„Today, there is clear evidence that the NP Galicica, established  fifty years ago, has grown into PINP Galicica -  an institution that is unavoidable factor when we talk about the nature protection “. Said the Director Zoran Angeloski on the opening of the international conference „Challenges and Prospective in the protection of National Parks“. He also stressed that “…the Park in the past 50 years has gone through different stages accompanied with different problems, but the dedication and relentless work of the staff in their quest of nature protection has always resulted for the Park to continue in the ascending line of progress.”

The Director expressed his beliefs for the future, that the Park will continue to offer the best solutions for nature protection, and will be looked upon as a Macedonian treasure, as well as a rare world natural heritage, especially in these times of ever growing international care for natural heritage.

The conference was opened by the Macedonian Minister for environment, Nedzati Jakupi, who learned about the development of the National Park Galicica, and knowing the challenges ahead he emphasized that: „The Ministry will continue to support the further progress of the Park because that is also our legal obligation“.

 „We have reached the goal of nature protection, but we need to continue forward with perseverance and dedication” such was the view of the first director of the National Park Galicica – Vladimir Bojadzi.

“The park is supported by Italy, Germany and France. Our presence here is aiming to create better economic development in this region, without destroying natural values and customs of the local population. This is the focus of the Italian support in the field of protection of the environment”, emphasized the Italian representative Roberto Rico. 

The Ambasador of France in Macedonia said that we live in an environment that is continuously degraded, and the 50 years of the Park’s existence have been a success story in the field of nature protection. “The National Parks of Europe should cooperate” he also said.

The international conference was concluded with a workshop held on a second day “Challenges and prospective in the protection of National Parks”.  This workshop was attended by the staff of the Galicica National Park and leading experts from the country and abroad.  The subject of the workshop was Evaluation of the natural values of the Park with a special focus on biological and geomorphologic diversity.  The results of the field research, conducted in the last six months, were presented here.  On the bases of these results, preliminary recommendations for zoning of the park were derived.

The Park through photos

Before the official start of the conference

Promotional materials for the Park

At the beginning the director of Public Institution National Park Galicica was addressed the audience

The break were also used for a productive discussion with the Minister of Environment Nexhati Yakupy

„The ministry will continue with its support to the development of the Park because that is our legal obligation“ - the Minister of Environment Nexhati Yakupy

“Our presence here has the goal to create an environment for a better economic development in this region” Roberto Rizzo

Stuffed animals – a gift from the Natural History Museum of Macedonia

The French ambassador in Macedonia – Bernard Valero

Journalists were agile, as always

Dorotea Gieselmann – a representative of the German Embassy in Macedonia

Presentation of the Slovenian national park Triglav

A Monography for Triglaf National Park – a gift for the Park for the occasion of the 50^{th anniversary}

The first director of Galicica National Park

The steady growth of protection of the Park - Andon Bojadzi

“The Public Institution Galicica National Park is the key player in nature protection” - Zoran Angeloski, director of the Park

The richness of the plant life in the park – Prof. PhD Vlado Matevski, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Skopje

The richness of the animal life – PhD Svetozar Petkovski

The cultural heritage in the Park – Prof. PhD Saso Korunoski, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality

Presentation of Pirin National Park (Bulgaria) – the director Geogri Grancharov

Dushan Milovanovich – the director of Tara National Park, Serbia

Sasho Micevski – the director of Pelister National Park, Macedonia

The director of Mavrovo National Park – Mr. Oner Yakuposki

The cooperation of national parks in Europe is growing

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The Park through photos