One of the tools we’ve got to protect our planet is the establishment of national parks. Within these parks, human impact on the environment is very well-regulated. It’s a way of trying to establish a harmonious relationship between humans and nature. And creating a national park often goes hand in hand with the rise of responsible tourism, creating a new source of income for the local inhabitants, allowing them to be more in touch with their surroundings.

1. Protected

As of June the 30^th, Europe can add a new national park to its list. As for the first time since the country’s independence in 1958, North Macedonia has created a new protected area within its borders: Shar Mountain. The Sharr Mountains cover a total of about 240 000 hectares, spread over North Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania. Whereas the part in Kosovo has been a national park for years, North Macedonia now joins them in protecting the area. This doesn’t come as a surprise, since the Shar Mountains house an astonishing number of animal and plant species, which were endangered by human activity such as logging and hunting beforehand.

2. Wildlife

So, which species are we talking about? On the plant side, we’ve got – amongst 1 800 others – the Macedonian pine, the Alpine rose and Natalie’s ramonda. Talking about animals, there are the Balkan lynx, the Hermann’s tortoise, the wild boar, the wolf… And the list goes on and on. Especially now that the area’s being protected, officials hope to attract visitors with a passion for wildlife and walking as the region’s perfect for that too. The Sharr Mountains count no less than thirty mountain tops over 2 500 meters high and, if you’re looking for a bit of refreshment, there are also 37 glacier lakes. We’re sold already.

L’article Meet Shar Mountain. Europe’s newest national park est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.