PONT plays a part in the conservation of Shar mountain tea (Sideritis scardica)

Summers in the Shar Mountain National Park are a busy time for the ranger service but this summer was particularly exceptional. Alongside working to prevent illegal activities, the Park staff were privileged to work with a more pleasant and noble task of monitoring habitats and species, among them the famous Shar mountain tea, Sideritis scardica. Its scientific name comes from the Greek word for σιδηρίτις (sideritis) or “iron”, and the Latin name for Shar Planina — Scardus, however, the field research this year showed it is not that “iron strong”.

According to local collectors and hikers, the Shar mountain tea once grew in abundance. Due to continuous intensive collection, harvesting in large quantities, and harvesting it before fully blooms, the populations have now drastically reduced. In 2023, in consultation with the Scientific Council, representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Physical planning and PONT, the plant was selected as one of the Shar Mountain National Park key species to be regularly monitored. With PONT continuing their support this year, the managing authority has been provided with additional expertise to work on the evaluation of the status of the species, the vitality of the populations and establishing transects for regular yearly monitoring in the coming years.

The plant grows isolated in the high mountain pastures, most often at altitudes of 1500 meters above the sea level, in dry lands, on sandy soil, on rocks or rock crevices. Depending on the region and altitude, it blooms from June to August and is sensitive to high temperatures and drought. The field research showed that the population vitality is under additional climate change pressure due to this summer high temperatures and long drought periods. With the support of PONT, the monitoring activities will continue in the coming years and will give specific attention to analysing the weather conditions as one of the key factors for the species survival on long term.

The plant is an endemic species, found on the IUCN red list, the Annex II EU Habitats Directive and on the North Macedonia list of protected species. In the Shar Mountain, this species is mainly found in the Ljuboten area and most of the site is located in the strict protected zone. Due to the pre-extinction status, and its location the Public Institution Shar Mountain National Park banned its collection.

The mountain hut Ljuboten vicinity to this site is very convenient to raise awareness of the ban to hikers and collectors and the national park management authority prepared info boards to be placed by the mountain hut. Further dissemination of the ban has been agreed with the same mountain club and a few other hiking clubs through a poster presentation supported by Global Conservation, a synchronised support by other donor organisations and partners to the Public Institution National Park Shar Mountain.

This conservation story is one of success. The Shar mountain tea can be cultivated in the agriculture areas around the high mountain villages in the National Park. The “know how” is transferred to local people with the support from the non-governmental organisation CNVP, again in an initiative financially supported by PONT. This constructive collaboration is an excellent example of how sustainable cultivation can protect the wild populations while enabling the local people to still generate income.

Next time you encounter the Shar mountain tea in the wild, remember that it is very rare and needs our care to survive.

By: Shar Mountain National Park