On November 14 and 15, a two-day Regional Conference on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Shar, Korab-Koritnik, and the Albanian Alps was successfully held in Mavrovo. The conference brought together experts in nature-based tourism and biodiversity from across the region to discuss key challenges and opportunities.

Local businesses and NGOs from North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo shared their success stories, showcasing innovative practices and achievements in the preservation and sustainable use of natural resources. The event served as a platform for networking and exchanging ideas among participants.

The conference was concluded by Mr. Nehat Ramadani, Director of CNVP North Macedonia, who presented the key findings from the two-day discussions.

Key conclusions from the conference include:

Day 1

Here are some key points from this wonderful two day conference:

• To design and develop sustainable tourism offers based on nature it is mandatory to have: policy framework from protecting National parks, safe access to protected; well defined roles and responsibilities of all relevant institutions and small scale business owners; good cooperation between policy makers- National Parcs, municipalities and local population is highly needed. CNVP is here to facilitate and bridge this gap.

 • Capacity building of all parties to be considered for developing concepts that are in favor of nature, but as well are attractive to diverse age groups of visitors • For promoting the area strengthening of digital marketing skills is required. This is perfect manner to preserve nature but we should make sure that all contemporary options are available to all people living in the mountain villages.

• Huge challenge is to keep youth in the mountain areas, but increasing their interest in nature based tourism and NTFP may be a driver within mountain communities

• Despite investments in: hiking trails, biking trail, zones where tourists could engaged actively in picking the NFP’s with local population, maintenance of those trails and professionalization of guides, must be considered as high priority.

Day 2

• We should all engage and guarantee that over exploitation, especially of the endangered species, is controlled and under monitor.

• Digital platforms, user friendly, are very promising and might serve as a bridge between producers in one side and the end users in the other side.

• Training for the NTFP pickers and those who plan to grow mountain tee is mandatory, so the plant and it’s specifics are protected. Exchange of experiences between pickers and producers are one of the models to learn from each other and make sure that they maintain high quality.

• Certification and quality assurance is value added and will increase the price of the NTFPs.

• Supporting women led business in rural and mountain areas must be increased as there is increase in ownership of land and small-scale business. Women are drivers of the local economies and by supporting them we are changing socio- economic and cultural values in these zones. Without financial support and diverse capacity building efforts these businesses are endangered.

The project "Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Shara, Korab-Koritnik, and the Albanian Alps" is implemented with financial support from the Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT), provided by the German government  through the people of Germany.