Land use - National Responses (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)

Land protection in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has been secured through various policy documents, concepts, strategies and legislative measures.

Under the Law on Environment (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No.53/05, 81/05), every citizen is entitled to have access to environmental information, including data on land cover. The law also facilitates uniform access to such information, both at national and European levels. In addition to the provisions of this law, the provisions of special laws regulating specific environmental media and areas also apply to the protection and improvement of the quality and condition of soil, water, and air. The aims of the law relevant to land management include rational and sustainable utilisation of natural resources, preservation of a clean environment and remediation of damage, prevention of environmental risks and hazards, combating desertification and mitigating the effects of droughts.

Based on the Law on Land Survey and Registration, regular annual land survey information is provided on the types of land cover, which enables continuous justification of the land cover changes.

The Law on Agricultural Land (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 135/07) regulates agricultural land use, disposal, protection and change of use. The aims of this law include rational use of agricultural land as a limited natural resource and its protection. As a resource of general interest for the country, agricultural land enjoys special protection and may be used only under the terms and in a manner provided for by the law.

Building land is also regarded a resource of general interest for the country under the law and the terms and the manner of its use are therefore legally regulated and controlled Law on Building Land (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No.82/08)).

All development activities have to be based on spatial and urban plans developed under the Law on Spatial and Urban Planning (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No.24/08). These plans are intended to provide for land planning, development and use, as well as protection and improvement of the environment and nature, the protection of immovable cultural heritage, and protection against damage by war, natural and technological disasters and accidents. As activities of public interest under the law, elaboration, adoption and implementation of the Spatial Plan of the Republic of Macedonia, as well as the application of other relevant regulations of national legislation, international agreements and other documents ratified by the Republic, have the ultimate goal of providing sustainable development for the country.