This Mountain Is About to Get the Protection It Needs

On a drive to better protect the Balkan region’s biodiversity, territory, and natural beauty, North Macedonia is passing a law to protect over 62,000 hectares of land, in what will soon be one of the largest cross-boundary protected areas in Europe.

“We are creating one of the largest protected areas in Europe, together with the national parks Sharri in Kosovo and Mavrovo in Albania,” says North Macedonia’s environment minister, Naser Nuredini. “This is going to have huge potential for future generations, for the current generation as well, because now we can use a national resource in a sustainable way.”

Shar Mountain covers a total of 240,000 hectares of land across three countries and is home to 37 glaciers, with 25 in North Macedonia alone. In the region, there are 200 endemic plant species, 167 species of butterfly, 12 amphibians, 18 reptiles, 130 birds, and 45 mammals. The European Union has established a target: all nations should protect at least 12% of their territory. With the establishment of the Shar Mountain National Park, North Macedonia surpasses 13% of protected territory.