Environmental dilemmas on hydro power plants Boshkov Most and Lukovo Pole in Mavrovo National Park and their impact on the deforestation

There are three national parks on the territory of Macedonia; the National Park of Mavrovo, National Park of Pelister and National Park of Galicica. In All of them, there are different kinds of forests, wetlands (rivers and lakes) and rare wildlife that surely is the criterion under the existing legal framework for a particular area to be declared and protected as a national park. As for the National Park of Mavrovo, it is declared in accordance with the Decree on declaring the forest areas around Mavrovo for national park from April 18, 1949. The elucidation for this decision by the Executive Council of NRM states that “the reason for this decision is because of the natural beauty, as well as of the historical and scientific importance of forests and forest areas around Mavrovo Pole”.

Namely, this Macedonian national park stretches on over 73,000 hectares in the north-western part of Macedonia and covers the area between Korab, Desat and Bistra mountains. With floral fund of nearly 1435 species of trees and registered animal spectrum of 50 species, this protected area continues to guard the primacy of national park. Even though it exists for more than 60 years, the National Park of Mavrovo is a Macedonian ensign and natural heritage par excellence, which is constantly in the focus of the public, among the experts as well as among  the general public. This is mainly related to environmental issues about the park, impelled from various ideas, plans and intentions for construction works in and around the area of the park.

Since its declaration as a national park, the most intense debates were raised on the HS “Mavrovo” and its construction in the period 1948-1958, tan countinued the construction wave of hotel in the period after 1960 and the following expansion of individual housing units in the area Mavrovi Anovi – Mavrovo. No less important are the debates associated with the constant appeals and occurrences of improper treatment of the forests in the National Park oMavrovo mainly in the light of the illegal felling for which the Ministry of Interiors has undertaken several extensive suppression actions. However, it is not worth that the media frequently report and indicate about alleged connection between the competent authorities and wood thieves; the MOI has acted, but the reality is that wood theft is still present not only in this part of the country, but on its whole territory.

However, this paper does not concentrate on this aspect, but the issue that provoked the public interest in the last six years after the Strategy on Energy Development in the Republic of Macedonia for the period 2008-2020 with a vision to 2030 was published. Among the various visions and ideas for building energy production facilities to produce, two projects are part of the respective Strategy that still cause debate and controversy among the public – “Lukovo Pole” and “Boskov Most” hydro power plans. This reading focuses on the analysis and elaboration of different standpoints and arguments among stakeholders on the appropriateness of the construction of these two facilities as well as the possible consequences after the construction, mainly through the prism of environment and bio-diversity.

When we speak of the methodology of this study, it is not worth that the research team applied several tools such as focus groups, desk research and direct interviews – a mix that guarantees multifaceted view on the current situation.

Policy and political background

In recent years, one of the most disturbing environmental issues for the general public in Macedonia, are the energy facilities planned to be built on the territory of the National park Mavrovo, HPP Boshkov Most and HPP Lukovo Pole (Crn Kamen) and the additional 15 small scale hydro power plants. The two larger projects, which are estimated around 135 million euros, are initially planned by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, and have the financial support from the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). After the announcement of the projects a strong reaction came from the non – governmental sector, but also from foreign and domestic experts, political parties and the local community near the locations where the projects are planned to be build.

The HPP Boshkov Most is planned to be built on a location called Mala Reka (Little River) near the town of Debar and the regional road Skopje – Debar – Ohrid. The project includes constructing a damn and water accumulation facility, and construction activities on every tributary river flowing into Mala Reka, there are also derivation canals, the main inflow derivation tunnel, a pipe line and a machinery building. The construction hight of the damn is 44.40m. Installed power of 68.2 MW with an average production of 117.54 GWh. The investment is estimated at 70.000.000 € with 4 years of construction activities. The accumulation damn Lukovo Pole is located in the northwest of Macedonia, between the Shar Planina and the Korab mountain range. The damn Lukovo Pole is planned to be build on the upper stream of the river Crn Kamen (Black Rock), where the river is actually formed by the joining of other two rivers.  The damn is 71 m high with a total accumulation of water in volume of 36.18 x 106m³ and usage volume of 34.83 x 106 m³ of water which will produce 106.80 GWh of electricity per a year. The project is estimated at 84 million euros. But estimates could change due to changes in the main project, which is expected to be finished by the year 2015.

The dilemma in the implementation of these two planned projects is from the passive behavior of the investor concerning law regulations, especially the Law for Environmental protection and Law for Nature protection and regulations.  The dilemma holds on to the postponing of the Study for revaluation of the natural heritage of the National park Mavrovo, and the attempt to present the risks as minimal, despite of the alarming many organizations and individuals have done. Additionally, the problems are much greater, as the locations of the two hydro power plants are inside the National park Mavrovo, which is one of the few natural habitats of several rare animal and plant species. As a result of the large differentiation of the terrain, the National park Mavrovo has a remarkably rich flora, which includes over 1000 higher species of plants, of which 38 wood species, 35 bushes, and over 60 endemic, relict or rare species.   NP Mavrovo is a unique deposit for 7 plant species, a unique site in Macedonia for 12 rare plant species, and within the park there are another 33 plant species which are very rare in the rest of the country. Fauna in the NP Mavrovo is also diverse. With 140 species of birds, including: the Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle, Forest Owl, Large Owl, Montagu’s Harrier, Pallid Harrier, as well as 11 species of amphibians and 38 species of mammals. The mammals include the Bear, Wild Coat and Wild Cat. But one species of mamal is very special – The Balkan Lynx (Lynx lynx balcanicus), the NP Mavrovo is its natural habitat and this animal can breed only on the territory of this park. According to research and the gathered data, the reproduction of the lynx is not greater than 30 units, and in 2015 photo documented are only 9 units of this specie. One of its largest habitats is the planned location of the Hydro power plant Boshkov Most.

Regarding these investments, all of the stakeholders should be very cautious, because without proper procedures and measures taken when needed, these investments could trigger a chain reaction with a huge impact on the environment, the local community, and there is a big probability of changing the climate of this region, losing one eco system and creating a new one. All this has already happened once in this region with the construction of the existing energy facilities (HPP Raven, HPP Vrutok, HPP Vrben, HPP Shpilje, HPP Globochica) and the two accumulations (Mavrovo Lake and Debar Lake) all built in the middle of the last century (which caused a big change of the region’s climate and also caused a big change in the economy according to the local community and the population from this region).

There is a number of documentation outlining the development of the hydro power plant facilities, but till now neither have been subjected to a Strategy evaluation of its impact on the environment. As a result, there is no analysis and prediction concerning the cumulative effects of all suggested hydro projects, and there is no provision of measurements for reduction of the potential cumulative effect. The Strategy for Energy Development in the Republic of Macedonia for the period 2008-2020 with a vision to 2030 was subjected to a Strategic evaluation of the impact on the environment, but the report doesn’t have any concrete analysis, nor has relevant measures for the territory of the National park Mavrovo. With the planned construction of every single hydro project, and the lack of analysis, gives us a prospect of uncertainty and a huge risk for the environment, especially for this region, because the national park is a protected area with a main priority of protecting the biological diversity.

Certainly, both projects could cause negative impact on the environment and cause a significant damage. This includes, large scale constructing sites, as well as handling of heavy machinery during the period of construction activities. In this construction period, the projects include redirecting the springs and the tributary river flow into the canals and/or tunnels, which means diverting and changing the local hydrological system and diverting the water inflow from the Adriatic river flow into the Aegean river flow. Also, there are no concrete answers, concerning the project’s impact on the riverbanks forest phytocenoses which are a priority habitat in the European Union, and it’s the same for the rest of the habitats / species that require special protection measures according to the European directive for protection of future Natura 2000 areas. This brings the question for the impact on the Otter (Lutra lutra) habitat, which according to the directive needs special protected area. There is a very poor prediction and analysis of the impact of noise on the animals. There is no calculation and prediction of the possible temperature variations of the water and its impact on the trout and the other fish species (considering that this fish live in cold water environment).

Having in mind the expected negative impact of the hydro power projects, on the environment and the biological diversity, three NGOs (Macedonian Ecological Society, Ekosvest and Front 21/42) in 2013 coordinated the campaign “The Blue heart of Europe”, they filed an appeal to the Berne Convention on several issues. On the 2 December, 2014 the committee of the Berne Convention in the Council of Europe accepted the appeal and opened the case for Macedonia based on the violation of 4 provisions of this Convention.

LOCAL CITIZENS

As we have already mentioned in the introduction, in order to receive symbiosis of different thoughts and views from the local population on the necessity and the eventual consequences of building “Lukovo Pole” and “Boskov Most”, the research team decided to conduct focus groups among the citizens of the Mavrovo-Rostuša Municipality. The session was attended by eight participants with different social background. What is noteworthy is that the group demonstrated relatively high degree of unanimity on key research issues, a phenomenon which, according to the methodological history, is typical for small towns with strong connections and behavior that is built based on the needs and perceptions of a locality place.

According to their testimonies, the issue on the construction of these tow capacities was intensified last year, though the plans and visions for its realization have dated back since 1939; however, the zenith of the public debate is achieved after the publication of the Strategy for Energy Development in the Republic of Macedonia for the period 2008-2020 with a vision to 2030. According to their statements, the interest among the local population has not been driven by themselves, but from last year’s activities from the CSOs in several cities in Macedonia and the media coverage. Participants stressed that after several consultations and regular meetings have concluded that it is about an initiative that will disrupt current pace and quality of life and it will have an impact on the overall environment. They asserted that among the local population there is strong standing, to an extent of consensus as opposed to the construction of “Lukovo Pole” and “Boskov Most” facilities. Their argumentation was multifaceted. The most common reason for their opposition was the impact on the environment which according to their standings and beliefs will occur after the construction of the two energy capacities. They were sharply assuring that due to the diversion of the Radika river, drastic change on the wildlife in the river will happen, which will entail harm on the other wildlife that lives in the surrounding woods. The research team noticed that the argumentation did not go into details, whereas it was justification with the lack of sufficient information. Emphasis was put only on the possibility of the disappearance of eel from the Radika river, which part of the population described as pride of this region and ensign with which they identify as “Mavrovians.”

In context of the implications, to some degree it was mentioned about the danger that the construction of these facilities will eventually encourage the wood thieves into deforestation because it will give them a signal that the state does not care about its own natural wealth. It was also mentioned about the danger of reducing the forest area which would emerge as a result of construction works and would affect the surrounding environment. In the discussion on this issue, especially loud were the members of local neighbourhood communities. According to them, so far it was only organized a meeting with representatives of AD ELEM. The meeting with this institution many of the participants evaluated and qualified as “dire, uninformative and unclear”, although only one of the participants attended it. The respective participant assured that at that meeting a draft version of project was presented, whereas the presentation of the president of AD ELEM according to him did not cover the part related to the effects on the environment and biodiversity of the National Park Mavrovo. In his opinion, emphasis was placed on the energy gains for Macedonia, both in terms of electricity production and supply. The event, as described by the respondent, has been left by most of the attendees, whereas only two stayed to the end, two who are “close to the ruling party.”

In terms of the local communities was emphasized the fact that there has never been serious coordination among the local communities of the municipality in order to build clear and firm position on this matter, inertia which participants attributed to their account. They raised the question of noncooperation by the actual mayor, although many of the participants of the focus group expressed understanding and justified his attitude because of the limited authority and power to affect the central institutions. However, some of the focus group members asked for his greater visibility in their efforts to stop the intentions to build these hydropower plants and appeal for sharpened hearingon their positions. As another arguement for their opposition they relied on their experience in the monitoring of the construction of the HS “Mavrovo”. According to them, the authorities in that period have given strong assuring and evidences that the construction of this plant would not cause disruptions in and around the park; however, respondents claimed that after the realization disturbances in the atmosphere have occurred mostly because of the artificial lake, which according to them has an impact on the living world. Here, the research team did not notice any detail explanation, which once again confirms the low level of acquaintance which was admired by the respondents too.

As a third reason in opposition to “Lukovo Pole” and “Boskov Most”, respondents highlighted the alleged business interests of some of the institutions for these power plants to be built. Namely, according to participants of the focus group, the fact that the public debate on this initiative has been closed and insufficiently inclusive boosts the suspicion that behind this idea stand someone’s business interests which are suppressing the possible consequences on the environment and the diversity of wildlife in the National Park Mavrovo. According to their beliefs, the production of these plants will not be offered for the local population’s needs (for which the research team observed high unanimity), but it will finishe at the international electricity market. They claim that the municipality throughout the year, especially in winter period, faces irregular delivery of electricity that affects quality of life and household appliances. In the context of the local economy, they are also skeptical about the implications that will be felt personally and which are associated with the living standard and employment. Namely, they believe that after the eventual construction, the official will focus on employing individuals from their surroundings, although in Mavrovo – Rostuša there are qualified jobless individuals with titles in electrical engineering. They claimed that this will produce continuation of the tendency of poor socio-economic conditions in which the locals live without as the explanation “opportunities for youth, poor infrastructure and continued engagement among young people for a departure in Western European countries”.

Local Government

The research team decided to conduct a structured interview with a representative of Mavrovo-Rostuse Municipality in order to learn about the stakeholder’s attitudes in this process. From the responses received, it can be concluded that the representative of the respective municipality has opposite standpoint and different arguments compared to the local population who strongly opposed the construction of hydropower.

The cooperation with the government he evaluated as good. The way how the project was presented by the initiator (AD ELEM) was also assessed as good. He explained that there were mixed meetings between several institutions, mostly representatives engaged in the energy sector on the one hand and NGOs on the other. In the context of the presented project in his municipality, he explained that it was discussed among municipal bodies in charge of Energy and Spatial Planning, but he stressed that Mavrovo-Rostuse Municipality has no team for serious analysis to this issue. The municipality, which is home of 8618 people, spread in 42 neighborhoods and on 93% territory in the Mavrovo National Park, has no capacity for individual and detailed evaluation on the eventual negative effects of this initiatives and lacks professional capacities to prepare an analytical study. However, the representative of the local government replied that the announced projects for construction of these hydro power plants fit into the municipal plans for economic development of this local unit. If performance starts, it will create new jobs, and the expectations go to an extent that it can cause a daily or even permanent migration that would amortize the displacement of the local population because of the current inability of permanent employment in the municipality and the movement out of it for job or stable employment.

Undoubtedly, the representative of the municipality did not want to pass the thin line of profit and loss. According to him, the initial criticism came from NGO sector which deals in the field of nature protection and has succeeded in a short period of time to animate part of the population and proactively influence the municipality. Although given approval for construction, a year ago, the municipality decided to react to the government and requested amending the initial environmental study for HPP Lukovo Pole. The remarks were mostly concerned about the upper Korab waters or etc. “Deep Waters”, or Deep River, around the village Nistrevo, which according to interviewee should be excluded from the initial project. The local government also reacted that Radika river should not be swept completely and become snake-pit. On the other hand, the interviewee also stated that the municipality on HPP Lukovo Pole sees as additional water refill for the Mavrovo lake, which would be collected from the spring rains. These amendments would not change the character, nor would harm the forest, river Radika as well as the wildlife, says the respondent.

Though familiarized with the original plan for construction, the respondent emphasized that it is impossible to protect over 70,000 m² (accumulation for Boskov Bridge) area with high trunk plants. As far as the Lynx is concerned, what the municipality requires of the investor is renegotiating destroyed forests, as well as greater control over the construction noise, in order for the lynx not to leave the already familiar territory.

According to him, the results show that there is awareness in local government, but there are no mechanisms, legal options and ways to counter the possible execution of the plans related to Boskov Most and HPP Lukovo Pole. Until making the second study for HPP Lukovo Pole, Mavrovo-Rostuse Municipality hopes for a compromise with the government, that they would agree on a project related to the waters, but not to an industrial facility that would completely changed the image of clean, environmentally friendly and authentic national park – pride of the municipality and the country.

Ministry of Envirоnment and Spatial Planing

To get to the answers that will open a new dimension to the problem, we addressed to the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP) – the institution that can permit the construction of the hydropower plants in the national park (via acceptance of a study about the assess of the impact on the environment, and then issue a decision). During the survey, there was a chang of the official positions several times.

In 2011, the news that was published in the media aroused the interest of the MESP. German consulting company “Poiri infra” since September 1^st, 2011 has begun with drafting a study of the environmental impact of the project “Lukovo Pole”. However, the efforts of the German company were not sufficient and combined with the public pressure, the reactions of the residents of the Rekanski region, as well as the Democratic Renewal of Macedonia party’s reaction and reactions of Mavrovo-Rostushe Municipality, the study was adjusted and amended.

While the fierce reactions were coming by experts in the field of environmental protection and concerned public, at the same time representatives of the EBRD stated to foreign media that the field work is more complicated and withdrawal of the project is possible. The Ministry of Environment defended itself that without proper and adequate study, they will be on the same side with proponents who are against the threats to the environment and the destruction of biodiversity in this protected area. While Lukovo Pole waits for contractor, since the initial plan to the final implementation, the respective ministry emerged as a mediator and called for all reactions to be directed into improved study.

Our estimations addressed to the Ministry that citizens lack information, were commented as follows:

“The affected population is familiar with projects that are under assessment of the impact on the environment in a manner stipulated and in accordance with Law on environment. These manners are: the web site of the MEPP, daily newspaper available throughout the territory of the Republic Macedonia and the offices of the Department of Public Communication in Skopje and the offices of the municipality where the project will be realized.”

Having this in mind, a need arose to ask whether a study on HPP Lukovo Pole which is in a drafting procedure and for which the public waits for 4 years will have the same outcome as the one on Boshkov. The answer we received was that the Ministry of Environment will wait for an answer, will make a soon decision or will come up with new directions in the future.

About the question whether Macedonia needs such projects, especially if they are located in an environmentally protected area, even though their purpose is production of energy, the MEPP did not give a specific answer, which leaves room for doubt on further incursions into the national park.

Additionally, MEPP avoided to comment on the environmental dimension over the construction of the power plant Lukovo Pole that covers the Albanian part, on which the Albanian officials have already said that without their permission, the hydropower plant will not be built. The non-cooperation in this filed, the respective ministry replace it with a new time delay and re-emphasizing the importance of the study of HPP Lukovo Pole, which would be most adequate and unique answer to all the environmental challenges and risks.

Through a thematic approach in the first period of this survey, we found out that in Mavrovo National Park, especially in the summer and autumn there is wild logging which destroys decades old trees aiming quick cash inflow. Consequently, as an important fact from fieldwork in this area, we found out that PE “Macedonian Forests” that needs to supply citizens with firewood at the lowest price, constantly lacks of trees, although this year 600.000 m³ of tres are cut. On the work of public enterprise testify the stripped hills, whereas for the lack of wood, empty warehouses. Citizens accuse that the state practices business – Macedonian wood is exported and the domestic market is supplied by imported wood from Serbia, at a much higher price. In just 20 days (this year), additional 60.000 m³ are cut and they need to finish at the domestic market.

Eight years ago, the government determined the price of firewood  at 40 € for m³. However, in case of shortage of domestic wood, citizens turn to private warehouses. They are full this time. They did not want to explain us where they buy, but 1 m³ is sold between 60 € and 65 €.

This information and conducted poll among citizens in urban areas showed that they are ready to buy firewood on the black market in order to spend the winter with this energy carrier. Forestry Police that is legally responsible to protect the forests, confirms the information that most of the thefts and offenses of this type are present precisely in Western Macedonia, especially in the area of Sar Planina, and to some extent within the Mavrovo National Park too.

The disappearance of trees from the Macedonian mountains is accompanied by the disappearance of trees in the Macedonian cities. Several years ago, local authorities, especially in Skopje, due to construction and infrastructure activities (very often unnecessary) cut off several thousands of trees blank thousands of trees, which completely disrupted the quality of life of citizens.

Conclusions

The need for energy is more than clear, this considers building energy facilities that will meet the needs of the industry and the population. Macedonia is poor in energy, and that resembles the energy structure with a dominant “dirty” energy of over 80%. In addition to this number is the burning wood, as a mean of heating.  This creates another issue of reducing the woods. Wood logging in the most part is legal, but there is often illegal logging (the data of deforestation goes up to 50 000 ha). The illegal logging and deforestation creates denuded mountains, landslides, and with heavy rains creates dangerous drifts putting in danger human lives and material goods. This kind of disaster with casualties happened this year in the region of Tetovo.

Currently, Macedonia compared to other countries in the region has a poor wood industry. According to the official statistics data, the production of the lumber industry is 23.000 m3. The number of companies in this industry is also in decline, and the foreign investments in this sector are minor. The export of wood is also minimal (under 20.000 m3). A simple comparison of the numbers leads us to a conclusion that the logging in the most part is for fire wood used for heating in autumn and winter. According to this, there are no larger criminal activities in this sector. We can state that there is a bad energy managementand policy, and as a result there are attempts to build projects (like HPP Boshkov Most and HPP Lukovo Pole – Crn Kamen) that will cause even greater damage on the environment.

The question is How and Where we are going to get our energy, needed for progress, development and a decent way of life?

Solutions are:

• Implementing measures for energy efficiency is the fastest way to accomplish this goal. This implementation needs changing of the regulations in favour of the energy efficiency, especially for the households, also providing low interest rate crediting for the industry.
• Building of new energy facilities is a must, but investing in renewable sources of energy, mainly sun power and biomass, and as an additional alternative natural gas.
• Concerning hydro power plants, to chose and implement projects with the lowest impact on the environment, with these kinds of projects the world has experienced huge damage on the environment but also on the human population.

Action steps

The project team during the implementation of the project came to the following conclusions related to the case which was the focus of our activities, but knowing the conditions and other threats to the environment and human health in Macedonia and in other cases (announced investment in the smelter in Probishtip, danger of entry of GMOs company, other energy plans and projects) came to the following conclusions:

• The state authorities must strictly respect legal provisions when it comes to protecting the environment and to introduce a maximum degree of immunity to business interests that are harmful to nature, human health and the disruption of the fragile social and economic situation.
• Revision of the Energy Strategy and an emphasis on renewable energy sources, especially the sun, biomass, geothermal and wind. This is aimed at meeting the criteria to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
• During the preparation of the projects that are important for the state or the municipalities must not neglect the interests of the local population.
• Keeping an open procedure with extensive information on the local population, NGOs, experts and research institutions to the benefits and negative impacts of the construction project.
• Clear and unambiguous need to establish voluntary beyond institutional control mechanism (comprised of local residents, NGOs, experts, research institutions, media and political parties) to control the hazards to the environment, human health and the disruption of social and economic ties in a particular region.

Authors:

Zlatko Simonovski, Independent research journalist

Pavle Belovski, journalist

Toni Ristov

Aleksandar Gjorgjievski, President of ASSED Sunrise