Tourism is one of the main strategic goals appointed in the Programme for development of the South- East planning region. The South-East planning region has many tourist destinations and opportunities for development of the tourist offer. The potentials of the region are based on the development of tourism, but are not sufficient to attract domestic and foreign tourists.
We are witnessing a number of attacks and problems that citizens have with homeless dogs throughout the region. In the recent period, the attacks are more frequent, which puts into question the health and safety of people, especially children. The fear is frequent, people cannot walk calmly in the streets or parks because they are in constant fear of attacking from pack of homeless dogs walking in the streets, with uncontrolled barking and aggressive behavior to passers-by.
“Nature knows no borders”. On the basis of this globally accepted saying, updated strategies on nature conservation focus on the design and implementation of common environmental policies, the expansion of current network of Protected Areas (PAs) and the development of coherent, functional and interconnected, international networks of PAs. COMBINE2PROTECT is design to address these modern conservation challenges. This project aims to provide a solid basis for common and effective conservation initiatives through the establishment of a common network of PAs between the two countries. We will provide all necessary tools, we will use the most advances methods, and we will integrate and analyze many datasets in order to present the structure, functionality and benefits of a common network. This project will contribute with action plans, will prioritize sites for conservation, will map critical habitats and design green corridors, to develop a tool for improving current conservation.
Main objective of the project:
To provide the most appropriate instruments to foster our capacity for biodiversity conservation and to disseminate them to a wide range of users to ensure a sustainable, efficient management & operation of PAs, increase number of species, area of habitats and ecosystems protected and improve conservation tools.
*Optimizing monitoring and protection at key sites
– Develop Regional Biodiversity Strategy-Action Plan, maps of key habitats, species & sensitivity of the South-East region
– Determine ecological properties (species-habitats), borders and hydrology of Monospitovo wetland-preparation
of a Management Plan
– Develop, test and implement Earth Observation techniques & innovative methods for monitoring conservation
status & threats
– Develop strategic plan and provide infrastructure to reduce irrigation water needs at Prespa NP
– Apply measures to improve conservation status of priority habitats and species at Prespa NP by mitigating the
impacts of grazing
* Development of a common PA network
– Design a common network to increase current & future connectivity and ecological functionality, with emphasis
on priority species & habitats
– Identify new sites within the two countries to be included in the conservation network
– Assess and model socio-economic driving forces (eg EU policies, economic trends) and environmental
pressures (eg habitat loss) affecting biodiversity under current & projected future conditions
-Map key habitats, species, pressures and ecosystem services
*Ecological Network Capacity Building
– Develop a dynamic-open Ecological Network data exchange system
– Provide various educational and promotion activities (Branding Scheme, mobile app, documentary etc)
– Monitor awareness building
– Support knowledge transfer
Historically, the cross-border area Greece – R. Macedonia has been threatened by natural disasters, risks and hazards (NDRH). Two large-scale catastrophic earthquakes (Skopje 1963, Thessaloniki 1978), several floods (e.g.Vardar/Axios), and many more forest fires are some examples of the humanitarian aid challenges to be addressed, highlighting the need for effective relief operations, where citizens are actively engaged.
The development of a region depends on several factors. One of the most important is the qualitative and quantitative level of construction of physical infrastructure. Every society aims at providing a higher and better living standard, which essentially means constant improvement of living conditions.
Thе road transport and infrastructure play a key role in economic development, increasing the number of tourists in the region, improving the communication between the citizens of the surrounding settlements, access of farmers to their fields and to wholesale markets, developing a modern and functional infrastructure, as well as the living standards of the population.
Currently the buildings intended for Houses of culture in v. Stojakovo –Municipality of Bogdanci, v. Radovo – Municipality of Bosilovo and v. Rakitec – Municipality of Konche are dilapidated and are in very poor, ruined and unusable condition. This condition prevents their use for organizing events of various types by residents in the populated places Stojakovo, Radovo and Rakitec.
The cross border region of Macedonia-Bulgaria faces significant problems with waste and garbage. Few thought that the waste could be used, but there is a way which is called composting. The license for composting belongs to environment. Composting would be a great boon to the soil in this region thus processed garbage; it turns into organic and makes it useful for our agriculture.
Based on the Programme for financial support for rural development for 2015 from the Agency for Financial Support of Agriculture and Rural Development funds have been approved for preparation of urban plans for 21 settlements in 8 municipalities in the South-East Region.
The South-East planning region aims to attract the attention of tourists and to present a clean and safe environment with lakes, mountains, waterfalls, thermal springs, monasteries, as well as local events, healthy traditional food and the hospitality of the locals. Sustainable tourism assumes evaluation of the comparative advantages that the region has and creating quality and innovative tourism offer, tailored to the modern tourist market.
