TIRANA, Dec  12 /ATA/ Korab-Koritnik Nature Park in Albania, Sharri National Park in Kosovo and Mavrova National Park and Sharri Mountains National Park in North Macedonia will soon be part of a cross-border park, the largest of its kind in Europe with an area over 242 thousand hectares.

On the occasion of International Mountain Day, the inter-ministerial meeting “Nature without borders” was held in Tirana between the Minister of Environment and Tourism Mirela Kumbaro, the Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure of Kosovo Liburn Aliu and the Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning of North Macedonia Naser Nuredini.

“We see protected areas as bringing benefits across borders – beyond their borders on a map, beyond the borders of states – between the societies and generations that live in these areas. These mountain ranges serve as an ecological corridor, which is home to a high number of important species of plants and animals, not only at the regional level but also at the European and international level, such as the European green belt. Regarding tourism, we see the protected areas as a very good opportunity for the development of ecotourism in all its forms”, said Minister Kumbaro.

According to the Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure of Kosovo, Liburn Aliu, this project will offer a new perspective for the development of the Sharri mountain area.

“We have these borders in the middle and we have been contacted by miscellaneous companies that want to penetrate and build in that area. Our task is to establish rules taking into account the past in order to develop and use it, but also to protect what is precious to us. In 2013, we expanded the territory of the Sharri National Park to 53,469 hectares,” said Minister Aliu.

Minister Aliu said that in addition to the tourist destination of Brezovica, there is a spatial plan to develop other areas of winter and summer mountain tourism, in accordance with the criteria of nature protection.

Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning of North Macedonia, Naser Nuredini, spoke about a vision that protects the natural values ​​of protected areas, but on the other hand ensures sustainable management by not turning them into museums of nature, but creating new opportunities for socio-economic development of local communities.

“The natural cross-border connection of the protected areas of the Korab-Koritnik Nature Park in Albania, the Mavrova National Park and the Sharri Mountains National Park in North Macedonia, as well as the Sharri National Park in Kosovo, opens up new opportunities for greater protection of flora and fauna, better responding to unlawful actions, better monitoring, greater opportunities for the development of ecotourism and alternative forms of tourism,” Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Naser Nuredini said.

This project between the three countries aims at joint cross-border development of nature-friendly tourism, joint cross-border management of the region, joint promotion of natural and cultural heritage across borders, etc. The meeting was also attended by representatives of UNEP, the United Nations Environmental Program that will support this project.

/sm/