CNVP North Macedonia together with CNVP Albania started implementing the three - year project ‘’Sustainable use of natural resources for transboundary socio-economic development of protected areas in North Macedonia and Albania (Korab-Koritnik, Shar and Albanian Alps)’’.

The project is funded by PONT-Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust.

Duration of the project: September 2022 - August 2025

Project areas:

The project will be implemented in the following regions: National Park Shara Mountain; National Park Mavrovo, National Park Albanian Alps and Natural Park Korab-Koritnik. Municipalities: In North Macedonia, municipalities of Tearce, Jegunovce, Tetovo, Bogovinje, Vrapciste, Gostivar and Mavrovo-Rostuse, In Albania, municipalities of Dibra, Kukes Tropoja and Shkodra, In Kosovo, municipalities of Prizren, Dragash and Gjakova.

The main objective of the project is: Promoting sustainable use of the natural resources, through provision and support to local communities for creating a better socio-economic life in harmony with nature. It will be achieved through monitoring and management of important habitats and species; good governance; building of partnerships (in nature-based tourism, the sustainable use of NTFPs); climate change resilience; transboundary cooperation, gender mainstreaming and women economic empowerment, all taking into account the EU Green Deal.

The Specific objectives of the projects are:

• Sustainable use (SU) of NTFPs in Shar; Korab-Koritnik and Albanian Alps protected areas contributes to both nature conservation and local community development in these PAs.
• Nature-based tourism (NBT) in Shari; Korab-Koritnik and Albanian Alps protected areas contributes to both nature conservation and local community development in these PAs.
• Governance mechanisms of Shar, Korab-Koritnik and Albanian Alps enable development of nature-based tourism and other ways of sustainable natural resource use in these PAs.

Beneficiaries/Target groups:

• Local NGOs such as: Environmental, agriculture, forests and pastures, cultural etc. - government structures such as: Administration for Protected Areas of Shar and Mavrovo (MK), Korab-Koritnik and AANP (AL) and Shar (KO);
• Local Government units;
• Small enterprises: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP) local consolidators, tourisms service providers, guest houses, restaurants (about 20 in both countries) - local communities in the municipalities of Diber, Kukes, Hasi, Tropoja, Shkoder, Malesia e Madhe in Albania; Tearce, Jegunovce, Tetovo, Bogovinje, Vrapciste, Gostivar and Mavrovo-Rostuse in North Macedonia; and Prizren, Dragash and Gjakova in Kosovo (estimated population 200.000)
• Informal citizen groups, farmers engaged only in sustainable use of MAPs/NTFPs and nature-based tourism activities, particularly women and youth and the marginalized groups in general, will be the main target beneficiary group of the project. What women do in value chains and in offering tourism products and services depends on the environment in which they live (e.g. the distance from the cities, mentality, socio-economic situation, etc.) and their preferences. Project actions will investigate effects of the income distribution with a gender perspective and marginalized groups.
• Additional beneficiaries will be targeted along the ecological corridors comprising all of the above-mentioned groups.

Expected results of the project are:

• Biodiversity protection through Sustainable Use (SU)practices
• Income generation for communities by cultivating MAPs, offering nature based tourism products and services
• Resilient businesses, and other service providers to offer quality products and services
• Increased transboundary cooperation
• Stronger civil society organizations supported through capacity building and grant schemes
• Improved and supportive governance mechanisms for effective and equitable sustainable use of natural resources