A new voluntary partnership with the participation of self-government bodies and private individuals, comes to offer high-quality services to the most important wealth of western Macedonia, which are its forests. This is the “Western Macedonia Model Forest”, which was created only in 2023 and a few days ago it received the recognition of the full member of the International Model Forest Network (International Model Forest Network) based in Canada.
As Dimitrios Tsiplinas, head of the Kozani Forestry Directorate, explains to APE-MPE, 13 A & B grade Local Government bodies, 53 private individuals, members of the region’s forestry cooperatives, Mountaineering Associations participate in AMKE Model Forest, “with the direct aim of sustainable management of forests, the participation in autopsies and opinions, the identification and proper management of non-timber forest products”.
Mr. Tsiplinas clarified that the non-wood products “include mushrooms, aromatic plants and forest fruits”, which the region of western Macedonia has in unique diversities. He pointed out, however, that “there is a significant lack of proper management and control, resulting in the loss of revenue for the State as well as the destruction of the flora”.
He mentioned two cases that create a bad precedent with consequences for the state and the environment. Many mountain peaks that were previously accessible only to mountain climbers and mountaineers, today. due to the existence of wind farms, they have access roads even for ordinary cars, as a result of which there is a reckless, unrestricted and inappropriate collection of aromatic plants that are then sold commercially.
Mr. Tsiplinas noted that “besides the huge quantities, the poor way of collection over time tends to eliminate the meadows of aromatic plants”. Also, on the subject of wild mushroom collection, although the forest office issues permits for the collection of specific quantities – for example 10 or 30 kilos, no one knows if 500 kilos are finally collected as there is no real control.
Although he is an executive of the forestry service, he nevertheless explained that the goal of the Model Forest is not to replace the role of the State, but through the actions it will develop, to contribute to the sustainability of the environment in western Macedonia, to provide education for the environment, to contribute to issues around culture and tourism, to inform citizens about wood and non-forest products through the networking of actions.
The forests of western Macedonia cover approximately 24.3% of the total area of the Region, with the largest area being the PE of Grevena with 78,050 hectares (Ha), followed by the PE of Kastoria with 68,384. Smaller but equally important areas are available to the PEs of Florina and Kozani with 46,895 and 36,225 respectively.
According to data from the forestry service, the State owns 62.21% of the forests in western Macedonia. The second largest forest owner is the Municipalities, with 23.88% while the remaining 14% belongs to private individuals and the Church. Of the above areas, 3.45% are mixed forests, 4.52% coniferous forests, 16.95% broadleaf forests and 21.89% transitional forest.
The strategic plan of the Model Forest partnership was endorsed by the International Model Forest Network (IMFN) based in Canada and the Mediterranean Model Forest Network (MMFN) based in Tuscany, Florence. Executives of the above two organizations, last summer, conducted an autopsy at the headquarters of the partnership in Neapoli Kozani, where the offices of the Model Forest are located, evaluated the actions and the plan it has submitted, finally giving the “green light” for its entry into the global network. Model Forest started in Canada in 1970 and (until recently) there are 61 model forests in 36 countries worldwide. The Western Macedonia Model Forest as part of the global network belongs to the Mediterranean Model Forest Network.
