Restoring Pelister’s Ancient Molika Forest after Severe Storm Damage

The winter of 2025 left a profound mark on one of North Macedonia’s most valuable natural treasures – the ancient Molika pine forests of Pelister National Park. Heavy snowfall and strong winds caused extensive damage across approximately 100 hectares of forest, bringing down an estimated 1,000 to 1,100 trees and significantly altering the appearance of some of Pelister’s oldest forest stands.

Particularly affected was the area of Begova Česhma, home to one of the most significant old-growth Molika forests. Among the losses was a 250-year-old Macedonian pine tree associated with the work of German botanist August Grisebach, who collected samples from Pelister in 1839 and helped document the species scientifically for the first time.

The Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce), known locally as Molika, is an endemic Balkan species and the very reason why Pelister was proclaimed North Macedonia’s first national park in 1948. Beyond its ecological value, the species represents an important part of the country’s natural heritage.

The scale of the damage also highlights the growing challenges that climate change poses to mountain forest ecosystems. In recent years, Pelister has experienced increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, including heavy snowfall and strong winds, which have visibly altered parts of the forest and disrupted the natural balance of this unique ecosystem.

According to forestry experts, mature Molika forests are becoming increasingly vulnerable to such disturbances. Molika is a light-demanding pioneer species, and successful natural regeneration depends on sufficient sunlight reaching the forest floor. Without appropriate conditions, regeneration can be slow or absent. At the same time, older trees become more susceptible to natural physiological decline, stem decay, and other factors that reduce their resilience to extreme weather events.

The storm damage prompted Pelister National Park to initiate a series of expert consultations, field assessments, and restoration planning activities aimed at supporting the long-term recovery of Molika forests.

In June 2025, Pelister National Park organised an international scientific conference attended by more than 23 scientists, professors, and forestry experts from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Greece, and North Macedonia. Discussions focused on changes in forest structure related to climate change and natural regeneration processes, with particular attention given to Molika forests. The event marked the beginning of a broader collaborative effort to identify the most appropriate approaches for the restoration and management of these valuable forest ecosystems.

One of the key outcomes of this process is the preparation of a professional study that will guide future management and conservation measures for Molika forests. Developed through cooperation between national and international experts, the study will provide science-based recommendations aimed at ensuring the long-term protection and resilience of this emblematic species.

Specialists from the Faculty of Forestry, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Engineering have highlighted the importance of establishing regeneration nuclei in areas where old trees have been lost. These measures are designed to create favourable conditions for natural forest renewal and support the establishment of young Molika trees. Forest restoration, however, is a long-term process that requires continuous management and monitoring over many years.

Encouragingly, early results from pilot restoration areas are already showing signs of success, with young Molika seedlings establishing in locations where favourable regeneration conditions have been created. These observations provide valuable insights for future restoration efforts across Pelister National Park.

At the same time, park staff carried out extensive trail maintenance work, removing storm-felled trees from popular visitor routes, including Begova Česhma, Kopanki, Jorgov Kamen, Polkovnik Ilija, Magarevska Reka, and other recreational areas. These efforts restored safe access for visitors while reducing immediate risks associated with storm-damaged trees.

With support from the Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT), Pelister National Park has been able to respond to this unprecedented natural disturbance and begin implementing measures that support both visitor safety and ecosystem recovery. By combining immediate restoration actions with the development of long-term, science-based management measures, the park is working to preserve one of the Balkans’ most unique mountain ecosystems for future generations.

By: “National Park Pelister (PIPNP)”