Stronger Together: Cross-Border Effort Boosts Sharr-Korab Conservation

In a significant step toward strengthening cross-border conservation efforts, the first joint patrol mission was carried out on June 30, 2025, across the Sharr-Korab mountain massif, connecting the protected areas of Mavrovo National Park in North Macedonia and the Korab-Koritnik Protected Area in Albania. This milestone is part of the project “Protection and Sustainable Use of Protected Areas in Sharr, Mavrovo, and Korab-Koritnik”, implemented by ALCDF in partnership with CSCD and LAG Dibra Turistike, and funded by the Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT).

Cross-Border Teams, Shared Mission

The joint patrol group unites a diverse and committed team of park rangers, environmental specialists, community surveillance members, Border Police personnel, fire brigades, and government agencies from both Albania and North Macedonia. This cooperation brings together not only geographic coverage, but also a wide range of skills, experience, and perspectives vital to the protection of these ecologically rich and sensitive areas.

To ensure effective collaboration, as part of project activities, patrol members received targeted training, coaching, and technical support, working together to draft a joint annual patrolling plan to guide their activities.

Field Patrol in Action: A Long Trek for Nature

The first cross-border patrol mission covered challenging terrain. The North Macedonian team set out from the pastures above Zhirovnica, covering over 10 km on foot, while the Albanian team hiked from the Ilnica shepherds’ huts to the Rabdisht pastures, walking approximately 8.5 km.

The two groups met at Hinoska pasture, where they conducted joint surveillance using binoculars and drones, documenting findings through field maps and patrol notebooks. The mission successfully combined high-altitude observation with ground-level inspections to monitor biodiversity and detect illegal activities.

Findings: Threats and Opportunities

The joint patrol identified several environmental threats, including

• overharvesting of medicinal and non-timber forest products,
• overgrazing in ecologically sensitive pasture areas,
• evidence of illegal hunting activities, such as discarded rifle shells, and
• other unlawful practices by surrounding villagers.

Patrol members also noted another potential risk of disease transmission in the high mountain pastures. According to reports from local herders, domesticated sheep in the area are affected by a contagious disease. If these animals graze freely in alpine zones, there is a significant risk of transmission from the sheep to wild ungulates and other wildlife species, threatening the health and stability of the local ecosystem.

In response to these threats, the Albanian team have committed to strengthening the monitoring of wholesale collection points for medicinal plants—particularly to curb illegal harvesting of endangered species such as blueberry leaves, Orchis roots (sahlep), and Primula species. Steps will also be taken to isolate and vaccinate domesticated sheep preventing the spread of disease to wild populations.

Despite these challenges, the patrol teams observed many positive indicators of biodiversity, including sightings of wild goats, roe deer, bears, and eagles. They also identified important wildlife movement corridors essential to maintaining habitat connectivity.

Looking Ahead: A Shared Conservation Path

Following the mission, a feedback session was held to share insights, improve coordination, and define the next steps. A set of recommendations and action points were adopted to guide future joint patrols. These are scheduled to continue throughout July up till September 2025.

While joint patrols are proving to be a powerful tool for transboundary conservation, they also face ongoing challenges—including limited resources, inadequate equipment, and inconsistent enforcement of conservation regulations across borders. Ensuring sustained support and investment is essential to overcoming these obstacles and safeguarding the region’s biodiversity for generations to come.