12 October 2006, National and University Library "St. Clement of Ohrid"- Skopje
The Forestry Legislation Workshop was held in organization of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy and helped by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. On the meeting there were present 30 participants - experts and stakeholders to the implementation of the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Forestry in the Republic Macedonia.
The aim of the meeting was to define the needs for improvement of the existing forestry legislation, and the needs for amendments according to the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Forestry in the Republic of Macedonia and Action Plan 2007 - 2009.
The participants were divided into three groups and they discussed on four issues concerning the forestry legislation amendments:
- Strategy and management planning.
- Forest utilization.
- Public participation.
- Private forests.
The numerous opinions and submissions that derived form
this workshop will be later on evaluated and taken into account by the
international and national forestry legislation consultants when creating
the final draft recommendations for improvement of the forestry legislation.
Group work
Discussions
Presentation of workgroup results
12 September 2006, hotel "Tim's" - Skopje
The Technical meeting was held in organization of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy and helped by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. On the meeting there were present 18 participants - experts and stakeholders to the implementation of the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Forestry in the Republic Macedonia.
The aim of the meeting was to identify the threats that may be encountered in the implementation of the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Forestry in the Republic of Macedonia and the Action Plan 2007 - 2009. The meeting was led by Bojan Rantasa, consultant in Participation, Information and Public Awareness.
The participants in a plenary discussion identified the positive and negative factors in the implementation, which were then distinguished amongst internal and external factors that can influence the implementation of the Strategy.
On the meeting the following factors that have positive influence to the implementation of the Strategy and the Action Plan:
- Existence of a positive environment in the public and amongst the stakeholders about the importance of the forestry and consensus on the implementation of the Strategy;
- Positive world trends about the importance of forestry.
On the meeting the following factors that have negative influence on the Strategy and Action Plan implementation were identified:
- Bad cooperation with the other sectors (Water Management, PE "Pastures", projects);
- Lack of methods for stakeholder inclusion;
- Needed training of young personnel;
- Lack of a 'Implementation team';
- Threat in financing the activities (Overload to the Program on forest reproduction);
- "Holes" in the budget;
- Inefficiency of the state institutions: court, police, judicial system;
- Unresolved property issues;
- The position of the Department of Forestry with in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy; and
- Political party etiquette to the process.
The participants came up with propositions to be taken into consideration while implementing the activities of the Action Plan:
- Dependence on the implementation of the activities from the implementation of other processes in the country: judicial system reform, the cadastre;
- Attention to the time frame and the correlation of certain activities (i.e. activity 18 with activities 6, 7, 19, 22 and 40); and
- Supporting the measures with real possibilities for financing (especially in terms of social aspects).
The need that the Strategy and the activities should become sustainable was highly expressed, to secure their sustainability especially in financial and economical aspect.
The participants identified the most important needs in capacity building of the forest sector, besides the mentioned factors, that need to be addressed:
- Gaining language skills;
- Gaining communication skills;
- Gaining compuetr skills;
- Gaining knowledge in project management;
- Gaining knowledge in fundraising; and most importantly
- Increase of the number of human resources.
The recommendation of this meeting is to establish as
soon as possible the team that will lead the implementation of the Strategy
for Sustainable Development of Forestry in the Republic of Macedonia and
the Action Plan, as it is provisioned in the Strategy; the Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy with its Department of Forestry
should take full responsibility in implementing the Strategy and the Action
Plan; and secure appropriate promotion and information to the public about
the whole process.
Presenting opinions.
Technical meeting.
Technical meeting.
11 May 2006, hotel "Aleksandar Palace" - Skopje
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy of the Republic of Macedonia, in the light of the formulation of the final draft Strategy for Sustainable Forestry Development in Republic of Macedonia with Action Plan, organized a Promotional Meeting. The meeting was oppened by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Sande Dzambazovski, after which followed an address by the ATS Forestry Policy Mr. Ives Dubé from the FAO in Rome. On the Meeting the National Coordinator of the project addressed to the public and gave a short overview of the strategy and the action plan.
On the meeting were present 109 participants representing all stakeholders in forestry like: private forest owners, different ministries, NGOs, state forestry etc. and several journalists.
Address of Mr. Sande Dzambazovski, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy
Address of Mr. Ives Dubé, Forestry Officer (Planning), FAO - Rome
The participants on the National Consultation Meeting
Regional Meeting in Sveti Nikole
6 April 2006, hotel "Ovce Pole" - Sveti Nikole
By using participatory methods we learned the opinions and ideas of the participants regarding the first draft Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Forestry in the Republic of Macedonia.
Group estimations were fairly good, so the Action Plan needs certain adjustement to meet the priorities of al stakeholders. The participants indicate four very important proposals:
1. Procentage of the state budget to be alocated for
forestry
2. Initiaitves for amendments of the legal framework in order to have
more rigorous penalties (especially in arson, illegal logging, arson)
3. Having secure funds for the implementation of the Action Plan and securing
access to European funds for the development of forestry
4. Fast transformation of the PE MF
5. Increasing the number of forest guards, Forest Police and the inspection
for more efficient control of the movement of illegal fire and technical
wood
Group work
Group work
Group work
4 April 2006, hotel "Kicevo" - Kicevo
By using participatory methods we learned the opinions and ideas of the participants regarding the first draft Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Forestry in the Republic of Macedonia.
Group estimations were high, so the Action Plan has met the priorities of all stakeholders, but there is still room for improvement. The participants indicate four very important proposals:
1. Participation of the local self-government in the
management and as a responsible entity
2. To be comprehensive and detailed
3. Giving state forests under concession and management (overlooked)
4. Implementation of the Action Plan and providing feedback on it
Group work
Group work
Final presentation of all of the suggestions
31 March 2006, Home of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia - Strumica
By using participatory methods we learned the opinions and ideas of the participants regarding the first draft Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Forestry in the Republic of Macedonia.
Group estimations were fairly high, so the Action Plan needs minor adjustement to meet the priorities of al stakeholders. The participants indicate four very important proposals:
1. Defining of proper criteria for the establishment
of licenced companies
2. Priorities in the implementation of the actions in the plan
3. Securing financial means
Group work
Group work
Final presentation of all of the suggestions
30 March 2006, hotel "Kristal Palas" - Prilep
By using participatory methods we learned the opinions and ideas of the participants regarding the first draft Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Forestry in the Republic of Macedonia.
Group estimations were fairly good, so the Action Plan needs certain adjustement to meet the priorities of al stakeholders. The participants indicate four very important proposals:
1. Better education and inclusion of other institutions
2. Part of the funds gained from the forest utilisation to stay in the
municipalities (donations, concessions)
3. Inclusion of the local self-governemnt and other stakeholders in the
coordination of the Action Plan
4. Finantial frame - income, outcome, to be defined
Group work
Group work
Group work
22 March 2006, Faculty of Forestry - Skopje
By using participatory methods we learned the opinions and ideas of the participants regarding the forestry in Macedonia on the topic: "Forest resources management - problems and solutions".
The participants indicate four very important proposals:
1. Equal position on state and private forests (private
- management, state - governing)
2. There is no activity that leads to integrated management
3. Necessity to change and ammend (part 4.2, 1.1.2, 4.1.4)
Group work
Group work
Group work
25 October 2005 Hotel Aleksandar Palace
The National Forest Development Strategy formulation team faced its most imortaint assignment, to meet the needs of all stakeholders in forestry, therefore a National Consultation Meeting was organized. On the meeting were present 81 participants representing all stakeholders in forestry like: private forest owners, different ministries, NGOs, state forestry etc. and several journalists.
Several people gave propositons in verbal and written format to the draft "National Forestry Development Strategy". These propositons will be taken into consideration on the Work Groups next meenting and value the possibilitie for their implementation in the forest strategy document.
All of those that did not had the opportunity to give in their proposals on the National consultation meeting can do so trough our contact e-mail or address.
The National Forest Development Strategy Working Group
The participants on the National Consultation Meeting
Propositions
National Consultation Meeting
Formulation of the National Forestry Development Strategy
19 September 2005, FAO Coordination Office in Skopje
With the regional meetings that were conducted widely across Macedonia, and receiving the suggestions on forestry, the Working Group started the formulation of the National Forestry Strategy. In intensive work starting from June, the members of the Working Group had a series of meetings where they formulated the First Draft of the Macedonian National Forestry Development Strategy.
Working Group meeting on Policy formulation
Working Group meeting on Policy formulation
29 June 2005, hotel "Villa st. Sophia"
By using participatory methods we learned the opinions and ideas of the participants regarding the forestry in Macedonia on the topic: "Forest management in the region".
Group estimations of the current situation were fairly positive, so in Macedonia (the south western region) measures do not need to be strong to move these estimations towards better. The participants indicate five very important proposals:
1. Flexibility and adjustment in the work according
to the conditions;
2. Organizational setup of the Public Enterprize Macedonian Forests;
3. Decentralization of Public Enterprize Macedonian Forests;
4. Strengthening the institutions;
5. Reorganization of Public Enterprize Macedonian Forests;
Simple guidelines for the topic
Working on the sugestions
Presentation on the sugestions
23 June 2005, hotel "Makpetrol" - Mavrovo.
By using participatory methods we learned the opinions and ideas of the participants regarding the forestry in Macedonia on the topic: "Problems in forestry".
Group estimations were generally negative on that question. The participants were not satisfied with the present situation, so in Macedonia measures have to be strong if they want to move these estimations towards better. The participants indicate five very important proposals:
1. Appropriate personnel policy in relation to the protection and better
equipment;
2. Education and cooperation of the citizens with the institutions;
3. Better cooperation of the forest economies with the police and better
equipment of the police;
4. Decentralization in the management;
5. Addressing of the big problems of the society and their dissolvement
with all state;
The facilitators explaining to the groups
Individual work on the problems in forestry
Ranking the importance of the suggestions
Presentation of the outcomes
16 June 2005, hotel "Sliv" - Vinica.
By using participatory methods we learned the opinions and ideas of the participants regarding the forestry in Macedonia on the topic: "Forest resources management in state and private ownerhip".
Group estimations states that negative opinion on that question predominates, so in Macedonia measures have to be strong if they want to move these estimations towards better. The participants indicate five very important proposals:
1. Decentralization of Public Economy
2. Managing the forest fond on local level
3. Enforcement of legal framework by all institutions
4. National strategy
5. Professionalism of the educated human resources
Identification of pozitive and negative aspects
Comming up with suggestions for a change in better
Presentation of the suggestions to the whole group
10 June 2005, hotel "Ilinden" - Strumica
By using participatory methods we learned the opinions and ideas of the participants regarding the forestry in Macedonia on the topic: "Forest resources management - problems and solutions".
Group estimations fairly disperse, so in Macedonia measures have to be strong if they want to move these estimations towards better. The participants indicate four very important proposals:
1. National strategy
2. Decentralization of forestry
3. Restructuring (reorganization) of the Public Enterprize
4. Flexible management organizational structure on national, regional
and local level
Division into groups
Working on the suggestions
Final presentation of all of the suggestions
19 May 2005, the premisses of the FAO Coordination office in Skopje
By using participatory methods we learned the opinions and ideas of the participants regarding the forestry in Macedonia on the topic: "The relation of the forestry as an economical sector towards the forest as an eco-system".
The participants indicate four very important proposals:
1. Law inforcement;
2. Socio-economical development;
3. Restructuring of the forestry;
4. Formulation of National Forest Strategy;
Introduction to the approach
After-discusions on the topic
Training in Participatory Approach
From 16 May till 19 May 2005 in Hotel Continental - Skopje, memebers from the Working Group and other relevant people involved in the project, undertook a training of foresters in Participatory Approach, that will be used in the process of the policy and strategy formulation.
The training was consisted of three parts:
- Workshop
- Field visits
- Meeting with stakeholders
The menthor of the training was Jurij Begus.
Vizuelization methods - communication with stakeholders
Mapping of problems and solutions
Repetiton of the learned
The team of trained foresters in Participatory Approach
(from left, up: Aleksandar Nikolovski, Jurij Begus, Dragan
Serafimovski, Vojo Gogovski, Pejo Todevski, Aleksandar Andonovski, Angele
Spirovski;
down: Saso Petrovski, Velimir Rankovik, Bojan Rantasa)
