On July 5, 2026, Pelister National Park hosted a delegation of international forestry experts from Germany alongside faculty members from Skopje. This visit marks the initiation of a key strategic partnership focused on forest genetic resource conservation and sustainable seed sourcing.
Partner Institutions
The visiting expert panel included representatives from:
- HessenForst – State Forest Enterprise of Hesse, Germany;
- Forest Research Institute – Göttingen, Germany;
- “Hans Em” Faculty of Forest Sciences, Landscape Architecture and Eco-Engineering (UKIM, Skopje).
Scope of Collaboration and Field Evaluations
During their stay, the joint team conducted field inspections across key Molika pine (Pinus peuce) and Macedonian fir (Abies borisii-regis) forest stands within the National Park.
Key areas of cooperation include:
- Genetic Resource Conservation: Protecting and monitoring local forest gene pools.
- Seed Stand Identification: Selecting high-quality seed stands within the park’s boundaries.
- Reproductive Material: Establishing sustainable supply frameworks for reproductive material of Molika pine, Macedonian fir, oak, and other native species from North Macedonia to Germany.
- Knowledge Exchange: Sharing silvicultural best practices, with planned exchange visits for Pelister NP staff to protected areas in Hesse, Germany.
Historic Connection to Göttingen
This collaboration carries historic significance: the researchers from the Forest Research Institute in Göttingen represent the very same academic institution where German botanist August Grisebach worked when he first discovered and documented the Molika pine on Baba Mountain in 1839.
