News

Strengthening Conservation Efforts: BirdLife Partners in the Caucasus and Western Balkans Gather in Sofia

The Evidence-based Conservation (EBC) Workshop took place in Sofia, Bulgaria, from June 3 to 6, 2024. The RENATE programme initiated and funded the event, which was hosted by BSPB / BirdLife Bulgaria . RENATE (Recovering Nature in the East) aims to strengthen BirdLife Partners in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, enhancing BirdLife International’s collective impact to protect and restore landscapes across these regions. The Workshop saw active participation from 12 trainees representing SABUKO /…

Excursion to the Educational Children's Trail "Bunec" on the Occasion of World Lynx Day

The World Lynx Day was marked by the Macedonian Ecological Society this year with an organized visit of students from the "Lazo Angelovski" elementary school in Skopje to the educational center "Bunec" near Mavrovo. The students had the opportunity to walk along an educational trail, which is specially designed for children of their age. Educators from NP Mavrovo carefully and dedicatedly explained what they were seeing at each step of the trail. The educational trail is mainly located in a…

Educational Field Research with the Membership of the Macedonian Ecological Society

On June 8, 2024, the Macedonian Ecological Society held an educational field research event for its members, led by the head of the "Biodiversity" section, Prof. Dr. Valentina Slavevska Stamenković. Professor Slavevska Stamenković, together with assistant Jelena Hinić and our Despina Kitanova, educated the present MED members about the stone crayfish that lives in the waters of Ljubanska River and is a Natura 2000 species. The professor personally demonstrated how to take samples directly from…

Overview of Challenges and Achievements: Highlights from the 2024 International Wildlife Crime Conference in Cyprus

What a week! From May 22-24, 2024, the International Wildlife Crime Conference took place in Limassol, Cyprus. Participants from various countries and organizations gathered for presentations, discussions on challenges and achievements, and setting priorities for combating wildlife crimes. The conference focused on issues like illegal wildlife poisoning, trapping, and electrocution in the Balkan and Mediterranean regions. Representing North Macedonia were Arta Starova and Aleksandra Todorovska…

Educational Visit to Pešna

We are infinitely grateful to Professor Biljana Gičevski, who led today's educational visit to the Pešna Cave, organized by MES for its members. The attendees learned a lot about how the cave was formed and what the area looked like in past millennia. Besides scientific knowledge, Professor Gičevski also shared folk tales known about the Pešna Cave, King Marko, and his sisters. For the members of the Macedonian Ecological Society, transportation was organized by bus from Skopje. The journey…

Celebrating the World Migratory Bird Day with birdwatching in the park

The Macedonian Ecological Society marked World Migratory Bird Day this year with an activity for its members. We are delighted to have celebrated World Migratory Bird Day in such a wonderful way and to have made the day more enjoyable for our members who attended the "Birdwatching in the Park" event. Ornithologist Danka Uzunova once again demonstrated her excellent knowledge of birds and shared interesting facts and details about their lives, reproduction, and diet with the attendees. Our…

To Kitka in memory of Ljupcho Melovski

The closest family, colleagues, friends, students, and admirers of Ljupcho Melovski, in his honor and memory, climbed Mount Kitka. The Macedonian Ecological Society, in collaboration with the Mountain Club "Ljuboten" - Tetovo, organized the memorial march in honor of Professor Melovski, who left a significant mark in the fight for the protection of nature in Macedonia. His vision was so strong that it continues to live on even after him! Those present reminisced about his life and work,…

2024

Small grants 2024

During 2024, seven research projects are expected to be implemented as part of the Support Program for Young Ecologists "Dr. Ljupcho Melovski". Below are the brief summaries of the research projects. Empetrum nigrum – an unknown plant on Shar Mountain with great potential Coordinator: Aleks Jachovski In 2021, about 698 km2 of the area in Macedonia was declared a national park, following the development of a comprehensive valorization study. Empetrum (Latin: Empetrum nigrum, hereinafter EN) was…

Medium grants 2024

During 2024 and 2025, five research projects are planned to be implemented as part of the Young Ecologists Support Program "Dr. Ljupcho Melovski". Below are the brief summaries of the research projects. MORPHOLOGICAL AND GENOMIC DIVERSITY OF E. GLAREOSA AGG. IN MACEDONIA AND SOME REGIONS OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA Coordinator: Angela Ivanova In recent years, the species Euphorbia glareosa Pall. ex. Bieb. and related taxa have been the subject of research in Macedonia due to their polymorphism and…

Northern Forests Initiative: Analysis of the Socio-Economic Situation in the Bukovik Region

As part of the Northern Forests Initiative: "Forest Restoration in Albania and North Macedonia," a research was conducted on the socio-economic situation in the Bukovik region. E.C.O, with the support of local experts from the Faculty of Forest Sciences, is conducting a ROAM assessment for the Bukovikj Mountain based on desk analysis and field data collection to identify suitable FLR options and priority sites for FLR restoration. The assessment is conducted in collaboration with national and…

Experiential Learning Network brings science and hands-on learning activities closer to students and teachers

A network of national institutions and organizations, including the Macedonian Ecological Society, Botanical Garden Skopje, Hydrobiological Institute Ohrid, Educational Centre Negrevo, Narodna Tehnika, the National Park Galichica, and more recently, the BioTechnology Laboratory managed by the City of Skopje and Drisla, have come together to form the Experiential Learning Network. The network was established with support from UNICEF and funded by Sweden to create additional opportunities for…