There are more than 700 species of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in North Macedonia of which more than 220 are commonly used. 75-80% of medicinal plants and berries are collected wild (as in most Balkan countries). This natural wealth is of great importance to the local economy.

On 5 June 2019, a National Workshop was held in Skopje for sustainable use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). Opened by the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, the event was used to highlight World Environment Day.

Workshop representatives came from Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning (MOEPP), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Water Economy, Public Enterprise National Forests, Public Enterprise for management of Pastures, National Parks, Faculty of Forestry-Skopje, Faculty of Agriculture, civil society organizations interested in nature protection (including CNVP Macedonia) and NTFP experts, as well as experts from Bulgaria, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP).

The purpose of the workshop was for participants to identify the sustainable use of medicinal plants, lichens, fungi and wild berries collected from nature.

The Workshop was organized as part of the project Achieving Biodiversity Conservation through Creation and Effective Management of Protected Areas and Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Land Use Planning (Component 3: Land Use Planning and Biodiversity Mainstreaming). The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and implemented by the UN Environmental Programme and the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning.