Climate change mitigation - Why care? (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)

The Balkan sub-region is part of the IUCN initiative, under which the Balkan Green Belt (BGB) was established, and the Republic of Macedonia takes active participation through the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planing.

The wealth and diversity of species and ecosystems represents unique heritage of biodiversity. This results from the geopgrahical position, climate, geological, geomoprphological, hydrographical and pedological characteristics of the Republic of Macedonia.

The presence of various fosils and relict ecosystems proves the significant impact of geological and anthropogenic effects on the biodiversity in historical perspective.

The wealth of biodiversity can be recognized, with more than 16,000 species and numerous endemic plants, fungi, flora and fauna. With more that 37% land covered in forests, hydrograpical network and agrobiodiversity with imperative economic context, the Republic of Macedonia has recognized the needs for participation in the efforts to mitigate Climate Change effects on a gobal level.  

The mitigation of Climate Change effects has become one of the key priorities in the Republic of Macedonia. Such effects have negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the people and have continuous impacts on the state of biodiversity, indegeneous habitats, agriculture and numerous social segments that define the country in wealth of natural habitat, forestry or rivers and lakes. Negative effects from Climate change impacts are continuouisly signalled from various domestic institutions, such as Hydrometeorological Centre or Public Health Institutut, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planing, as well as numerous Civil Sector organizations that follow the changes in our environment.