life in rural areas; (4) enhancing the pubic and social functions of forests and forestry through the strategy for development by comprehensive valorisation of its benefits; (5) increasing the awareness of the environmental and social values of forests; (6) improving the conditions for identification of the national and international funds for sectoral development support; and (7) harmonization of the forestry legislation with the national interests and international commitments. In terms of forestry and the environment, the document provides for two central goals: first, to ensure the maintenance of the protective forest functions and to increase positive contribution of the forest sector to environmental protection, water and soil protection, the protection of people and infrastructures against natural hazards, local and global greenhouse gas emission reduction etc.; and, second, conservation and restoration of the components of biological and landscape diversity of Macedonian forests, through integrating conservation objectives into forestry practices. The document is also concerned with the social aspects of forestry management. In particular, it notes that about 6,000 people are directly employed by the forestry and forest industry sub-sectors. Also, the forestry sector indirectly provides job opportunities to many more people through multiple effects of production. The Strategy thus will encourage the economic development and creation of employment possibilities. It aims to create opportunity for undisturbed economical development of rural areas and affirmation of the tourist-recreational function of the forest through sustainable development of forestry. The Strategy also sets out the financial commitments in forestry sector. It notes that the Government will provide favorable conditions for the investments in public and private forestry sectors and will create conditions for continuous and stable investments in the forestry sector through the process of realization of the Strategy. According to the document, the planned investments require coordination between private and state sectors, international and national donors. It then provides for measures on how to mobilize each of these sources. Further, the document also touches upon issues such as forestry research and promotes strengthening capacities in forestry research institutions to obtain new knowledge and development of technologies. The Strategy encourages the utilisation of non-wood forest products through integrated forest management based on sustainable sylviculture, ecological and socio-economic approach, ensuring conditions for sustainable exploitation and additional incomes to the local population. Moreover, it promotes the establishment of economically viable forest industry in line of the wood supply and demand and plans to create a favorable legal, economic and institutional environment for effective and competitive forest industry. In the field of disaster preparedness, the document provides that an efficient system for early warning and suppression of forest fires will be established, while the state will secure efficient preventive protection from introduced pests and pathogens through an advanced quarantine service. It also envisages formulation of criteria for management of erosion protective forest and erosive lands as one of its measures in this area. As noted above, the Strategy provides for development of research in forestry. Among others, one of the measures in this area will include (1) supporting research and analysis on the potential scope of CO2 sequestration in forests and of carbon storing in forest products; (2) supporting research and monitoring activities to better understand the possible impact of climate change on forests and their ability to reduce the impact of disasters as extreme weather events and (3) undertaking research on appropriate forest management in conditions of global climate change. The implementation of the Strategy will be regularly monitored and evaluated by the responsible institutions in the forestry sector. All stakeholders, and not just the Government of the Republic of Macedonia trough the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry Water Economy, have a role to play in the implementation of the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Forestry in the Republic of Macedonia and a responsibility to contribute to its success through active participation and collaboration.
North Macedonia · 2006-06-19