Kosovo, a rich country with high biological diversity

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Blerand Stavileci in this occasion said that Kosovo in the past has been known as a supplier of raw material with non-woody and mountain products for processors of the region and therefore, many residents of remote areas and many collectors have managed to generate revenues from this activity, which is highly depended on climatic conditions.

Stavileci also announced that in recent years, according to statistical data and sectoral analysis, Kosovo has managed to export non-woody products with value of around 5 million euros, where the main importers were from Western European countries like Germany, Austria and Italy.

Minister also spoke about the efforts that are being undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture, to export the forest and non-woody products to foreign markets.

Stavileci: MBPZHR has consistently made reforms

"Within reforms made in recent years, we can mention the year 2008, where was issued an Administrative Order according to which the relevant institutions were formally obliged to collect non-woody and forest products through a licensing system. And according to information I have received from the various meetings with processors, I was told that in the short term this order has sounded as threatening to businesses that are active in this field, but it has become an important factor that is affecting the structured and organized development in this sub sector, which has now managed to process and collect high-quality products, "he said.

Citaku: non-woody and forest products are considered as medical plants

"The protection of biodiversity, especially of endangered plants is in the interest of preserving global natural heritage in general and of the national one in particular. To achieve this goal it is required professional, scientific and institutional work. Non-woody forest products are considered aromatic medical plants, forest fruits, nutritional plants, extracts. Nature preservation within protected areas system for us as the Ministry of Environment is considered as a very important instrument in maintaining biodiversity, "he said.

Reinhard Trekle, project leader of Germany's GIZ, for the preservation and cultivation of forest plants, has considered Kosovo as blessed, because according to him, it is very rich with non-woody and forest plants.

Trekle: Kosovo is blessed with such a wealth

"We need many specialists to promote this sector.

Our experience has been very positive over the years and we see that exports have been increased by 300 tons per year during the period as we have been involved up to 1700 tons I may exaggerate a bit, but I am not well informed. Recently we did a scoping in this sector and it was seen as very positive and that has a potential growth and is 100 percent oriented to export.

It offers significant employment opportunities, to not eligible parts of population. Also this section is based on sources that grow in nature, where Kosovo is blessed with such a wealth, "he said.

In this table has also been the presentation of the Libri i Kuq (The Red Book), of author Fadil Millaku, which was supported by GIZ, in which were presented the findings about endangered and rare plnats in Kosovo. In Kosovo, is estimated that three thousand families are involved in this activity. / B.Bekolli /