Contents and structure Instructions for Case study preparation:

i. Site characteristics

General information about the site (location, size, map) Probistip municipality is located at the foot of Osogovo Mountains and along the river Zletovska Reka, and it includes Zletovo municipality which is a part of Probistip as of 2004. The Ratkova Skala region which belongs to this municipality according to Nature Protection Law is described as the region that covers the farthest south-western part of the high and massive mountain range that begins with the highest top of the Osogovo massif Carev Vrv (Sultan Tepe, 2085 meters.) The integral entirety of Ratkova Skala covers an area of about 11,500 ha. Landscapes extend to a different altitude from 698 meters (Pisanik) to 1669 (Panagjur.)

Protection status The integral region Ratkova Skala is in the process of protection gaining the status natural monument. The location has been included in the programme of the government in 2009 and official information about the need to protect this site has been prepared by the Sector for Nature at the Ministry for Environment and Physical Planning. Biodiversity in the region includes several ecosystems - fluvial, coastal, grassland, forest and mountain. The area is still not on the Emerald or Natura 2000 sites list.

Socio-economic context The population of Probistip municipality amounts to 16500 citizens, out of which about 10000 live in the town, while others reside in the 36 regions of the Zletovo area. The population of this region has mainly been employed in the mining industry, as Probistip is called the city of miners with its famous Zletovo mines. In the mideighties, the unemployment level in the overall region had significantly risen. At the moment there is no active mine in this particular area, although there used to be a mine Sileks which had negative impacts on the environment and agriculture in the region; however it also had some positive impacts in terms of maintenance of the road to village Ratkovica.

Villages in the Ratkova Skala region include: Zelen Grad, Shtalkovica, Ratkovica and Jamishte. Zelen Grad is in a remote mountainous area and is fairly isolated from the road infrastructure. It has 30 households, but a population of 7. Covering an area of 1424 ha, 126 is arable land, 489 is made of pastures and the rest is covered with forest. Shtalkovica is the largest village in Probistip municipality with an area of 24,6 km. It covers an area of 2338 ha: 206 ha are arable land, 706 are pastures, 1426 forests. The population is 44. Jamishte has 76 households but around 10 residents. Another characteristic of the population in this region is the low natural increase and the predominant older population (Example: out of 10 residents of Jamishte, 5 are above 60, while the other 5 are 30-59 years old. The population in the villages in the Ratkova Skala region has decreased during this last decade, because many of the people have migrated to nearby towns and cities. The population still residing in these villages primarily works with agriculture and animal husbandry. State of knowledge - This particular region has been very little researched in the past and is therefore of major interest and in process of protection today. Information about the population and demographics of the area are mainly in the databases of Probistip municipality, however many information about infrastructure, roads and hydrology can be found in the offices of Zletovica hydro system. Much information about biodiversity and geomorphology of the region is at the Sector for Nature in the Ministry for Environment. The official decision concerning the proposal to declare Ratkova Skala as a monument of nature can be found at the Ministry for Environment and Physical Planning (MOEPP) http://www.moepp.gov.mk/WBStorage/Files/Odluka%20za%20proglasuvanje%20na%20Rat kova%20skala%20na%20Osogovskite%20planini%20za%20spomenik%20na%20prirodata.p df

Degree of preservation The area of Ratkova Skala is rich with biodiversity, however due to human activity and a lack of protection some of its most famous species are seen less and less. From geological and geomorphological diversity, there are eight important mountain springs, numerous hydrological forms (springs, cascades, waterfalls.) The area is known for its rocky forms, particularly Orlov Kamen and Vucji Kamen. In terms of underground geomorphological forms, there are eight important caves in the region, which are not yet explored. Some ecosystems in the region which are important are: river, riverside, grassland, forest and mountain. Flora in the region is rich from algae and lichen to ferns and moss. There are also various fungi. Grasslands are predominant in the region. There are also many herbs used for healing: mint, sage, thyme, orchid- salep etc. There are various types of flowers and shrubs. Riversides are covered with white willow, white poplar, maple, sycamore and occasionally health. Forests dominate with elm, ash, beech, oak, birch as well as blue spruce, fir, white and black pine, and cypress. Fauna is dominant with aquatic species. There are many river crabs, molluscs and snails. There are also numerous species of insects. Important species that live in the rivers of Ratkova Skala region are fish barbel, chub, trout etc. There are the amphibians like river frogs and reptiles water turtles and snakes (poskok, etc.)

Birds are also very common for this region: common birds (sparrow, wild pigeon, mountain dove, singing birds (bluebird, lark, thrush), aqua birds (river swallow, white and gray heron, black and white stork, wild ducks, hunters (gray crow, raven, loggerhead, owl, kukumjavka, imperial eagle, white-headed vulture, Egyptian vulture etc). Mammals in the region include small mammals like bats, hedgehogs, badgers, weasels and wildcats to larger mammals like wolves, foxes, wild goat, wild boar, brown bear, deer, fallow deer and wild sheep. Some of the vulnerable species include maple and sycamore trees as well as species of oak, gaber and beech. Some fish like the stream trout (potocna pastrmka) also has a status of endangerment. The populations of stream and river crabs are also in a critical position, as well as some shells and aquatic turtles. The natural habitats of many aquatic birds like fishing bird (ribarche), white and black stork and white heron are also endangered. The habitats of eagles and vultures are in a very critical position. Mammals habitats that have a critical status include bats, badgers, deers, brown bear and others.
ii. Problems/threats and challenges

Some of the main problems in this region include: deforestation (illegal and legal cutting of forest area -which harms birdlife and biodiversity in general), lack of infrastructure (villagers from remote villages face hard working conditions in getting basic needs) shrubby pastures, illegal hunting as well as wolf poisoning. In a case fifteen years ago Gyps fulvus white vulture specie may have been entirely extinct, due to poisoning of wolves done by people, which causes a vicious cycle continuing to vultures and other species. People of the region have not seen the white vulture ever since. But the main problem facing the integral region is communication, or lack of and the need to establish a network between farmers and decision-

makers. These problems are some environmental and dangerous to the Ratkova Skala surrounding, but some are a threat to farmers living in this remote mountainous areas. The challenge of overcoming these threats is the challenge to meet, involve in discussion and connect farmers to local NGOs and policy makers. By opening possibilities for information and support whether it is by local NGOs and companies or support by IPARD, separated sides can start working for a common goal.
iii. Stakeholders involvement

The target groups of our project are local NGOs including members of DEMs network (local eco groups, particularly ED Zletovica and other groups such as ED Molika- Bitola, Grasnica Ohrid etc). Local stakeholders in the project include stakeholders from around the Ratkova Skala region - farmers and local producers, stakeholders from Western Balkans (NGOs, farmers, small businesses, local producers) as well as stakeholders from the governmental organizations (ministries, local authorities, local experts, environmental agencies etc.) Several parties have shown interested in taking part in the project, namely farmers, as well as representatives from the ministries. Another organization that has shown deep interest in the project is the Zletovica hydro system which is one of the biggest investments in the region. Organizations willing to cooperate and get involved in this project include: local farmers, representatives from the Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Ministry for Environment - Sector Nature, Union of Agricultural Machinery Rings in Macedonia, local Eco group "Zletovica", Agency for development of agriculture in Macedonia, Eco group "Molika" - Bitola, Eco group "Eko Misija" - Skopje, Association for Private Forests, Probistip municipality, Hydrosystem "Zletovica", as well as the European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism, State Institute for Nature Protection of Novi Sad, REC Office - Montenegro and our partners Greens of Montenegro and Bird Study and Protection Society of Vojvodina.